Back
to El Toro, Ahead to El Tunnel
By Rick Reiff - 12/5/2005
Orange County Business Journal Staff
History is written by the victors, as the saying goes.
So who better to write the accompanying story of the El Toro airport
battle than Len Kranser, the retired Monarch Beach businessman whose
Web site played a pivotal role in the airport’s demise?
It might seem odd that this paper and this editor—among the biggest
backers of the airport—would turn to Kranser.
But as the Great Park succeeds El Toro in fits and starts, and as a new
transportation controversy emerges over a proposed tunnel through the
Santa Ana Mountains, it seems a good time to review the ground we’ve
already covered. And Kranser’s an ideal guide.
Even during the height of the airport battle I admired Kranser’s
energy, moxie and organization—the hired guns on “our side” were no
match for this South County volunteer.
With the airport dead, the hatchet’s been buried. Kranser and I have
exchanged notes on the airport fight from time to time. Kranser has
authored and published a book on the battle, “Internet for Activists,”
and he’s lectured to the executive MBA students in my media class at
Chapman University.
He’s worth hearing. To borrow another saying (from George Santayana),
those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.
Proponents of the tunnel (me included) would be wise to learn from the
airport’s mistakes.
Laguna Niguel Councilwoman Cassie DeYoung, and the anti-El Toro airport
veterans advising her, have made opposition to the tunnel the
centerpiece of her populist campaign for county supervisor.
Her recent anti-tunnel mailer and her El Toro-style rhetoric have
caused some would-be supporters of the tunnel to quiver.
But that doesn’t necessarily mean El Tunnel will become El Toro II.
Cars aren’t jets, a road’s not an airport. El Toro was seen in South
County as bringing something bad. It could be argued that by easing
traffic congestion, a tunnel will be taking away something bad.
Maybe it’s of no concern to Orange County residents that a tunnel would
help workers who commute in from the Inland Empire. But the project
still ought to appeal to OCers, especially those in South County, who
would like a quicker route to desert resorts, outlet malls, other
points east—maybe even to a future airport that would satisfy the
air-travel demand left by ill-fated El Toro.
A tunnel would also address two infrastructure needs of South County: a
new water line (it would be part of the project), and another
evacuation route in case of a major emergency.
The tunnel has formidable opponents, but it hasn’t yet stirred
grassroots emotions as El Toro did, and maybe it won’t. Many South
County politicians and city councils have taken a wait-and-see
approach.
Kranser says he’s undecided about the tunnel.
As we move ahead, let’s pause with Len for a look back.