Four things are significant in the recent actions by Congressman Christopher Cox:

          1) He criticized the county’s flawed planning process - which has eliminated any significant voice by the people most impacted by El Toro. We are extremely pleased that he will carry this message to Washington.

          2) He signed the Safe and Healthy Communities Initiative because he recognizes that this is the only way that the people will have a voice in the process.

          3) He neither supports an airport nor a non-aviation plan for El Toro. True privatization should lead to the land being developed for its best economic use, which we believe is not an airport. The county’s airport plan relies, economically, on the land being conveyed at no cost.  On the other hand, non-aviation reuse pays the federal government for the land and helps to defray the cost of the base closing.

 4) Privatization means that whoever develops the property will have to work with the community to ensure that the ultimate reuse of El Toro is compatible with the cities which surround it.  A private investor will not want to have his funds tied up for many years while the project languishes in court.

We applaud Congressman Cox for stepping forward and giving validity to  South County claims that the planning process is flawed. He has done this in the face of fierce opposition from some of his constituents in Newport Beach - who want an airport at El Toro pushed through without any delay.  Congressman Cox’s proposal is a step in what will continue to be a long process.

 Privatization, in effect, creates an economic "fatal flaw" in the airport plan.

Tell Congressman Cox that the majority of voters in his district support his proposals.
 

Rep. Christopher Cox, 2402 Rayburn Bldg., Washington, D.C. 20515
Phone (949) 756-2244
FAX (949) 251-9309
Email: christopher.cox@mail.house.gov

Click for more on Cox and Privatization.