NEWS - January 2003
, "Great Park",
Measure W updates.)
Today's Headlines
- click on date for full story
El Toro Info Site report, January 31, 2003
Supervisor Campbell sworn in today
El Toro Info Site report, January 30, 2003
ETRPA elects new officers
OC Register, January 29, 2003
"Experts: Great Park plan viable"
El Toro Info Site report, January 28, 2003 10:00
PM - updated
Bill Campbell wins big
El Toro Info Site report, January 28, 2003
Irvine discloses financial plan for Great Park
LA Times, January 28, 2003
"A Bid War Will Fund Park, Irvine Says"
OC Register, January 28, 2003
"Study of high-speed rail link gets OK"
El Toro Info Site report, January 27, 2003 5:20
PM
Supervisorial election is on; winner will be seated
El Toro Info Site report, January 27, 2003
Wilson appointments will produce some changes; Smith
hangs on as SCAG rep
Long Beach Press Telegram, January 26, 2003
"Airports looking outside the box"
OC Register, January 26, 2003
"Special election survives in court, for now"
El Toro Info Site report, January 25, 2003 -
FLASH
Judge rules against Measure V
Appeals court says go ahead with election
LA Times, January 25, 2003
"11th-Hour Ruling Due for O.C. Board Election"
El Toro Info Site report, January 23, 2003
The Great Park Financial Plan will be presented
on Tuesday
OC Register, January 23, 2003
County's witnesses defend cost issue in special-election
suit
OC Register, January 22, 2003
"Schumacher out as county CEO"
OC Register, January 22, 2003
"Foes of special election testify"
"They argue that O.C. voters would not have approved
Measure V if they had known the costs involved."
El Toro Info Site report, January 21, 2003
Today in Court
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, January 19, 2003
Industrial real estate still strong in Inland
Empire
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin January 19, 2003
"Interest in airport authority dwindles"
"Lame-duck agency can't make quorum"
OC Register, January 19, 2003
"Possible Davis appointees if election
is ruled illegal"
El Toro Info Site, January 16, 2003
SCAG meeting hears LAWA plans
El Toro Info Site report, January 16, 2003
Smith wants SCRAA to go dormant.
El Toro Info Site, January 15, 2003
Why AWG members write to the Long Beach
papers
El Toro Info Site, January 14, 2003
To SCRAA, SCAG, or what
OC Register, January 14, 2003
"Judge finds possible snag in Measure
V"
"But county attorneys say term limits weren't
accidentally eliminated when O.C. switched to charter government."
Daily Pilot, January 13, 2003
"Web site's apparent crash is not
alarming"
El Toro Info Site report,
January 10, 2002
Doyle Selden 1917-2002
El Toro Info Site report, January 9, 2002
Southern California Regional
Airport Authority plays Keystone Kops
El Toro Info Site report,
January 8, 2002
JWA completes its
best year
El Toro Info Site report, January 7, 2003
Airport opponent to
head Board of Supervisors
El Toro Info Site report, January 6, 2003
New Board of Supervisors
inaugurated
El Toro Info Site report, January 6, 2003
SCRAA hanging in there,
spending money
LA Times, January 5, 2003
"Saying No Is Nothing
New to Norby"
"O.C.'s new supervisor, often a dissenter
on the Fullerton council, brings an independent voice."
OC Register, January 4, 2003
"El Toro base may
go public this year "
OC Register, January 3, 2003
"GOP pair to vie for
Senate Assemblymen"
"John Campbell, Ken Maddox will duel
for Ross Johnson's seat." Have very different El Toro histories.
El Toro Info Site report, January 3, 2003
Tight schedule for
supervisorial election
Chris Mears supported request for
injunction to delay the vote
El Toro Info Site report, January 2, 2003
ETRPA-AWG settlement
to be considered
OC Register, January 1, 2003
"FAA agrees to let
JWA continue to put limits on flights"
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin, January 1, 2003
"Maglev heralds new
era in rail technology"
2002 THE EL TORO YEAR IN REVIEW
Click here for earlier
news.
El Toro Info Site report, January
31, 2003
Supervisor Campbell sworn in today
Bill Campbell was sworn in this morning following a brief special meeting
of the Board of Supervisors called for the purpose of certifying the results
of the 3rd District election. The meeting was held prior to a regular session
of LAFCO at the new Laguna Hills Community Center.
It was widely expected that Campbell would be sworn in at next Tuesday's
regular board meeting. Chairman Tom Wilson explained today's quick action
as "allowing Campbell to get right to work on the business at hand."
Some in the audience of Campbell supporters were anxious for the inauguration
to take place before opponents of Measure V could mount additional legal challenges
to his assuming the elected position. The drama of the occasion was heightened
by the late arrival of Supervisor Charles Smith who did not appear until
17 minutes after the scheduled start of the meeting. Supervisor Silva was
at an AQMD meeting and Smith's attendance was necessary to make a quorum.
Today's event finally gave anti-El Toro citizens
a long fought-for majority on the Board. In his brief remarks,
Campbell indicated that he would work "in every possible way to make sure
that Irvine's efforts to annex El Toro would go smoothly."
Click
here to post your reaction to this red-letter day.
El Toro Info Site report,
January 30, 2003
ETRPA elects new officers
The Board of Directors of the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority (ETRPA)
has elected Laguna Niguel Council Member Mimi Walters as Chair and Rancho
Santa Margarita Mayor Gary Thompson as Vice Chair.
Walters previously served as Vice Chair of ETRPA. She now replaces
Laguna Hills Mayor Allan Songstad who remains on the board, but stepped
down following a two-year term as Chair.
OC Register, January
29, 2003
"Experts: Great Park plan viable"
"IRVINE – The city's proposal to use $353 million in developer fees and
property taxes to pay for construction of the 4,700- acre Great Park generally
makes sense, experts said Tuesday."
"Irvine said it expects to raise $200 million from fees paid by developers
of the land and $153 million from property taxes paid by future homeowners
inside the park's boundaries."
"'This sounds like a very standard deal,' said John Burns, an Irvine real
estate consultant."
See more information in yesterday's website
story.
Additional
details on the plan can be found on the City of Irvine's website.
El Toro Info Site report,
January 28, 2003 10:00 PM - updated January 29
Bill Campbell wins big
Bill Campbell won with 74.8% of the vote. Jim Potts took second place
with 13.2%
Campbell's victory gives airport opponents their first ever majority on
the Board of Supervisors.
The Times reports "Landslide Puts Campbell in Supervisor's Seat".
"Campbell said among his biggest concerns is the state budget crisis that
threatens to cut nearly 8% of the county's general fund, as well as fiscal
mismanagement in the county planning department that led to a fifth of its
staff being laid off. He said dealing with the fate of the defunct El Toro
Marine Base is another priority."
He may be seated as early as next Tuesday.
El Toro Info Site
report, January 28, 2003
Irvine discloses financial plan for Great Park
Planners put the cost of the park infrastructure at $353 million.
Of this amount, $202 million will come directly from developers of the
commercial uses of the land. The remainder will be raised in bonds whose
repayment will be born by future owners of the developed portions of the
property. It is common practice to employ bonds for user-financed infrastructure
such as roads, sewers, and other vital services.
There will be no cost to local taxpayers. The cost of museums
and similar amenities will be born by corporate and private philanthropies.
The city continues to earmark 4,000 acres, approximately 84 percent
of the land, for public uses. Of this amount, approximately 2,500 acres
will be publicly owned. It will be deeded by the developers to a yet to
be determined agency or foundation, just as New York's Central Park was.
The remaining public-use land, such as the golf courses, will be privately
owned.
The $202 million from developers was characterized as a fraction of
the anticipated market price of the land when the Navy puts it for sale.
The developers and eventual commercial landowners also will contribute approximately
2 percent of the real estate value annually in property taxes and user fees.
These fees, similar to assessments paid to homeowner associations, will
maintain the park facilities.
The sale of the property through the General Services Administration
is expected to be complete by the spring of 2004. A development timeline for the project (.pdf
file), beginning after completion of the sale, calls for many public
services to be available within another 3 years.
The property will be sold in four
parcels, designed to attract the most bidding activity. The four
purchasers will contribute contiguous parcels of land for the central park
area.
LA Times, January 28,
2003
"A Bid War Will Fund Park, Irvine Says"
"City plans to auction the 4,700-acre El Toro site to developers and
generate enough Great Park money to let taxpayers off hook"
"Proceeds from an online bidding war between developers will pay for
the Great Park at the closed El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, according
to Irvine city officials, who will unveil their plans for financing the
project today."
"The plan would divide the 4,700-acre former base into four parts,
with development and open space in each. The highest bidders would get
upfront guarantees that they could build thousands of homes or industrial
and commercial projects in certain areas. No additional public financing
for the Great Park would be required, city officials said."
"In exchange, the winning bidders would be required to dedicate swaths
of open space to the city and pay tens of millions of dollars -- potentially
as much as $200 million total -- for infrastructure construction and maintenance
of recreational and cultural areas, which would compose up to 80% of the
former base."
"U.S. Navy officials, Irvine Mayor Larry Agran and city staff are scheduled
to present the plan at a news conference this morning and to the City
Council at 5 p.m."
Website Editor: I'll be at the news conference and will update the
website later today with information from the presentations. For the full
Times article click
here.
OC Register, January
28, 2003
"Study of high-speed rail link gets OK"
"O.C. transportation officials approve $125,000 for planning
segment of eventual route to Las Vegas."
"Getting to Las Vegas from Orange County using a high- speed bullet
train moved one stop closer to reality Monday as transit officials voted
to help fund a study for the proposed project."
"The Orange County Transportation Authority voted unanimously to contribute
$125,000 for planning the Anaheim-Ontario leg of the high-speed rail proposal.
"'I'm interested in this for the commuter, not just to get people to
Vegas,' OCTA Chairman Tim Keenan said. 'It's so cool. Can you imagine
getting to Ontario in just 20 minutes?' Keenan said of a proposed stop
at Ontario International Airport."
"A one-way trip [to Las Vegas] would take 90 minutes, shaving the average
road trip by at least three hours.
"Along with OCTA, officials in Anaheim, Ontario and San Bernardino
have also approved funds for studying the California leg . . . The Anaheim-Ontario
study, which will look at environmental impacts and suggested routes and
train stops, is expected to be complete this year."
El Toro Info Site report,
January 27, 2003 5:20 PM
Supervisorial election is on; winner will be seated
The Court of Appeals, today, upheld its Saturday decision to allow
the special election called for by Measure V. Votes will be counted and
the winner sworn in.
Given the small size of the turnout, with most votes coming as absentee
ballots, it is probable that the Registrar of Voters will certify the
results of the election this week. Informed sources expect the successful
candidate will be Bill Campbell and he will be sworn in to office on February
4 as the third anti-airport supervisor.
The trail in the Court of Appeals will go through several weeks of
preliminary steps with oral arguments scheduled for February 24. If the
appeal holds up at trial, the winner of tomorrow's election will retain
his seat. If not, he will have a very short term of office. It appears unlikely
that the state Supreme Court will take up the issue.
El Toro Info Site report,
January 27, 2003
Wilson appointments will produce some changes; Smith hangs
on as SCAG rep
When the Board of Supervisors meet tomorrow, agenda item 4 calls
for approval of "Chairman's 2003 appointments of Board members to various
Boards, Commissions and Committees."
Many citizens will be disappointed when Chairman Tom Wilson reappoints
El Toro proponent Charles Smith as the County's representative to the
important Southern California Association of Governments, SCAG. Smith
is a member of the organization's policy-making Aviation Task Force along
with Bruce Nestande and Newport Beach Mayor Pro Tem Tod Ridgeway. Wilson
will name himself as Smith's alternate. Airport opponents, who are the majority
of county residents, have been lobbying Wilson to dump Smith and appoint
representatives who fully support their views.
Wilson will personally replace Smith as the County's representative
on two less important groups, the Orange County Regional Airport Authority,
OCRAA, and the Southern California Regional Airport Authority, SCRAA.
During Smith's incumbancy, OCRAA
was awarded $5 million by the Board of Supervisors to promote El Toro
airport. Last year, OCRAA sued the County to try to
overturn Measure W, biting the hand that fed it.
Smith
also led the effort to have the county resurrect and fund SCRAA.
SCRAA then hired Peggy Ducey, former Newport Beach Assistant City Manger
for airport issues to be its Executive Director. LAX-area Assemblyman George
Nakano's tried to give SCRAA a role in his unsuccessful effort to force
more airport capacity onto Orange County.
At its last meeting in June, SCRAA approved sending Smith, his aide
James Campbell, El Segundo Mayor/ El Toro booster Mike Gordon, Ducey and
others on a publicly-funded fact-finding trip to Germany.
Long Beach Press
Telegram, January 26, 2003
"Airports looking outside the box"
"With passenger airlines stuck in survival mode, Southern California's
regional airports have shifted their efforts to expanding air cargo and
distribution-related businesses as future sources of employment and business
activity."
"And with the former El Toro Marine Base in Orange County out of
the competition, business developers looking for airports with available
space to grow have shifted their focus to the Inland Empire and surrounding
valleys, where regional
airports - many of them former military bases - are scurrying to
reinvent themselves into commercial hubs."
"Air cargo movement in Southern California - Los Angeles, San Bernardino,
Riverside, Orange and Ventura counties - is expected to more than triple
in the next several decades, from about 3 million tons today to 9.5 million
tons by 2025."
"Twenty years from now, 60 percent of Southern California's cargo
will pass through four regional airports: Ontario, San Bernardino, Southern
California Logistics in Victorville and March Inland Port in Riverside,
a joint-use facility with the Air Force."
Click
here for the full article.
OC Register, January
26, 2003
"Special election survives in court, for now"
"Voters may pick a county supervisor, but their work could be undone
by appeals judges."
"An election to fill a vacancy on the county Board of Supervisors
can go forward Tuesday, and the votes counted, an appellate court decided
Saturday evening – less than two hours after a Superior Court judge ruled
the special election process unconstitutional. The election's status could
change again Monday after the appellate court considers further arguments."
"Superior Court Judge Andrew P. Banks ruled Saturday afternoon
that the charter is unconstitutional. Anticipating the appeal from the
county, he said the election could go forward – but ordered that votes
not be counted unless his ruling was overturned."
"The 4th District Court of Appeal then promptly granted a request
from the county to set aside Banks' order until appeals are heard. The
appellate court added that the decision 'does not reflect this court's
view on the merits of the underlying legal issues.'"
"On Monday, the court will consider the request to block the election.
It will hear the appeal in full after the election."
"If the appeal is unsuccessful, the election results are likely
to be thrown out – and the elected supervisor removed to allow for the
governor's appointment."
El Toro Info Site report,
January 25, 2003 - FLASH UPDATE
Judge rules against Measure V
Appeals court says go ahead with election
We have an unconfirmed report that while the Superior Court judge
ruled against Measure V, the Court of Appeals decided today to
allow the election to be held. Details will follow as we get confirmation.
LA Times, January 25,
2003
"11th-Hour Ruling Due for O.C. Board Election"
"The special election to fill the 3rd District seat on the Board
of Supervisors is scheduled for Tuesday and candidates continue to campaign
despite the uncertainty over whether the election will actually take
place."
"Anticipating a ruling this weekend [from Judge Andrew Banks]
county officials asked the 4th District Court of Appeals to be available
over the weekend, if as expected, Banks issues a ruling. Both sides
have vowed to appeal."
An attorney for leading candidate Bill Campbell, "asked the
judge to allow the election even if he finds the Measure [V] unconstitutional
because the ruling won't be the final word." Some 18,000 absentee ballots
have already been cast.
El Toro Info Site report,
January 23, 2003 - updated
The Great Park Financial Plan will be presented
on Tuesday
A financial plan for development and maintenance of the Great
Park will be made public on Tuesday, January 28 as part of the annexation
process for El Toro. The presentation will take place at the City Council
Chambers, Irvine City Hall, One Civic Center Plaza, Irvine CA between
5:00PM - 6:30PM. The general public and press are invited.
Interested individuals will have the opportunity to share
their thoughts during the Public Comments period.
Details of the plan will also be made available on this website
for those who are unable to attend.
OC Register, January
23, 2003
County's witnesses defend cost issue in special-election
suit
A pollster and a college professor dispute testimony against
Measure V.
"Witnesses for the county spent Wednesday afternoon rebutting earlier testimony that voters would not have
approved Measure V in March if they had known the cost."
"Plaintiffs' witnesses testified Tuesday that the cost of
such special elections – at least $200,000 – was not disclosed to
voters and that it would not have been approved had voters known. Plaintiffs
believe this is tantamount to misleading the voters and should disqualify
the initiative."
"But the defendants' witnesses responded that it is impossible
to isolate that one factor and say it determined the outcome of the
election."
"'To look at (voters') view on fiscal impact without considering
their view of elected versus appointed (supervisors) is to not consider
the whole picture,' said veteran pollster Arnold Steinberg of Calabasas.
'"It's my view that people know elections cost money. In my years, I
haven't seen it affect voters' (support for) special elections. It's
the cost of democracy.'"
OC Register, January
22, 2003
"Schumacher out as county CEO"
"Michael Schumacher, a 32-year Orange County employee who
has been at the helm of the 18,000-employee government since June 2000,
is out as the CEO."
"The Board of Supervisors met two times today – at 9:30
a.m. and 4:30 p.m. – before Schumacher's departure was announced. The
vote to fire Schumacher, effective Monday, was 3-1, with Supervisor
Chuck Smith dissenting."
"Assistant CEO Bill Mahoney will take over in the short
term, but the board will negotiate to bring on former Anaheim City
Manager Jim Ruth as the interim CEO during a nationwide search for
a permanent replacement."
"Schumacher, 62, has come under fire for not taking earlier
action on the county planning department, which spent an $18.5 million
surplus and then had to borrow $8 million from the county general fund
in August to meet operating expenses."
Website Editor: The Planning Department and its recently
departed head Tom Mathews, were involved in the early phases of El
Toro Planning before that function was transferred to a string of program
managers, culminating with Gary Simon.
Michael Schumacher is the fourth top county executive since
1989, and all have run into trouble with county supervisors. The others:
• Ernie Schneider, November 1989 to February 1995: Schneider
was fired in the wake of the county’s December 1994 bankruptcy after
he was criticized as being too hands-off of Treasurer Robert L. Citron.
• William Popejoy, February 1995 to July 1995: The Newport
Beach businessman was brought in to restore trust in the tarnished
government. Supervisors called him on the carpet over his brash style
and he quit.
• Jan Mittermeier, July 1995 to June 2000: Supervisors
elevated the director of John Wayne Airport, and her clashes with
supervisors began publicly in 1997. Battles over her handling of El
Toro and other issues led to her dismissal before Schumacher was hired
as her replacement.
OC Register, January
22, 2003
"Foes of special election testify"
"They argue that O.C. voters would not have approved
Measure V if they had known the costs involved."
"Had they known what it would cost, Orange County voters
would not have approved a measure that gave them – rather than the
governor – the authority to fill unscheduled vacancies on the Board
of Supervisors, veteran pollster Alex Evans testified in court Tuesday."
"A coalition of labor unions is suing to block the change,
approved by voters as Measure V in March."
"Plaintiffs presented their two experts witnesses on the
opening day, focusing repeatedly on the county's failure to tell voters
the cost of Measure V – at least $200,000 for each special election."
"Evans said a Field Poll sample of California voters showed
that initiatives typically lose 10 to 16 percentage points when
there is a fiscal effect for taxpayers – and that his polling showed
Orange County voters are the most reluctant in the state to support
measures when there is a fiscal effect."
"One of the plaintiffs' key arguments is that by failing
to disclose the fiscal effect on sample ballots, county supervisors
– who put the measure on the ballot – did not adequately provide voters
with the information they needed to make an informed decision."
"But the defense contends that there is no legal requirement
to disclose the cost. Deputy County Counsel Nicole Sims told the court
that no initiative in the state had ever been overturned because
the fiscal effect was not presented."
El Toro Info Site report,
January 21, 2003
Today in Court
The trial against Measure V is calendared to get underway
today, at 9:00 AM in Department 7 of the OC Superior Court before
Judge Andrew P. Banks. The judge indicates that he will try to
resolve the matter by this weekend.
Meanwhile, the election for Todd Spitzer's supervisorial
election is still on for next Tuesday, the 28th.
Residents in the 3rd District are urged to vote so that
the Board of Supervisors now split 2-2, can be reformed by the electorate
with a 3-2 anti-airport majority.
Today is the final day for requesting an absentee ballot.
Inland Valley Daily Bulletin,
January 19, 2003, posted January 20
Industrial real estate still strong in Inland
Empire
"The Inland Empire's advantages as an industrial market
are well known. San Bernardino and Riverside counties have an outstanding
transportation network, land that's cheap and a labor force that
will work for less than workers in coastal counties."
"Add to that the fact that the two counties sit on the
eastern edge of a massive metropolitan area, and it's an almost unstoppable
recipe for success."
"This is great news," said Rick John, senior vice president
for Collins Commercial. "The engine driving the Inland Empire is
jobs, and industrial buildings create jobs . . . We are going to
blow right by Orange County as an industrial market," John said."
"Indeed, as the market continues to grow, the total
industrial base in the Inland Empire is expected to surpass Orange
County sometime this year."
"'Southern California has such a huge economy,' Inland
Empire economist John Husing said. 'The coastal counties are out
of real estate, so the Inland Empire is right on the cutting edge of
the growth.'"
Website Editor: Click
here for the complete article. The growth in San Bernadino
and Riverside Counties helps to explain the reason why many community
leaders support expansion of Inland Empire airports rather than El
Toro.
Inland Valley Daily
Bulletin January 19, 2003
"Interest in airport authority dwindles"
"Lame-duck agency can't make quorum"
"The decision by [Supervisor Tom Wilson] . . . to not
appoint a representative to the Southern California Regional Airport
Authority dealt another blow to the struggling joint-powers entity."
"The decision leaves the agency - formed to spread
air traffic among Southern California airports - with only representatives
from San Bernardino and Los Angeles counties, which is not enough
for a quorum."
"'The organization will remain, and it may go dormant
for a period of time, either short-term or long term, but when we
get leaders who have the vision and courage ... we will move it forward
again,' said the authority's CEO Peggy Ducey."
"Supervisor Tom Wilson, the new chairman of the Orange
County Supervisors, said Friday that he would not appoint a representative
to the board. Wilson said the Orange County Supervisors may request that the organization disband
so they can receive a refund of their membership dues."
"Many politicians in South Orange County have strongly
opposed SCRAA because it supported creating an airport at the
former El Toro Navy base."
"'Peggy Ducey has a history of looking for an airport
at El Toro,' Wilson said. 'I can't believe that has dropped off her
radar screen.'"
OC Register, January
19, 2003
"Possible Davis appointees if election is
ruled illegal"
"Regardless of the outcome of the trial to determine
whether county voters should be allowed to fill unscheduled supervisorial
vacancies, the issue is expected to be appealed. If the ultimate ruling
restores the governor's authority to fill such vacancies, Davis is
likely to pick an ally who would have a good chance to be elected when
the two-year term finishes."
"That does not rule out a Democrat. Former Assemblyman
Tom Umberg, a plaintiffs' attorney in the lawsuit, lives in the
district and is politically connected."
"Joe Kerr, president of the county firefighters union,
is lead plaintiff and has expressed an interest in the post."
"Recorder Tom Daly, although the former Anaheim mayor
is one of the most popular Democrats in the county and could be particularly
attractive to Davis."
"Irvine resident Sarah Catz, a former member of the
Orange County Transportation Authority, was appointed by Davis as
assistant secretary for the Business, Transportation and Housing
Agency – and could be tapped again."
"Irvine Mayor Larry Agran and council members Chris
Mears and Beth Krom are all Democrats and could be considered."
"Or Davis, known for his middle-of-the- road ideology,
might select a moderate Republican, like Brea Councilwoman Bev
Perry or Tustin Councilwoman Tracy Worley."
Website editor: It is unlikely that a strong pro-airport
appointee could get reelected. However, there are politicians who
would take a middle-of-the-road stance on the reuse issue, depriving
El Toro opponents of a predictable majority on key votes.
Click
here to input what you know about the named individuals and
their El Toro positions. We will post what we find.
El Toro Info Site, January
16, 2003
SCAG meeting hears LAWA plans
The Aviation Task Force of the Southern California
Association of Governments heard a report from Los Angeles World
Airports about the futures for LAX, Ontario, and Palmdale.
Jim Ritchie of LAWA opened his remarks about LAX
with "This is a different presentation than I would have given
two years ago" referring to the changes made by LA Mayor James
Hahn to the concepts of his predecessor Dick Riordan. While Riordan
supported expanding LAX to nearly 100 million annual passengers,
Hahn "pledged no growth" and will keep the airport at its currently size
and limit service to 78 MAP.
What was described repeatedly as "the Mayor's vision"
will also cut one million annual tons of air cargo capacity out
of the "Riordan plan." During the question and answer session, a task
force member noted that this reduction would apparently deprive the
region of $33 billion of "opportunity income."
While some participants seemed troubled by the plan
to scale back LAX, others doubted that it was enough. LA County
Councilwoman Ruth Gallanter, an LAX expansion foe, pressed the presenters
to admit that LAX runways, as they exist, can handle 89 MAP and that
a new mayor could increase the airport's utilization. The LAWA consultants
stressed that the mayor's plan counted on reducing the number of gates
as a "constraint" to additional passenger service. Once the plan was
fully approved, another environmental impact report would be required
before the number of gates could be increased again.
Capping LAX is central to Hahn's hope of regionalizing
airport service. LAWA hopes to make up for part of the anticipated
future capacity shortfall by expanding Ontario. LAWA said the airport
which currently handles 6.5 MAP can be expanded to 33.4 MAP utilizing
its existing two runways. Ontario is also envisioned to handle
1.5 million tons of cargo.
Ontario planners are reportedly working with counterparts
at San Bernadino and Victorville airports to pick up part of the
air cargo load.
Palmdale was described as "an airport in waiting."
It can accommodate up to 400 flight operations a day but there
is considerable "airline reticence" to go there, particularly in
today's industry environment where airlines are cutting service to
less profitable destinations.
El Toro Info Site
report, January 16, 2003
Smith wants SCRAA to go dormant.
Supervisor Chuck Smith opted not to attend today's
scheduled Southern California Regional Airport Authority meeting
and it was called off again for lack of a quorum.
Smith is chairman of the group. Smith's chief assistant, James Campbell,
said, "Smith wants the organization to go dormant."
El Toro opponents want the group to be not "dormant"
but dead. A "dormant" SCRAA could be resurrected at a future
date.
Constituents have been urging Chairman of the Board
of Supervisors Tom Wilson to agendize a board discussion of SCRAA.
This could lead to a vote asking the organization to return its
funds to the counties and then to disband. SCRAA has approximately
a half million dollars in its treasury.
Wilson has refrained so far, at Smith's request,
from taking action to kill the organization, or even to withdraw
Orange County from membership. To kill the organization, Smith
would have to assemble a SCRAA quorum and hold a vote to disband.
He appears to be balking at this.
Presumably, the OC Board of Supervisors could ask
Smith, as the county's representative, to do so.
Riverside County recently withdrew and then asked
for its money to be returned. The failure of the group to meet has
blocked the refund. The county should have asked for the money and
voted to have it returned before resigning.
El Toro Info Site, January
15, 2003
Why AWG members write to the Long Beach
papers
Members of the Newport Beach based Airport Working
Group regularly write letters to the Long Beach newspapers about
El Toro. Donald Nyre was published again today, playing on the
fears that Long Beach airport will expand. There is a tactical reason
for the selection of that target audience.
Airport proponents hope to line up Long Beach area
legislators behind pro-El Toro action in the state capitol again
this year. Last year, Long Beach assembly members Lowenthal, Oropeza,
and Havice voted for the Nakano bill AB2333.
This is part of an effort underway to cast
Orange County as shirking its fair share of airport building to
the detriment of the state and region's economy. Stay tuned.
El Toro Info Site, January
14, 2003
To SCRAA, SCAG, or what
Today's Inland Valley Daily Bulletin reports that
the Southern California Regional Airport Authority will meet
on Thursday afternoon to consider "a 2003 work plan for an integrated
air-rail system that would link the Orange County passenger and
cargo market to the Inland Empire."
"SCRAA is exploring using a satellite station
in Orange County, perhaps in Anaheim, that would use high-speed
rail to bring passengers and cargo to ONT, Victorville's Southern
California Logistics Airport and San Bernardino International Airport."
It is unclear as to why OC passengers would want to bypass Ontario
and stay on the train to Victorville or San Bernadino.
Excluding an October phone meeting, the authority
has struggled with participation and has not had a quorum since
July when members approved a fact-finding trip to Germany. Riverside
County recently quit the group and asked for its money back. Many
here believe that OC should do likewise.
Meanwhile, the Southern California Association
of Governments, SCAG, which also meets on Thursday, is supporting
a Maglev link
from West LA and Union Station to Ontario and March Inland Port.
It is unclear as to why travelers in LA would want to bypass nearby
LAX and travel to Ontario or March.
The City of Irvine hopes to create a flyaway bus
link from the El Toro property to several regional airports. Meanwhile
Los Angeles World Airports has studied 10 flyaway sites to serve
LAX but none
of them are in Orange County.
This writer and others hope that the new O.C.
Board of Supervisors will take charge of the situation and quickly
decide who speaks for Orange County and what we plan to do about
ground access to regional airports.
OC Register, January 14, 2003
"Judge finds possible snag in Measure
V"
"But county attorneys say term limits weren't
accidentally eliminated when O.C. switched to charter government."
"Orange County voters' right to fill unscheduled
vacancies on the Board of Supervisors hit a short-lived snag
Monday, when Superior Court Judge Andrew P. Banks suggested that
the ballot measure establishing that right may have unwittingly
eliminated term limits."
"But by the end of the day, county attorneys
identified a section of the government code that became law
after the cases cited by Banks – and which county attorneys say
supersedes the judge's opinion. Other issues could intervene when
the trial formally begins next week."
"At stake is Measure V, approved by county voters
in March. The sole motivation for the change was to allow voters
– rather than the governor – to fill supervisorial vacancies."
Website Editor: During the Measure V campaign,
County Counsel provided the following written legal opinion to
the Board of Supervisors. "We conclude that the language of
the proposed charter and the requirement of the Government Code
dictate that the adoption of the proposed charter would not impact
the County's term limits ordinance."
Daily Pilot, January 13,
2003
"Web site's apparent crash is not
alarming"
"Reports of El Toro Airport's demise have been
largely exaggerated. A Daily Pilot reader dropped us a line
last week, alarmed to report that a main Web site for the [pro]
El Toro fight seemed to have disappeared. The Airport Working Group site is
down to the bare bones, with almost no text at all except the
words 'under construction.'"
"A quick phone call to working group Vice President
Rick Taylor revealed that 'under construction' means 'under construction.'"
"'We're just updating it,' Taylor said, noting
that the group is a little too short on technical expertise
to do maintenance while the site's still up and running. But
mark his words, neither the Web site nor the El Toro fight is
even close to death."
Website Editor: The "updating" explanation
doesn't ring true. It looks more like a real technical crash
of the site. As website operators, we are sympathetic. But who
would expect the AWG or Rick "Great Tax for a Great Park" Taylor to
tell it like it really is?
LA Times political correspondent Patt Morrison
comments today that the website is under construction, "unlike
the airport."
El Toro Info Site report,
January 10, 2002
Doyle Selden 1917-2002
We are saddened to learn of the death of
Doyle Selden, one of the original dedicated activists in the
long fight against El Toro Airport. He passed away last month
in Mesa AZ where he moved from Orange County's Leisure World in
1998.
Doyle was active in the Coalition for Responsible
Airport Solutions, the first of several anti-airport groups.
He maintained an extensive library of relevant resource material
on aviation during the pre-Internet days of the fight. He received
numerous commendations for his work from local governments in
this area.
El Toro Info Site report,
January 9, 2002
Southern California Regional
Airport Authority plays Keystone Kops
Viewers of a certain age will remember the
Keystone Kops of silent movie days. They ran around purposelessly
and succeeded in all sorts of comic bungling.
That seems to describe the Southern California
Regional Airport Authority, SCRAA. It's not a pretty picture
for an organization resurrected in 2001 "to begin creating a decentralized regional
approach to aviation planning for Southern California."
Unable to get enough members together for
meetings, the group has resorted to telephone conferencing.
That's how SCRAA approved sending O.C. Supervisor Charles Smith,
his assistant James Campbell, and several other individuals
on a recent
trip to Germany.
The group was scheduled for another telephonic
meeting yesterday. The agenda called for action on a request
from Riverside County, which recently quit SCRAA, for a refund
of its membership dues.
However, observers who showed up at the
fifth floor of the O.C. Hall of Administration where Supervisor
Smith has his office, were barred from listening in. They were
kept waiting and then moved to another floor in the building. Conflicting
explanations were given, both that the SCRAA board was in "closed
session" and that there was no meeting because of no quorum.
El Toro Info Site report,
January 8, 2002
JWA completes its
best year
In 2002, the number of passengers served at John Wayne airport hit a record
7.9 million. That is the airport's best year in terms of passengers,
topping the previous
record of 7.7 million set in 1997.
The volume of passengers exceeded 2001's terrorism-depressed level by
7.9 %. However, the number of commercial flights actually declined slightly.
This bodes well for nearby residents concerned that the airport's increased
utilization may come at the expense of more flights.
Cargo tonnage, general aviation flights, and air taxi operations all declined
for the year.
On January 1, the passenger cap for the airport was increased from 8.4
million annual passengers to a new cap of 10.3 MAP under
an agreement between the county and Newport Beach.
El Toro Info Site
report, January 7, 2003
Airport opponent to
head Board of Supervisors
For over eight years, the Board of Supervisors pushed an unpopular El
Toro airport project on the residents of Orange County. Today, with the selection
of airport opponent Tom Wilson to chair the board, there is
hope that county government will get in step with the electorate.
Wilson first was appointed to the Board of Supervisors in 1997. Twice
his district reelected him by wide margins. However, before today, the board
majority repeatedly passed over Wilson for the Chairmanship,
despite his seniority and entirely because of his anti-airport
views. The pro-airport majority also shot down his numerous efforts
to make airport planning more democratic and they rejected his
recommended appointees to panels such as the Airport Land Use Commission,
ALUC.
Wilson faces strong challenges in his leadership position. Some are created
by a decline in state revenue for county projects. In the
airport arena, he must try to replace pro-airport county representatives
on regional panels with individuals who speak for the majority
of county residents. Most notable is Supervisor Charles Smith who
represents O.C. on the Southern California Association of Governments,
the Southern California Regional Airport Authority, and the Orange
County Regional Airport Authority.
Through the Chair's authority to agendize items, he must work to improve
the compositional balance of panels such as the ALUC, which recently voted against removing
obsolete airport land use restrictions around El Toro.
With the final battle over El Toro likely to occur in the state
capitol, Wilson must get the county's Sacramento lobbyists on
board with the will of the voters.
In another show of the changing times, Supervisor Jim Silva was selected
to be vice-Chair over staunch airport advocate Charles Smith.
Silva is a fiscal conservative and is more moderate than Smith
on the airport issue.
El Toro Info Site
report, January 6, 2003
New Board of Supervisors
inaugurated
Four men sat on the platform this afternoon as a new Board of Supervisors
was sworn in. Tom Wilson and Jim Silva began new four-year
stints after their reelection. Chris Norby finally took his
seat, ten months after the election that turned Cynthia Coad out
of office. Chuck Smith has two years left in his final term.
Coad did not attend the ceremony.
Jim Silva took the microphone to outline his vision for the coming years.
It was a message of fiscal conservatism with emphasis on
smaller government with "efficiency, effectiveness and accountability
to the citizens." Silva put elimination of the remaining bankruptcy
debt high on his list of goals.
Next, Chris Norby took center stage with a rousing call for a new wind
to sweep through Orange County government to match today's
blustering wind that forced the ceremony indoors from the
Old Courthouse steps. Norby mentioned El Toro, the Planning
Department, and his hopes for "a free election" for the new supervisor
in Spitzer's vacated 3rd District.
Norby received a standing ovation from the packed house. Federal Judge
David Carter who was Master of Ceremonies for the event
quipped, "I want to see you back here in a year."
Tom Wilson, who will take over as Board Chairman tomorrow, was low key
and gave no clues as to his agenda.
Silva and Smith are reported to be jockeying for the Vice-Chairmanship.
El Toro Info Site report, January
6, 2003
SCRAA hanging in there,
spending money
The Board of the Southern California Regional Airport Authority is scheduled
to hold a special teleconference on January 8. The SCRAA
has had difficulty in getting its members to attend face-to-face
meetings.
The agenda includes a closed session to amend the SCRAA agreement with
Peggy Ducey, the former Newport Beach Assistant City Manager
for airport matters and former OCRAA Executive Director. Ducey
receives $12,000 per month as Chief Executive Officer of SCRAA
and also provides administrative services to the organization
as a $150 per hour consultant.
The SCRAA will also amend its agreement with Thomas Edwards of Newport
Beach to provide legal services.
The SCRAA 2002-3 budget of $900,000 is allocated almost entirely for administrative
support staff supplied through Ducey and on professional services.
The County of Riverside has requested that its membership dues be refunded.
LA Times, January
5, 2003
"Saying No Is Nothing
New to Norby"
"O.C.'s new supervisor, often a dissenter
on the Fullerton council, brings an independent voice."
"When Chris Norby is sworn in Monday as Orange County's new supervisor,
he will bring a reputation for independence that some find
refreshing but others warn could be quixotic."
"The longtime high school history teacher -- known for being the dissenter
in numerous 4-1 votes during his nearly two decades on the
Fullerton City Council -- is seen by many as the supervisor
most likely to question county policies and scrutinize the bureaucracy."
"Norby was elected to the 4th District seat on the board in March in an
upset over incumbent Supervisor Cynthia P. Coad. Norby ran
as a strong opponent of a proposed airport at El Toro, shattering
the conventional wisdom that his North County district was solidly
pro-airport."
"With the El Toro fight now history, the issue that dominated and divided
the board for a decade has disappeared." Click
here for the Early Bird thread with the full article.
Website Editor: We hope that El Toro is history but it will not be
until airport proponents finally throw in the towel. For example, the Southern
California Regional Airport Authority, SCRAA, is scheduled to decide this
month on whether to disband. With El Toro advocate Supervisor Chuck Smith
as Orange County's representative on the SCRAA board, the outcome of that
vote is uncertain.
Smith also represents Orange County on the Southern California Association
of Governments, SCAG, and the Orange County Regional Airport
Authority, OCRAA. We would like to see Norby and Jim Silva
take over these duties. They are the two supervisors who have
airports in their districts - Norby with Fullerton and Silva with
John Wayne.
County lobbyists in Sacramento also need to be brought into line with
the position of OC voters on El Toro. Hopefully, Tom Wilson, as the new Board Chairman,
will exert control in this area.
OC Register,
January 4, 2003
"El Toro base may
go public this year "
"Irvine plans to release its environmental report on El Toro later this
month, kicking off a new year for the former Marine base
that could also see the annexation of the land by Irvine and
its sale by the Navy to private developers."
"'I think it is going to be a momentous year,' said Irvine Mayor Larry
Agran of the city's hopes for El Toro in 2003. 'This is
the year when the real payoff comes for the public, I think.'"
"The rough timeline sketched out by Irvine officials this week includes:"
"Late January: The city releases its environmental-impact report for El
Toro, detailing how development proposed for the land would
affect surrounding areas, and how those effects would be handled."
"January-March: Within the first three months of the year, the city releases
a business and financial plan to show how it believes the
Great Park - the public uses it hopes to see at the base - will
be paid for."
"Late April: The Irvine City Council approves the final environmental
report and then makes its formal application to annex the property."
"May: The federal government is likely to begin marketing the property
to prospective buyers.
"August-October: The city hopes to complete the annexation, allowing the
federal government to wrap up its auction and complete the
sale of the land."
"'I think we're all pretty much on the same page when it comes to the
redevelopment of the base,' said Irvine Councilwoman Christina Shea, who
more often than not has staked out positions opposite those held by Agran."
"Other progress on El Toro this year could include an effort to decide
who would run the Great Park. Agran said Irvine wants the
park to be considered a place for the entire county, and directed
by leaders from around the county, too."
"While ballot measures and lawsuits helped those fighting the plan for
an El Toro airport eventually win their war, the airport
advocates have largely gone silent . . . . Even the staunch
pro-El Toro airport groups seeking to overturn Measure W - the
March 2002 ballot measure that killed the airport - have discussed
settling their lawsuits and bringing to an end their legal efforts
to revive the airport." Website Editor: However, an ETRPA closed session meeting on Friday
did not complete the settlement negotiations.
"Barbara Lichman, executive director of the Airport Working Group, acknowledged
the settlement talks, but also hinted that her organization
has other irons in the fire regarding El Toro. 'There are things,'
Lichman said. 'But nothing I can talk about.'"
OC Register,
January 3, 2003
"GOP pair to vie for
Senate Assemblymen"
"John Campbell, Ken Maddox will duel
for Ross Johnson's seat." Have very different El Toro histories.
"Republican Assemblymen John Campbell and Ken Maddox each announced Thursday
that they would seek the state Senate seat of Ross Johnson,
who is stepping down next year because of term limits."
"Both Campbell and Maddox have solid reputations in the GOP but are easily
differentiated by their backgrounds and voting records."
Website Editor: The Register article fails to note their different
backgrounds on the El Toro debate. Irvine resident John Campbell made his
opposition to the airport known in 2000 and 2001 in a pair of letters published on this website.
Ken Maddox, who lives in Garden Grove but is moving into the district
for the election, was an airport supporter. He was appointed
to the staunchly pro-airport El Toro Citizens Advisory Commission
by 1st District Supervisor Chuck Smith.
In an April 2002 letter to the Irvine
World News, Maddox admits to his previous position
but says he now has hopes that Irvine's reuse plan can benefit
the county.
Both men voted against the Nakano bill AB2333 in the state legislature.
El Toro Info Site
report, January 3, 2003
Tight schedule for
supervisorial election
Chris Mears supported request for
injunction to delay the vote
Voters in the 3rd supervisorial district have until January 13 to register
if they are new voters or recently moved. The deadline for
requesting absentee ballots
is January 21.
On December 19, Joe Kerr and three other public employees, seeking to
overturn Measure V, failed to obtain a preliminary injunction to block the
election. The plaintiffs produced a declaration from Irvine City Councilman
Chris Mears in support of their unsuccessful request.
Mears stated in his declaration to the court, "I considered running in
the upcoming special election. . . I decided however, not
to run in large part because 70 days is not nearly enough time
to do all the things necessary for a successful campaign." He cited
raising money, organizing volunteers and "getting one's name widely
known".
Five candidates
are running in the election and Tom Coad, Cynthia Coad's
husband attempted to join the race.
The lawsuit to overturn Measure V will have another day in court on January
21. If the measure is overturned the voters will not get to
elect a replacement for Todd Spitzer. Instead, the governor will
appoint a supervisor. Party politics has emerged as a major factor
in filling what is nominally a nonpartisan office.
El Toro Info
Site report, January 2, 2003
ETRPA-AWG settlement
to be considered
The Board of ETRPA will meet tomorrow afternoon at 3 PM in closed session
to consider the settlement of lawsuits initiated by the
Airport Working Group and its allies. Two suits were brought
by Newport Beach-led coalitions against Measure W and against
the Navy over its environmental impact study and decision to
adopt a non-aviation reuse alternative for El Toro.
The lawsuit against Measure W failed at the Superior Court level and has
yet to be appealed. The lawsuit against the Navy and other
government defendants was filed in Washington but transferred
to the federal district in California.
Involved in the discussion is the $276,000 owed by Bruce Nestande and
Citizens for Jobs and the Economy as a result of an earlier failed lawsuit
to disqualify Measure W petitions. The plaintiffs argued unsuccessfully that
the county-prepared ballot title and summary were flawed. The court awarded
legal fees to the initiative proponents in that case.
Stay tuned.
OC Register, January
1, 2003
"FAA agrees to let
JWA continue to put limits on flights"
"The action removes the last hurdle
for a plan to control noise, pollution."
As reported on this website yesterday, "John Wayne Airport can continue
limiting the number of flights and passengers who use it,
the Federal Aviation Administration agreed."
"'I think it does everything that we wanted it to do,' said Airport Director
Alan Murphy, of the FAA opinion requested by the county, Newport
Beach and two airport watchdog groups."
"By writing that the county has the right to amend its original 1985 court
agreement - even though federal law now makes such restrictions
harder to implement - the FAA also left the door open to extending
the agreement indefinitely, some said."
"'This federal approval effectively guarantees our local control not just
through 2015, but for further extensions as well,' said Rep.
Chris Cox, R-Newport Beach, in a statement."
Inland Valley Daily
Bulletin, January 1, 2003
"Maglev heralds new
era in rail technology"
"SHANGHAI, China The sleek white train zipped noiselessly out of a futuristic
station in Shanghai, carrying Chinese and German leaders
and hopes for a new era in railway technology."
"The world's first commercial magnetic-levitation train performed flawlessly
on its maiden journey Tuesday, hitting 260 mph between Shanghai's
gleaming financial district and the 3-year-old Pudong airport.
A German-built high-tech marvel, the train can outrun a World
War II fighter plane by riding above its track suspended by powerful
opposing magnets."
"Its VIP passengers, Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji and German Chancellor
Gerhard Schroeder, said they hoped the 14-minute, 19-mile journey would build
confidence in the expensive new technology."
Website Editor: Maglev trains are seen by many, as a solution to California's
future transportation needs. The Southern California Association
of Governments, SCAG, has endorsed a Maglev route from West LA to Ontario
Airport and the Inland Empire. Other high-speed rail
connections are envisioned to Las Vegas and linking Northern and
Southern California.
2002 THE EL
TORO YEAR IN REVIEW
2002 was a climactic year in the long battle over El Toro reuse. Here
are a few of the stories that made our website headlines:
JANUARY - Newport Beach halts its $3.7 million city-funded attack on the
Great Park after ETRPA wins a court injunction blocking a
related $8 million county-funded campaign. State law prohibits
the spending of public money to influence the outcome of elections.
MARCH - County voters pass Measure W, the OC Central Park and Nature Preserve
Initiative, by 58% to 42%. That ends airport zoning at El
Toro. The Navy immediately announces that it will sell the property
for uses consistent with Measure W.
Cynthia Coad, the pro-airport Chair of the Board of
Supervisors, is voted out of office. Chris Norby will
be sworn in to office on January 6, 2003.
APRIL - The Navy makes it official by issuing a Record of Decision to
dispose of the property for non-aviation reuse.
MAY - The Marine Corps announces that it will not relocate recruit training
from San Diego to El Toro.
JUNE - Supervisor Cynthia Coad abandons negotiations with the City of
Irvine over her demand for $800,000 of funding for parks in North County.
She rescinds her support for annexation, causing delay in the process.
JULY - Irvine and the Navy jointly announce a preliminary reuse plan.
After the property is annexed to the city, 4,000 acres will become park,
education, and public use. Funding will come from the private sale of the
remaining 15 percent of the land.
AUGUST - Pro-airport Supervisor Charles Smith fails in an attempt to place
another El Toro measure on the November ballot. He sought
to force two more countywide votes before the start of non-aviation
reuse. Supervisor Silva refuses to back Smith's tactic.
Cal State Fullerton opens its new campus at El Toro
to 2,000 students.
SEPTEMBER - Airport proponents in Newport Beach lose two big Measure W
lawsuits. An Orange County court orders them to pay $276,608
in costs to the initiative's proponents. They tried and failed
to disqualify petitions with 175,000 signatures, claiming that
the county-furnished title on the forms was defective.
A Los Angeles judge upholds Measure W against a lawsuit
by the Airport Working Group and the Orange County Regional
Airport Authority (Anaheim, Buena Park, Costa Mesa, Cypress,
Garden Grove, La Habra, Los Alamitos, Newport Beach, Placentia,
Seal Beach, Stanton, Villa Park, Westminister, and Yorba Linda).
A bill by LAX-area Assemblyman George Nakano, intending
to force Orange County to provide more aviation capacity,
passes in the state legislature but is vetoed by the Governor.
The airline industry is forced to rethink optimistic
growth plans in the aftermath of the September 11 terrorist
attacks.
OCTOBER - A $1.5 million planning grant from the FAA to the Southern California
Association of Governments specifies that the funds can't
be spent on regional transportation plans that include an El Toro
airport.
DECEMBER - A judge allows a special January 28th supervisorial election
to proceed. The winner will replace former Supervisor Todd
Spitzer. Pro-airport candidate Tom Coad fumbles his try to
establish residence in the district. However, a legal challenge
to the voter-approved Measure V still could derail the election.
The 3rd District includes portions of Anaheim, and
the Cities of Brea, Irvine, Orange, Tustin, Villa Park, and Yorba Linda.
It also covers the unincorporated areas of Orange Park Acres, North Tustin
and Silverado, Modjeska and Trabuco canyons.
The "Yes on Measure W" committee endorses former State
Assemblyman Bill Campbell in the 5-candidate race.
Voters in the district are encouraged to obtain absentee
ballots. For information
click here.
PREDICTIONS FOR 2003:
There may be one more major attempt to salvage an airport at El Toro.
Airport diehards from Newport Beach, a few North Orange County officials,
and political leaders from Los Angeles County may try to enact a California
law to remove El Toro's future from local control.
Attempts will be made to stall Irvine's annexation
of the base and the Navy's plan to sell the property.
We will have plenty of El Toro news to report. Stay tuned. Details
on the above stories can be accessed via the website's news archive.
Click here for previous
news stories
