Airport At El Toro

A recent article included news of the formation of a group in South County known as Taxpayers for Responsible Planning, with Bill Kogerman as president. He is quoted as stating that "a commercial airport at El Toro is not the highest and best use for the property." He mentions no potential alternative uses. Does he forget that Measure A refers to only 2,000 acres of the base and that 2,700 acres will still be available for "alternative uses"? An international airport will be of great economic advantage to the entire county, providing thousands of jobs and connecting us directly for trade with the expanding Pacific Rim countries as well as with South America and even Europe.

Is this any way to convert a Marine base? No, but when it comes to El Toro, this is what Orange County is stuck with. Conflicting information. Lack of consensus. Multiple countywide votes over a decade. Elected supervisors then working against the outcome of those votes. Los Angeles officials now trying an end run or a Hail Mary (select your favorite football metaphor) to get its way. Enough intellectual dishonesty all around to fill several radio talk shows.

Your Nov. 16 article about Orange County Supervisor Todd Spitzer reminded me of how I enjoyed working with him. We served together as members of the board of the Orange County Sanitation District and the Orange County Fire Authority. Any organization needs people who will speak directly to the point, who when they see the emperor has no clothes immediately inform the group and the emperor of such omissions. Spitzer and I profoundly disagree on the need for a commercial airport at El Toro.

Tuesday's vote against a light-rail system is just the latest sign that Orange County clings to its identity as a suburb -- despite, some planning experts say, big-city realities. Irvine voters rejected their segment of the proposed CenterLine light-rail system, shortening a planned 11.4-mile route that was to run from Santa Ana to Irvine -- and perhaps killed the $1.4-billion project entirely.

The City Council on Tuesday decided to go on record opposing the November ballot initiative that calls for building a commercial airport at the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station. The council's decision to oppose the airport initiative was unanimous. The adopted resolution faults the initiative for removing important planning issues from the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority and placing them in the hands of voters.

A reader of the May 9 Times editorial "City of Irvine vs. Irvine Co." might think that an airport at El Toro is simply a matter of time. But as someone who has been at the front lines of this issue since day one, the accurate view is that time is running out for the airport. How the airport issue plays out between the Irvine Co. and the City of Irvine is only one chapter in the debate. As the editorial points out, the county has pre-approved the airport. However, we believe the citizens of Orange County will see the damage this "decide first, plan second" approach can cause.

Re "Group Wants Irvine Project Put to a Vote," June 21: After reading your article, I have to hand it to pro-airport supporters. They've tried to disguise themselves as groups worried about jobs and the economy. Now they reappear as a water quality group. Although inventive, when you peel away the facade, all you find is another Newport Beach-based group trying to tell Irvine what to do with its land. Haven't we danced this dance before? Gail Paulsen Irvine Irvine Mayor Larry Agran and City Councilman Chris Mears should be ashamed of themselves for engaging in a smear campaign against Defend the Bay and its director, Robert Caustin.

There appears little common ground in the debate over whether to build a civilian passenger-cargo airport at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station once the military leaves by 1999. An unscientific survey by The Times shows deep divisions and resentment over the issue among many Orange County residents. There should be some type of international airport there, but there should be some restrictions so there's not 24-hour flights to disturb the people down there. But I do think the county definitely does need more airport capacity than it currently has. David Johnson 40 Yorba Linda These people that don't want an airport out there, they've been living with this noise from the planes for years, and 15 years ago there weren't very many houses out in that area.

Despite complaints from residents that the process was rigged, two commissions overseeing the reuse of El Toro Marine Corps Air Station on Wednesday took the first steps toward turning the base into what could become one of the nation's largest airports.

Now that the George Argyros International Airport appears closer to reality, isn't anyone else scared that one man can spend more than most of us will make in our lifetimes ($2 million) to get his way twice? What is Mr. Argyros' real agenda? I think it's time to change the way measures are done by limiting the amount one contributor can donate (maybe $10,000?). I also have a great idea for anyone who wishes to live close to an international airport. Move to Los Angeles. You will then appreciate what Orange County is and what it will become if George's airport is built.

Re "Group Wants Irvine Project Put to a Vote," June 21: After reading your article, I have to hand it to pro-airport supporters. They've tried to disguise themselves as groups worried about jobs and the economy. Now they reappear as a water quality group. Although inventive, when you peel away the facade, all you find is another Newport Beach-based group trying to tell Irvine what to do with its land. Haven't we danced this dance before? Gail Paulsen Irvine Irvine Mayor Larry Agran and City Councilman Chris Mears should be ashamed of themselves for engaging in a smear campaign against Defend the Bay and its director, Robert Caustin.

Measure W finally will end the fight over a commercial airport at El Toro. After eight years and more than $50 million, the county has come up with a politically driven airport plan that has no merit from an aviation standpoint. It is, quite simply, unwanted, unneeded and unsafe. To accommodate the community, the Marines operated El Toro at nearly banker's hours, with nighttime and weekend curfews except in times of national emergency.

Re "Foes of an Airport at El Toro Have Their NIMBY Blinders On," Commentary, June 4: It is not surprising to see Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach) compose an emotional column trashing the "Great Park" plan. To insinuate that those opposed to El Toro are an unholy alliance is defaming on the surface. The situation of pro-airport forces produces desperate measures, apparently. Rohrabacher fails to discuss the true costs and effects of turning El Toro into a real commercial airport, in terms of money, pollution, traffic and constant noise.

There's an unholy alliance at work in Orange County. NIMBY (not in my backyard) Republicans have teamed up with environmental extremist Democrats to orchestrate a well-financed and insidious propaganda campaign. This odd-couple coalition is trying to persuade us that the former Marine air base at El Toro would be unsafe as a civilian airport and would lower our quality of life. It's laughable, except that polls indicate the public is buying this baloney.

The city of Irvine will begin negotiating with Los Angeles International Airport and Ontario Airport officials to open a satellite airline terminal at the Irvine Transportation Center, a facility the city hopes will eliminate the need for a new airport at the closed El Toro Marine base. Area residents would be able to purchase airline tickets and check their luggage at the terminal and then board shuttles that would take them to LAX or Ontario, John Wayne or Long Beach airport.

Air traffic controllers and pilots urged local officials Thursday to make safety improvements at Los Angeles International Airport, saying the current layout is so outdated that an accident is likely without better runways and more gates to park airliners. Capt. Jon Russell, regional safety chairman of the Air Line Pilots Assn., told local government officials that if improvements are not made, "we will have an accident at this airport."

Is this any way to convert a Marine base? No, but when it comes to El Toro, this is what Orange County is stuck with. Conflicting information. Lack of consensus. Multiple countywide votes over a decade. Elected supervisors then working against the outcome of those votes. Los Angeles officials now trying an end run or a Hail Mary (select your favorite football metaphor) to get its way. Enough intellectual dishonesty all around to fill several radio talk shows.

Since Larry Agran was elected to the Irvine City Council, George Argyros' polluted plan for a jumbo-size airport at El Toro has been in a tailspin. When Agran took office, polling showed the county evenly divided on the issue. Now, after Measure F, it's apparent that 70% favor a non-aviation plan for the old Marine base. What did Agran do to help turn the debate around? He exposed the airport plan as unworkable and was a leader in the fight to defeat it. Agran is persuasive and knows how to get things done.

Since Larry Agran was elected to the Irvine City Council, George Argyros' polluted plan for a jumbo-size airport at El Toro has been in a tailspin. When Agran took office, polling showed the county evenly divided on the issue. Now, after Measure F, it's apparent that 70% favor a non-aviation plan for the old Marine base. What did Agran do to help turn the debate around? He exposed the airport plan as unworkable and was a leader in the fight to defeat it. Agran is persuasive and knows how to get things done.

A reader of the May 9 Times editorial "City of Irvine vs. Irvine Co." might think that an airport at El Toro is simply a matter of time. But as someone who has been at the front lines of this issue since day one, the accurate view is that time is running out for the airport. How the airport issue plays out between the Irvine Co. and the City of Irvine is only one chapter in the debate. As the editorial points out, the county has pre-approved the airport. However, we believe the citizens of Orange County will see the damage this "decide first, plan second" approach can cause.