El Toro land deal is a steal

Shirley Conger

We taxpayers read reports of a massive land grab and a giveaway of

publicly owned land at bargain-basement prices, given to a large

corporation.

Also, after all this is signed, sealed and delivered, the prospect

of new taxes looms on the horizon.

And, amazingly enough, nobody is paying attention.

What I am referring to is the sale of the 3,700 acres of the

former El Toro Marine Corps Air Station to the Lennar Corporation for

$175,000 an acre.

On the open market, an acre of this property is worth well over $1

million.

This fleecing of the public is being praised by our congressman as

a wonderful solution to losing a first-class airport.

Furthermore, since freeways and other transportation are at

gridlock now, the taxpayers will have to foot the bill for new

freeways in order to accommodate the increased population in the new

cities created in South Orange County.

Irvine taxpayers also will have to use their taxes to pay for the

redevelopment bonds, which will be used to clean up the contaminated

base.

Southern California lacks transportation infrastructure in our

ports, railways, highways and, especially, in airports.

We can expect a 50% shortfall in airport capacity by 2025 in the

seven-county region.

If we are to meet the economic demand in the 21st century and to

maintain our prosperity, clearly we need more airports.

Here again, the public seems unaware of the implications of this

shortfall in transportation resources.

My question is, when will we the public realize what we have lost?

* SHIRLEY A. CONGER is a Corona del Mar resident.