Time to say no to JWA concessions

EVELYN HART

Newport Beach and our sister cities need reassurances now, more than

ever, that our quality of life is being protected. We all know John

Wayne Airport is a major airport in the wrong place, impacting too

many people, and yes, the demand for air passengers continues to

increase.

One of the most interesting things I had an opportunity to do

while on the Newport Beach City Council was work on the first

settlement agreement for John Wayne Airport. When we started the

negotiations, I was the mayor and responsible for making the final

recommendations to the City Council. Gen. Tom Riley, our supervisor,

represented the county and Clarence Turner, a calm, cool businessman,

who was later elected and served honorably on the City Council,

represented the Airport Working Group. The Stop Polluting Our Newport

representative was Alan Beek. The organizations that these members

represented signed the first 20-year settlement agreement starting in

1985.

As the attorneys for all sides hammered away in the back room, we

would meet in open meetings with the airlines and with other assorted

special interest parties in attendance. To me, Riley was used to

getting his own way, and when the negotiations got heated, he would

slam his notebook closed and attempt to leave the room. I think a lot

of us had headaches during those sessions.

Today, the attorneys continue to believe we must make more

concessions to the airport. As you know, the amendment to the

settlement agreement, reached in 2003, allows up to 10.8 million

annual passengers, a whopping 30% increase over the 1985 settlement

agreement.

It is time to say no! No more concessions that adversely impact

our cities. Can a few people make a difference? Yes! I am constantly

amazed at how quickly some people just let the bureaucrats rule their

lives without fighting for what they know is a detriment to their

quality of life.

As a city, we should be outraged about this latest agreement.

Statistics show that next year -- 2006 -- the interim cap of 10.3

million annual passengers will be met. What do you think will happen

then? Will the airport expansionists allow the cap to stand? Or, will

history repeat itself and more concessions be made? The interim

limit, according to the 2003 amendment, capped John Wayne at 10.3

million annual passengers until 2011, when the final cap of 10.8

kicks in. Four years later, in 2015, all passenger limits expire.

There are a number of us who are starting to stand up and say: “No

more.” We mean no more increases in air passengers and no fooling

around with the curfew. Our battle cry, if you will, is “10.8, let’s

lock the gate!” We are called AirFair, and we know John Wayne carries

a fair share of air passengers now and for the future.

There have been questions about alternate airport sites and where

AirFair stands on that issue. In our opinion, the city of Newport

Beach and the Airport Working Group are doing an excellent job of

looking into other options. That is not what AirFair is about.

AirFair only says “10.8, let’s lock the gate.”

“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens

can change the world,” Margaret Mead said. “Indeed, it is the only

thing that ever has.”

AirFair would appreciate your support.

* EDITOR’S NOTE: Evelyn Hart is a former mayor and primary

negotiator for the city of Newport Beach during the time of the 1985

settlement agreement for John Wayne Airport.