August 20, 1998

Dear Neighbor:

Recent local newspaper accounts report that the City of Newport Beach will spend up to $1.5 million on a national public relations firm or combination of firms to champion conversion of the El Toro Marine Base to an international commercial airport. The consultants will then promote the reuse of El Toro as a 24 million annual passenger airport with a cargo capacity twice the size of the largest current facility in the United States.

Newport Beach has had its share of budget problems, but it clearly has the right to spend its citizens’ tax dollars as it chooses. As you and your city leaders consider the choices ahead, we want to tell you directly where the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority (ETRPA) and the seven South County cities it represents stand on the El Toro issue.

We understand that the expansion of John Wayne Airport is not acceptable to most residents of Newport Beach. However, we do not believe this should lead you to the conclusion that a huge airport at El Toro is a good idea. The proposed El Toro airport may not directly affect Newport Beach, but it would definitely affect your neighbors across the county. Most residents near El Toro are deeply concerned about the potential impact of an El Toro airport on their quality of life.

So, residents of Newport Beach are concerned about John Wayne Airport expansion, and residents near El Toro are concerned about the threat of an airport there. Are these views in conflict, or is there some potential for agreement? Here are some things for you to consider:

• Unlike John Wayne’s limited passenger facility, the proposed El Toro airport would have 24 million annual passengers and a cargo capacity bigger than LAX, Chicago, Kennedy or Newark. Federal regulations will probably prohibit new airports from imposing curfews or flight restrictions. Cargo carriers use the largest, noisiest aircraft, and flights are scheduled to fly every three minutes, 24 hours a day, on average.

• There are existing and planned regional airports elsewhere that desire to provide cargo and passenger service for all of Southern California.

• Orange County already has more jobs than housing to accommodate the labor force. An airport would only increase this housing imbalance.

• The idea that every county needs its own airport is not practical and ignores the advantages of regional planning. For example, Ontario Airport is about to expand to 23 million annual passengers and is just 12 miles from the Orange County border. The problem isn’t a lack of airports. We need better transportation to the airports that currently exist.

• Most people believe the county will benefit economically with an airport or with the Millennium Plan, the exciting non-aviation reuse proposed for El Toro. The question is: Do we want or need to put up with the pollution, noise and congestion of an additional airport when our air transportation needs can be served at other airports? Or, do we want to have the homes, high-paying jobs, education, sports, recreation and open space that the Millennium Plan envisions?

It is obvious that both sides are willing to spend whatever it takes to preserve their own interests. However, we believe that public funds can be spent for better purposes than an all-out battle between neighbors. We need to think about a regional airport plan that does no harm to any resident of Orange County. Help us to tone down the political rhetoric so that we can find common solutions. Write your Newport Beach City Council members or call at 644-3004 and ask them to work with us, not against us. We are all fighting to preserve and protect our quality of life and economic future. We believe that by working together, we can make a difference for the next generation.

Sincerely,

Paul D. Eckles
Executive Director