Forget El Toro, a better Marine base airport awaits
by STEVE SMITH

San Diego Mayor Dick Murphy's office made me work very hard over the past two weeks, ever since I read on the Web an interview he gave with the San Diego Union-Tribune about the city's plans for expansion of Lindbergh Field, the southern equivalent of John Wayne Airport.

After two weeks of daily messages and conversations and general phone tag with the mayor's press office, I was told he was too busy to speak to me on the telephone for 15 minutes. So, let's proceed without him.

I do not support the "V-plan" that is generating interest. The problem with the V-plan is that it still places a big, noisy, smelly airport too close to too many homes, including those of my friends and neighbors here in Costa Mesa. And for the record, again, I am opposed to any expansion of John Wayne Airport.

Space does not permit me to go into the Lindbergh configurations, but they would easily remind anyone of the situation at John Wayne: A small, regional airport that has outgrown its capacity, neighbors who don't want it expanded, and back-room forces that do not make front-page news. And as with John Wayne, the air transportation issues have become secondary to the divisive political wranglings that in Orange County have created the island of Newport Beach.

During his campaign in October, Mayor Murphy supported the idea of an airport serving both Orange and San Diego counties to be located on Camp Pendleton. The idea is so popular in San Diego that even Murphy's chief opponent in the election also favored "Pendleton International."

Pendleton has been suggested for an airport as far back as 1972, when it received positive reviews from three different Southern California Assns. of Government. Pendleton already has Amtrak rail transportation to its door and is about a 35-minute ride from Irvine by train. In Chicago, the same rail trip from the loop to O'Hare took about 45 minutes and cost $2.50 when I took it last in 1997.

In October, Murphy said, "The Camp Pendleton idea is to operate what I would call Southern California International Airport on a piece of Camp Pendleton. Now, we're not talking about shutting down Camp Pendleton. . . . But the new airport could be a joint venture with Orange County. Orange County has the same problems with John Wayne Airport that we have. I would envision that airport being primarily an international-transcontinental airport like Dulles [Washington, D.C.]. So, basically, anybody out of San Diego County or Orange County or Riverside County who wanted to fly overseas or to Washington, D.C., could fly out of that airport.'

Pendleton's critics claim that the Marines will never give up a piece of Pendleton, but that's not true. The Marines have a history of giving up property, and there is no reason why we should not expect their cooperation on this issue. Besides, with more than 120,000 acres, it is not likely that losing a few thousand acres would make a dent in Pendleton's operations.

But even if the Marines should balk, there are always ways to legislate their commitment to the land, as much as I'd hate to see that happen. Instead, I have a better idea. In return for the land at Pendleton, Orange County will return the land at El Toro. San Diego can work out their own deal with the Marines or give Orange County the lion's share of the Pendleton pie. Everyone wins.

Pendleton International's time has come. It is a smart plan that provides for our air transportation needs and gives both sides of the El Toro issue an honorable exit strategy. The only factor preventing Pendleton International's progress is the theory that developers want an El Toro airport only because they will reap huge financial rewards.

But I am confident that public opinion will overcome even this challenge.

There will always be the assorted wet blankets who will try to drag down Pendleton International. When they do, they will be attacking a plan that admittedly is not perfect but one whose benefits far outweigh those of an airport at El Toro, which is likely to face legal challenges for at least the next decade.

As the saying goes, "If you don't think it can be done, get out of the way of those who think it can."

As for Mayor Murphy, I'm sorry he didn't have time to talk to me, but I'm sure it was for a good reason.

I like to think that he was out at Pendleton pacing off the area for the new runways for Pendleton International.