News
- February 2001News
- February 2001LA Times - O C Register, February 28, 2001
Silva's swing vote ensures Measure H provisions
Website Direct, February 27, 2001
"ETRPA is Unanimous"
Website Direct, February 26, 2000
Important ETRPA meeting tonight at 6:00 PM
OC Register (Editorial) February 26,
2001
"Airport Squabble"
OC Register, February 26, 2001
"Airport officials say LAX can be bigger and better"
"Orange County residents have a stake in plans to extend the
flight hub"
Website Direct, February 25, 2001
Foothills Communities Association Annual Meeting
Daily Pilot Q and A, February 25, 2001
NPB council person, Steve Bromberg, discusses where
the El Toro fight is headed
OC Register (Commentary), February 25, 2001
"Congress, not generals, will decide fate of Pendleton"
Professor John L. Graham responds to generals Bloomer and Hanlon
OC Register (Commentary), February 25, 2001
"Gen. Bloomer misses the target on El Toro"
United Airlines pilot rebuts Bloomer's 2/18 Commentary
LA Times (NPB Metro), February 24, 2001
"Costa Mesa denounces anti-El Toro move"
LA Times, February, 24, 2001
"New El Toro scenarios join the mix"
"Regional panel studies three airport plans with up to ten million
fewer annual passengers at former base"
Website Direct, February 23, 2001
Important SCAG meeting, Thursday, March 1
Website Direct, February 23, 2001
ETRPA meeting, Monday, February 26, 2001
Attendance and support strongly encouraged at the 6 PM meeting
Website Direct, February 23, 2001
ETRPA to change policy regarding the possibility
of a JWA expansion
OC Register, February 23, 2001
"Cities square off for El Toro fight"
OC Register - LA Times, February
23, 2001
Newport Beach reacts to ETRPA's proposed new policy
LA Times, February 23, 2001
"Aloha Airlines announces Hawaiian flights"
"But the carrier still has major hurdles to cross before
it can offer service from John Wayne to Honolulu."
OC Weekly, February 22, 2001
"A Systematic Rip-Off"
"Already accused of bilking tenants, developer Argyros may have
targeted Vietnamese Americans"
Website Direct, February 22, 2001
Stay current with Orange County District Attorney's
office events from an office employee's point of view
LA Times, February 22, 2001
"Bush order ending union preference may not affect
county"
Website Direct, February 21, 2001
General Art Bloomer responds to message board posts
OC Register, February 20, 2001 Editorial
"Bush puts union deals in jeopardy"
OC Register, February 20, 2001
Majority of poll respondents say airport not needed
OC Register, February 19, 2001
"El Toro one piece in area's burgeoning airport
puzzle"
OC Register Commentary, February 18, 2001
– our reaction
"Debunking flights of fancy over airport at Pendleton"
Los Angeles World Airways news, February 15, 2001
posted February 16
"Los Angeles and Ontario International Airports
Experience Record Passenger, Cargo Levels In 2000"
OC Weekly, February 16, 2001 (posted February
15)
"Late Bloomer"
Website Direct, February 14, 2001
FAA and Navy to do it right with a joint EIS
Website Direct, February 14, 2001
Measure H upheld by trial court today
Fort Worth Star Telegram February 13, 2001
"Jet fuel ignites a few tempers in Flower Mound"
LA Times, February 13, 2001
"Orange Election May Hinge On El Toro"
"City Council is split on the issue, and the June race for its
fifth seat could become a battleground over the airport."
Website Direct, February 12, 2001
Board of Supervisors Faces Changes in 2002
Spitzer Likely to Run for Assembly
LA Times, February 10, 2001
"Proctor named to airport commission"
OC Register, February 9, 2001
"Orange probes airport group"
Daily Pilot, February 8, 2001
"Fliers raise ire in city halls"
"Anti-El Toro mailers have Newport Beach officials considering
paying for a response."
LA Times, February 7, 2001
"Hawaii Flights Approved, but Don't Pack Yet"
"Daily John Wayne service could be casualty of board battle over
cargo flights and El Toro."
Website Direct, February 6, 2001
POLL FINDS LITTLE TRUST IN SUPES TO DECIDE EL TORO
Airport at Bottom of OC Voters' Priority List; Education, Crime
at Top
OC Register, February 6, 2001
Probe by DA targets renters' deposits
Website Direct, February 5, 2001
ETRPA getting tougher on airport issue
OC Register, February 5, 2001
Joint Navy-FAA studies may delay base transfer"
The announcement is seen as a victory for opponents of proposed
airport.'
Website Direct, February 4, 2001
OC is too small for two airports
Website Direct, February 3, 2001
Supervisors to Vote on Newport Beach Air Cargo
Agreement
LA Times, February 2, 2001
Aloha Airlines hopes to have direct John Wayne
service by April 1 under proposal to supervisors.
Website Direct, February 1, 2002
SCAG releases Regional Transportation Plan DEIR
A large turnout of pro-airport forces is expected at the Southern California Association of Governments meeting tomorrow in Los Angeles. All opponents of the El Toro airport are encouraged to attend this very important meeting and speak to the issue that El Toro should not be a part of SCAG's consideration, and that Orange County can handle any increase in demand at John Wayne Airport without physical expansion. Our position incorporates these arguments:
1. We endorse Alternative 9 - the
no El Toro scenario
2. We disagree with the demand
figures allocated to Orange County. We will grow less than any other
region and should not be allocated a 300% increase in aviation capacity.
3. SCAG should put every effort
into working with the Inland Empire to ensure the success of their airports
and their future economic growth.
4. John Wayne Airport is capable
of handling any increase in demand from Orange County.
5. It makes no economic sense
to have two airports in Orange County seven miles apart. The market
will require one of the airports to close, consequently, even building
El Toro will result in no net increase in aviation capacity in Orange County.
The 9:30 AM until noon meeting is at 818 West 7th Street, 12th floor, Los Angeles.
It is our understanding there is Metrolink service from San Juan Capistrano
at 7:44AM. Arrival Time at Union Station is 8:57.
Next, take the underground Metro to 7th Street. The SCAG office
is one block down and across the street from the 7th Street Metro exit.
The Metrolink return southbound train leaves at 3:30 and arrives at 4:26PM.
The fare one-way is $8 and round-trip costs $15. Metro link info
is available at 800-371-5465.
The Amtrak train leaves at 7:33AM and arrives at Union Station at 8:50.
It leaves on return from Union Station at 4:30 and arrives in San Juan
Capistrano at 7:15PM. The fare is $23 but includes bus service.
It's best to call for detail. You need to make a reservation. Amtrak
can be reached at 800-872-7245.
LA Times - O C Register, February 28, 2001
Silva's swing vote ensures Measure H provisions
The Orange County supervisors in a closed session 3-2 vote yesterday decided not to appeal last week's court ruling that held Measure H valid. Jim Silva changed his earlier support for an appeal and was quoted in a Tuesday LA Times article , "The county should implement the initiative in the spirit in which it was intended." Silva went on to say his decision to change his support, "...has no relationship to how he would vote if an appellate court issues a future ruling that Measure F is constitutional."
"Board Chairwoman Cynthia P. Coad and Chuck Smith voted to pursue the appeal."
Todd Spitzer stated, " We now need to think, how do we get tobacco money into the hands of those who have the most health needs?"
Today's OC Register outlines the initiative which will fund longer hours and more medical services.
"At the county's 19 community clinics - including the Costa Mesa facility
where patients once lined up at 2 a.m. to make sure they could receive
tightly rationed free dental care - the excitement is building over what
an initiative boosting health care spending will mean for needy residents
without medical insurance."
Website Direct, February 27, 2001
"ETRPA is Unanimous"
In a Monday night ETRPA meeting, where few seats were available, the anti-airport council of south county cities gave its unanimous approval to Executive Director Paul Eckles' proposal to shift its position on John Wayne cap extensions. It was decided to prepare a resolution.
"I'm terribly dismayed at the response from the folks in Newport Beach," said Wayne Rayfield, an authority member and Dana Point councilman. "We've reached the point that unless there's some startling change in the position of Newport Beach, it is time to implement the [new] policy."
"ETRPA is a mean-spirited organization," (Garden Grove Mayor Bruce) Broadwater said. "They want to stop an airport at El Toro in any way they can."
"I fervently hope that they will come and talk to us and ask for help," said Paul Eckles, the authority's executive director. "We want to take both options off the table." Paul Simpson LA Times, February 27, 2001
For Jean Pasco's February 27, 2001 story click here
Peter
Larsen, OC Register, February 27, 2001
Website Direct, February 26, 2000
Important
ETRPA meeting tonight at 6:00 PM
23161 Lake Center Drive (between the Freeway and Rockfield)
Lake Forest exit off the 5 Freeway
A large turnout is expected this evening in Lake Forest when ETRPA Executive Director, Paul Eckles will present a radical new approach for dealing with the expansion of John Wayne Airport. Every concerned Orange County resident is encouraged to attend tonight's meeting.
"In any political debate, there's time to fight and time to reach across the aisle for positive solutions. Unfortunately, in the battle over whether to turn the former El Toro Marine Base into a commercial airport, major players refuse to relent from their political grudge match."
"The latest example comes from the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority, the consortium of south county cities battling the supervisors' airport plan. Tonight the ETRPA board will consider adopting a new policy toward John Wayne Airport that is designed mainly to incite anger."
To
read and comment on the complete editorial click here
OC Register, February 26, 2001
"Airport officials say LAX can be bigger and better
"Orange County residents have a stake in plans to extend the
flight hub"
"David Raslowsky of Rancho Santa Margarita is a jet-age traveler. His business has four offices around the country, and he and wife Lisa take their three children on East Coast vacations."
"If they do it right, that's great for me personally and for my business,'' the 34-year-old said last week from the Smithsonian Institution's National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C., on a business trip. "It's all about time. If I can spend more time with my family than at the airport, I'll do it.''
"The LAX expansion faces strong opposition in surrounding communities,
much as Orange County's El Toro proposal does. It is not clear whether
Los Angeles' City Council will support the expansion - a vote is at least
a year off, and many current members won't be on the panel then."
Click
here to read complete story
Wall Street Journal says it may not be worth it
LAX Demand Study, February 28, 2000
For
a related story, click here
Website Direct, February 25, 2001
Foothills Communities Association Annual Meeting
Monday, March 5, 2001. Click
here for details.
Daily Pilot Q and A, February 25, 2001
NPB council person, Steve Bromberg, discusses where
the El Toro fight is headed
"In the fall, Steve Bromberg, along with John Heffernan and Gary Proctor, were elected to the Newport Beach City Council in the biggest turnover in the city in two decades."
"Monday night, the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority is set to reverse its position on extending the flight restrictions on John Wayne Airport, a move that likely will heat up the bitter battle between North and South County once again."
"Bromberg sat down with Pilot City Editor S.J. Cahn to discuss where that fight is headed, and how Newport Beach is doing in getting a second Orange County airport built."
"ETRPA has shown its true colors. They're now going to oppose JWA. They're not going to do anything on John Wayne. They don't have the power. They're just very loud and vocal."
"But right now I feel we are doing everything the right way to get it done. I don't have a crystal ball, but I have a very strong sense we will have an airport at El Toro. It will be smaller than originally planned. More likely than not, it will have caps. More likely than not, it will have time restrictions."
"It will be like JWA. We're committed to making it happen."
For
the complete story and to make comments click here
"Who represents the people of Southern California on the issue of an airport at Camp Pendleton? Contrary to the generals' flights of fancy, the Congress and President do."
"... the best measure we have of the current views of voters regarding the airport (if you ignore Measure F) are two independent polls taken by both UCI and Cal State Fullerton; and both show a strong majority of the people in Orange County disfavor an El Toro airport."
Professor
Graham's complete Commentary
"There were inaccuracies in Gen. Bloomer's statements, perhaps because he is an outsider to Orange County."
"How many passengers have died during noise abatement procedures as opposed to flying into terrain?"
"The general was correct in saying that modern jet airliners can safely operate in high terrain areas, but when that fully loaded 777 loses one of its engines, the general better hope he's not on board."
Mr.
Mitchell's complete Commentary
"Costa Mesa city officials joined their Newport Beach colleagues Friday in denouncing a possible move by South County cities to fight for a larger John Wayne Airport"
"An airport at the retired El Toro Marine base could be smaller than currently envisioned, with no additional passengers at John Wayne Airport, under three new scenarios for Southern California airport growth being studied by a regional panel."
"The scenarios, along with five earlier plans, are being studied by the Southern California Assn. of Governments, a group of elected officials from 75 cities in six counties. The analysis will be used to plan roads and other improvements where airport growth might occur."
"The panel will choose a final plan at its meeting Thursday."
"SCAG is acting as if John Wayne cannot accommodate additional passengers," said Meg Waters, spokeswoman for the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority, a nine-city coalition opposed to the new airport. "Their numbers need to reflect reality."
Click
here for Jean Pasco's complete story
There will be an important Southern California Association of Governments meeting Thursday, March 1. It will probably be at 10AM, but it could occur earlier. Please watch this site for updates.
The address in Los Angeles (downtown) is 818 West 7th Street, 12th floor.
The meeting is the conclusion of a several year process where the Aviation Subcommittee and the Regional Transportation Committee will choose the preferred scenario for airports in the Southern California region. Click here for more SCAG information. If you attend, these are some of the arguments that can be advanced:
1. We endorse Alternative 9 - the
no El Toro scenario
2. We disagree with the demand
figures allocated to Orange County. We will grow less than any other
region and should not be allocated a 300% increase in aviation capacity.
3. SCAG should put every effort
into working with the Inland Empire to ensure the success of their airports
and their future economic growth.
4. John Wayne Airport is capable
of handling any increase in demand from Orange County.
5. It makes no economic sense
to have two airports in Orange County seven miles apart. The market
will require one of the airports to close, consequently, even building
El Toro will result in no net increase in aviation capacity in Orange County.
Website Direct, February 23, 2001
ETRPA meeting, Monday, February 26, 2001
Attendance and support strongly encouraged at the 6PM meeting
Monday evening's 6PM ETRPA meeting in Lake Forest could prove to be one of its more interesting sessions. Paul Eckles, chairperson of the coalition of south county cities, has advocated a radical shift in ETRPA policy for dealing with the issue of JWA expansion. Attendance at the meeting and support for ETRPA's new approach to the issue are strongly encouraged. Many anti-airport supporters have advocated such a "get tough" policy since Newport Beach pro-airport advocates sued and Judge Otero overturned Measure F. Please, plan to attend this most important ETRPA meeting.
To
Read Eckles' recommendation to ETRPA and for discussion of this new policy
approach, click here.
Website Direct, February 23, 2001
ETRPA to change policy regarding the possibility
of a JWA expansion
In a document dated February 26, Paul Eckles, Chairperson of ETRPA, recommends that because its past policy regarding dealing with neighbors of JWA has failed, a harder approach be adopted by ETRPA. This issue will be discussed at Monday night's meeting in Lake Forest.
For
the complete Eckles' document and for discussion of this new approach,
click here.
OC Register, February 23, 2001
"Cities square off for El Toro fight"
"South County cities fighting an El Toro airport are poised for a hardball shift in tactics: unleashing their lawyers, lobbyists and PR machine to increase pressure on John Wayne Airport to expand by millions of passengers a year."
"It makes no sense to build a second Orange County airport when one is standing there with large unused capacity," 'wrote Paul Eckles, director of the coalition, in a report that recommends his board members to adopt a new position on John Wayne'"
Click here for complete OC Register story
Click here for LA Times (Jean Pasco) story...2/23/01
The Orange County Register County Line Poll today asks, "Should the
cap on passengers at John Wayne Airport be extended?" To respond
to today's question, call: (714) 550-4636, Ext. 7261 A "NO" vote
(Press 2) supports ETRPA's new policy.
OC Register - LA Times, February
23, 2001
Newport Beach reacts to ETRPA's proposed new policy
"If they want to play hardball, make my day," said Barbara Lichman, executive director of the Airport Working Group, the Newport Beach-based organization that favors an airport at the former El Toro Marine base as a way to keep John Wayne Airport from getting bigger."
"I'm sick and tired of these bozos," Lichman said."
Click
here for complete Newport Beach reaction to ETRPA's change in policy...
OC Register, February 23, 2001
" If the authority board approves the policy shift,
it would begin considering legal action, lobbying state and federal officials
and including the issue in public information campaigns, said Allan Songstad,
authority vice chairman.
"The reason this is on the agenda is a matter
of frustration," Songstad said Thursday. "How can we sit back and let the
hard-line Newport Beach groups consistently say, 'We need more airport
capacity."'
"We're at a standoff," Newport Beach Councilman John Heffernan said Thursday. "And they want to turn up the heat."
"They're going to launch an initiative in the next few months," Ellis
said. "They're using this to prime that pump."
Paul
Clinton's spin in LA Times (NPB Metro)... February 23, 2001
"County Supervisor Todd Spitzer, who opposes an El Toro airport, said South County forces gave up hope of working with Newport Beach, which wants to keep tight restrictions at neighboring John Wayne Airport, after the council's air cargo vote this month."
"All bets are off," Spitzer said."
Jean
Pasco's February 23, 2001 LA Times story, "Yet Another Division in Airport
Equation,"
To
read Eckles' memo and to post discussion comments on the entire issue click
here.
LA Times, February 23, 2001
"Aloha Airlines announces Hawaiian flights"
"But the carrier still has major hurdles to cross before
it can offer service from John Wayne to Honolulu."
"JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT -- Pressing ahead with plans to initiate Hawaiian flights into Orange County, Aloha Airlines announced Thursday that service would begin at John Wayne Airport on May 1."
"But the announcement may be premature."
Read Paul Clinton's complete story
Jean
Pasco's NPB Metro story, "Honolulu or Bust"
OC Weekly, February 22, 2001
"A Systematic Rip-Off"
"Already accused of bilking tenants, developer Argyros may have
targeted Vietnamese-Americans"
"Three weeks ago, the Orange County district attorney's office officially filed—and then 30 minutes later, suspiciously withdrew—a massive consumer-fraud lawsuit against a company owned by powerful, Newport Beach real-estate developer George Leon Argyros."
"With a net worth topping $100 million, Argyros is one of the most prolific contributors to conservative political causes in the county and, after donating untold millions of dollars to Chapman University, was named chairman of the school’s board of trustees. But the man who travels in a chauffeur-driven Rolls-Royce, flies in personal jets and sails aboard a 100-foot private yacht is best known for his stubborn demand that Orange County build an international airport near residential Irvine. Not inconsequentially, the Detroit native is also a longtime acquaintance of, big contributor to and political adviser for Tony Rackauckas, OC’s Republican district attorney"
"The Register’s Bill Rams and Andrew Bluth, who broke the story on Feb. 6", reported that prosecutors found "thousands of incidents" in which Argyros’ Arnel Management Co. illegally overcharged tenants for repairs, shortchanged them on deposit refunds or simply billed them for fictitious expenses."
Read the entire story in this week's OC Weekly.
Visit the OC District Attorney's office employees' "unofficial website"
Editor: Argyros is the principal financial backer of initiatives
to build El Toro Airport. Rackauckas was one of the signers of the ballot
arguments against Measure F in the March 2000 Voters Pamphlet. The arguments
called the measure "Good for Convicted Criminals".
Website Direct, February 22, 2001
Stay current with Orange County District Attorney's
office events from an office employee's point of view
Visit the "THE UNOFFICIAL
WEBSITE FOR EMPLOYEES OF THE ORANGE COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY'S OFFICE"
LA Times, February 22, 2001
"Bush order ending union preference may not affect
county"
"An executive order signed by President Bush that revokes a requirement for construction projects using federal funds to be unionized won't end Orange County's controversial pact with unions, local labor leaders said Wednesday."
"The new presidential order, however, doesn't cover existing labor agreements, said Richard Slawson, executive secretary of the Los Angeles and Orange County Building and Construction Trades Council." "We don't think this will have any effect in Orange County," he said. "We're disappointed [by the order] but it wasn't unexpected."
Website Direct, February 21, 2001
General Art Bloomer responds to message board posts
General Art Bloomer, executive director of the Orange County Regional Airport Authority, has responded to several posts questioning his present position regarding the proposed El Toro airport.
OC WEEKLY writer, Anthony Pignataro, in his February 15 article, "Late Bloomer," labeled the former commanding general at MCAS El Toro and former Irvine City Councilman a "first-class hypocrite" and "an outspoken opponent of an airport at El Toro." Pignataro quoted Bloomer as stating, ""Now that El Toro will close, the city of Irvine should pursue annexation, since the base lies within the city’s sphere of influence" as well as, ""The communities most impacted by the reuse of El Toro should have the greatest voice in determining what the reuse should be, and that voice should have the force of law behind it." Bloomer defends his position as being consistent from the time he commanded the base to the present.
General Bloomer has become somewhat "print" visible, first, by responding to Professor John Graham's December 31, OC Register op-ed piece, "Send in the Marines to End Argument Over an O.C. Airport," next, with his own OC Register op-ed piece, "Debunking flights of fancy over Camp Pendleton," finally by responding to this site's message board posting, "General Bloomer and Camp Pendleton."
There have been many provocative questions asked of the $10,000 per
month OCRAA executive director. Please be encouraged to respond to the
general, to other participants, or to ask the general compelling questions
as regards the building of an airport at El Toro. Click
here to go directly to the discussion.
OC Register, February 20, 2001
Editorial
"Bush puts union deals in jeopardy"
"An executive order that President Bush issued quietly on Saturday is likely to halt some of the egregious effects of a policy approved by the Orange County Board of Supervisors."
"The board majority - Jim Silva, Cynthia Coad and Charles Smith - approved last year what is called a project labor agreement covering almost all county projects over the next five years. Passed to shore up union support to fight the anti-airport Measure F, the PLA essentially hands union contractors a monopoly on almost all county public works projects, airport-related or otherwise."
"The Bush order revokes the use of PLAs on federally funded projects, reversing a Clinton administration policy that encouraged these special deals that government offers to unions. For instance, the Associated Builders and Contractors points to John Wayne Airport as a local project that is federally funded, meaning that most of the construction work there could no longer be bid under the terms of the project labor agreement."
Click here to read the complete editorial and to post comments.
OC Register, February 20, 2001
Majority of poll respondents say airport not needed
Yesterday's Orange County Register County Line Poll * asked the question, "Can Southern California handle 157 million air passengers a year without building a commercial airport at El Toro?"
Of the 432 responses, 57% said it could, and 43% said it could not.
*County Line is not a scientific sampling of county opinion
OC Register, February 19, 2001
"El Toro one piece in area's burgeoning airport
puzzle"
"It's the 157-million-passenger question: Which airports will Southern California air travelers use in 20 years?" For a breakdown of regional airport situations and future plans click here
"A regional blueprint for the future, the Southern California Association of Governments transportation plan, is close to completion."
"The transportation committee of the association - whose 1998 forecast puts the 2020 demand at 157 million annual passengers - may pick an aviation plan when it meets March 1. On the table are scenarios with and without El Toro."
"Opponents of El Toro say the regional demand can be met elsewhere - and that will likely be a part of their campaign to kill El Toro in a fourth airport initiative in 2002."
'You're talking about the bulk of the growth in the Inland Empire, not Orange County,' "said Meg Waters, spokeswoman for a group of anti-airport cities."
"Airport proponents say El Toro is needed for a variety of reasons - from economic to environmental - but most of all so that Orange County handles its own aviation demand."
'We're forcing a lot of our transportation need to LAX and to Ontario,' "said Ronald Bates, Los Alamitos councilman and current president of the Association of Governments." 'Each county should serve their share of the burden.'
See the entire story in the website's Early Bird News
Regional airport websites:
Ontario, Palmdale, and Los Angeles International Airports
Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena Airport
San Diego International Airport at Lindbergh Field
OC Register Commentary, February 18, 2001
– our reaction
"Debunking flights of fancy over airport at Pendleton"
Former General Art Bloomer disagrees with Professor John Graham and says that we should not consider part of Camp Pendleton for an airport serving Orange and San Diego Counties. See his editorial in the website's Early Bird News.
Back in the early 1990s, Bloomer reportedly was an outspoken opponent of a commercial airport at El Toro. However, he is now on the payroll of pro-El Toro airport groups, including OCRAA, that hired him to promote their project. Therefore, his position has shifted, and he no longer wants to consider other alternatives.
Meanwhile, even the County of Orange sees some merit in Pendleton. The Planning & Development Department wrote to the Southern California Association of Governments on October 23 that SCAG "should analyze the effects of an international airport at Camp Pendleton" in its regional transportation planning. Orange County officials noted that "both candidates for Mayor of San Diego... suggest using a small part of Camp Pendleton to build an international airport, with Orange County." The "joint venture" two-county airport "would include about 5,00 to 6,000 acres on a portion of Camp Pendleton which includes 126,000 acres."
Bloomer claims that the Marines need every bit of Pendleton. I'm sure they once said they needed every bit of El Toro but they gave it up. It is time to stop promoting today's pet project - like El Toro airport with homes all around it - and think about what really will work in 10 or 20 years from now.
Post your reaction here, and also write to the newspapers. Today's Times was heavy with pro-El Toro letters.
" Los Angeles International (LAX) and Ontario International Airports (ONT) - both owned and operated by Los Angeles World Airports (LAWA) - have reported record passenger and cargo levels during 2000. LAX remains the world's fourth busiest airport with an all-time high of 67.6 million passengers and 2.24 million tons of cargo. ONT remains California's sixth busiest airport with 6.74 million passengers and 510 thousand tons of cargo."
"'LAX is the United States' main entryway for travelers and goods to and from the Pacific Rim region,' said John J. Agoglia, president of the Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners. He added, 'Through LAWA's marketing efforts, Ontario International -- with its spacious, state-of-the-art twin terminals -- is becoming known to an increasing number of travelers as the 'other' gateway' to Southern California's businesses and tourist attractions."
"LAWA Executive Director Lydia H. Kennard said, 'Future modernization of LAX through our proposed Master Plan is critical to improving airfield safety and passenger service, reducing flight delays, mitigating traffic congestion, and improving the quality of life for our neighbors in terms of aircraft noise and air pollution.'"
"LAX experienced a 5.18 percent increase in passengers last year to 67,606,831 … International passenger traffic rose 9.87 percent to 17,376,367, and domestic traffic rose by 3.64 percent to 50,230,464."
"Aircraft movements (takeoffs and landings) at LAX were up by only one-half of one percent (0.55 percent). According to airport officials, airlines served more passengers by using larger-capacity aircraft and boarding more passengers per flight."
"Kennard described Ontario International Airport as 'the only airport in Southern California with capacity to address future growth.' It has capacity to handle 10 million annual passengers and LAWA has an agreement with the airlines to build another terminal that will increase ONT's capacity to 12 to 15 million passengers."
The website has been posting Anthony Pignataro's El Toro Watch articles for four years. We have an on-line library of almost all of these investigative reports and barbed analyses.
This week, the column takes on former General Art Bloomer who has been hired to run the Orange County Regional Airport Authority, a Newport Beach dominated pro-El Toro group. Bloomer replaces Peggy Ducey who was paid to be Assistant City Manager of Newport Beach while running OCRAA.
As is often the case, Pignataro comes up with information that the regular
newspapers miss. It turns out that Bloomer was a proponent of Irvine
annexing El Toro and an opponent of an airport at the former base. "The
communities most impacted by the reuse of El Toro should have the greatest
voice in determining what the reuse should be, and that voice should have
the force of law behind it," Bloomer said back before he was hired to preach
the opposite.
In a February 13 letter to Cynthia Coad, the FAA and Navy said they would do a joint Environmental Impact Study (EIS). The federal review would occur "within six months after the certification of [the County's new] EIR. The letter came in response to a request made by the County, at a White House meeting on November 29, for a short cutting of the environmental reviews and a "conditional approval" of the airport. The federal government denied the request.
The County's EIR 573 is scheduled for September of 2001 but has slipped repeatedly.
The decision is seen as favorable for the anti-airport side. At the White House conference County Special Counsel Michael Gatzke stated that, "It is not our view that completion of the DON's process depends on the completion of the reuse plan/Master Plan." Charles Smith is reported to have said, "If it does, we're dead." The County was pressing for a shortcut based on its 1996 EIR and reuse plan.
Five lobbying firms stand to make a huge bonus if the base is transferred to the County before a threatened March 2002 ballot measure to overturn Measure A. The new initiative would change the base land use designation to non-aviation.
Transfer before March 2002 looks like a very long shot. Actual transfer frequently lags completion of federal environmental review by years. The Tustin base is an example.
The trial court upheld the constitutionality of the Health Care initiative, Measure H, which was passed by voters in November. Supervisors Smith, Silva and Coad had directed county attorneys to sue in a failed attempt to overturn it.
Supporters of anti-airport Measure F hope that the courts also will uphold their initiative. A ruling by a Los Angeles judge against Measure F has been appealed to the Orange County Appeals Court. Legal briefs in that case will probably be filed next week.
Measure H passed with 65 percent of the vote. Measure F received 67 percent of the vote. The same three supervisors opposed both measures. Supervisors Wilson and Spitzer had supported both of the popular initiatives.
"On Saturday afternoon, 4-year-old Jacob Harrison was picking up sticks in his [Flower Mound, Texas] back yard when it began to pour jet fuel. 'It wasn't like a mist. It was a full-fledged rain,' said Jacob's mother... 'Everybody is walking on land here, and you hear the noise above, mostly you think about the noise pollution,' she said. 'Then all of a sudden the jet fuel is spilled on top of you, and you feel the two worlds have collided. But jet fuel is better than an exploding airplane.'"
"The dumping of jet fuel was prompted by a warning light that indicated a fire in the cargo compartment of an American Airlines Boeing 777. The plane had just taken off from Dallas/ Fort Worth Airport. To land safely at the airport, the pilot immediately emptied the fuel tank."
"American Airlines officials are trying to assess the damage caused by the fuel dump. A mostly sunny but 32- degree midmorning, combined with 64 percent humidity, probably caused the fuel to evaporate more slowly. 'Things do not evaporate as well in moisture-laden air as they do in dry air,' said a meteorologist for the National Weather Service in Fort Worth."
"Jet fuel dumps are rare and come with little warning because they typically happen when a flight has an emergency shortly after takeoff and must turn around. On the coasts, some planes will circle over the ocean to dump fuel, but the D/FW Airport area has no designated places to drop fuel."
"Airport politics, a staple of South County civic life for the last seven years, has spread north to Orange, where allegiances over the county's plans to build an airport at El Toro affected one election and could influence a second."
"Orange voters will decide June 5 who should fill the council's fifth seat, left vacant after Councilman Mark Murphy was elected mayor in November. Two council members--Murphy and Joanne Coontz, the city's former mayor--are pro-airport; two members--Mike Alvarez and Dan Slater--oppose the county's airport plans."
"Airport politics intervened in the November election in Orange, when the [Newport Beach-based] Airport Working Group spent $54,016 on mailers supporting two pro-airport candidates, Coontz and Scott Steiner, and opposing two anti-airport candidates, Alvarez and Carolyn Cavecche."
"Longtime government watchdog Shirley Grindle of Orange has asked for city and state investigations into whether the [pro-El Toro] group violated campaign laws with its heavy spending on the race."
"Alvarez was targeted long before the November election, after he became a vocal North County spokesman for the anti-airport movement." Alvarez signed "the ballot statement in support of Measure F, an anti-airport measure that passed in March 2000."
Editor: Measure F won handily in the City of Orange, by a margin of 60.4% to 39.6%.
Orange is closer than several South county communities to El Toro.
If the Air Line Pilots Association has its way, heavier
aircraft departing from El Toro's proposed north runway will turn left
prior to reaching the mountains and overfly Orange. The 5, 55 and
57 Freeways bordering the city are expected to experience significant airport
traffic.
Website
Direct, February 12, 2001
Board of Supervisors Faces Changes in 2002
Spitzer Likely to Run for Assembly
Third District Supervisor Todd Spitzer recently opened a campaign fund, in preparation for running for the State Assembly 71st District seat being vacated by Bill Campbell. Campbell is termed out in 2002. A formal announcement of Spitzer's candidacy is expected shortly. If he is elected, the Governor will appoint a new supervisor to fill Spitzer's vacated Board seat until 2004.
Supervisors Cynthia Coad and Jim Silva are up for reelection in 2002. Whether they succeed depends to a large extent on who runs against them and also to the outcome of the redistricting studies underway. The Board of Supervisors will redraw its own boundaries, presumably making changes to protect its own, and possibly to squeeze anti-El Toro sentiment into one district.
In 1998, Dave Sullivan came close to unseating Silva. Sullivan
ran a well-funded campaign and bested Silva in their mutual hometown of
Huntington Beach. However, Silva pulled ahead in Costa Mesa where
he was helped by pro-El Toro sentiment and fund-raising.
"Newport Beach Councilman Gary Proctor is back on a county airport commission."
"The Orange County League of Cities named Proctor as one of its representatives on the seven-member Airport Land-Use Commission."
"Proctor joins Airport Working Group President Tom Naughton, appointed to the panel in January, as part of the Newport Beach caucus."
"Both Proctor and Naughton are strong proponents of an airport for the former El Toro Marine base. Proctor beat out Irvine Councilman Mike Ward for the seat."
"The commission works to review potential development that could adversely
affect airport operations and to protect the public from aircraft noise."
" The Orange city attorney's office opened an investigation Thursday into whether the Airport Working Group political action committee violated a city [campaign finance] ordinance by spending $54,016 on fliers opposing two council candidates in the November election."
"Political watchdog Shirley Grindle filed a formal complaint against the committee."
"Major contributors were businessmen Doy Henley and John Croul, and William Steiner, whose son, Scott, was an unsuccessful candidate. Airport Working Group attorney Barbara Lichman said she had not seen the complaint."
Click here for more on this Newport Beach group's efforts to block the reelection of Orange City councilman Mike Alvarez.
The issue also was covered in the Chapman
College Panther. Bill Kogerman said that Henley's loan to
the Airport PAC, and the tactics that the PAC used in the election, also
create an image problem for the university. "Part of the [George] Argyros
political machine attacked Alvarez simply because he
exhibited leadership in the Measure F fight," Kogerman said. Henley
and George Argyros are both Chapman trustees.
"A series of mailers from the city of Irvine promoting a park-and-museum
complex for the closed El Toro Marine base has mobilized Newport Beach's
three newest councilmen.
They've only been on the job three months, but John Heffernan, Steve
Bromberg and Gary Proctor are lobbying others in City Hall to endorse a
response mailer to put Newport Beach's side of the story into its residents'
mailboxes."
"'It's very aggressive is what it is,' Heffernan said about the survey. 'They're spending a lot of money getting their spin across.' 'They're like bomb-throwers,' Bromberg said. The mailers 'are guerrilla tactics passing as something warm and fuzzy.'"
Editor: We recently sent this explanation of the mailers to subscribers to our e-mail list:
UNDERSTANDING THE THREE PRONGED ATTACK.
Anti-El Toro forces are mounting a COORDINATED three prong attack:
1. ETRPA, a coalition of nine cities, is leading the attack on the "unwanted, unneeded and unsafe" El Toro airport. ETRPA is also leading the legal defense team that has filed a court appeal to reinstate Measure F.
2. Citizens groups led by CITIZENS FOR SAFE AND HEALTHY COMMUNITIES, the "YES ON F" committee, are teaming up to mount a new initiative in 2002. It will change the El Toro land use zoning from airport to non-aviation uses.
3. The CITY OF IRVINE is spearheading plans for a non-aviation future
for the land, once the airport is buried. Irvine intends to annex
the property in accordance with California law, and develop a great park
for the enjoyment of all county residents.
"Orange County supervisors gave initial approval Tuesday for Aloha Airlines to launch service from John Wayne Airport, but the deal could collapse under the heavy weight of county [El Toro] politics. The fate of the Hawaii departures... is indirectly tied to cargo flights that were first approved in 1995 and have been renewed annually. This year, for the first time, the county added language to the agreement stating that cargo service would move to El Toro once the proposed new airport is in operation."
"Supervisors Todd Spitzer and Tom Wilson, who oppose an airport at the retired Marine base, said they would vote against renewing leases for Federal Express and United Parcel Service if the El Toro language is part of the deal. That could kill the [5-year extension of] cargo flights since four of the five supervisors must approve the leases."
"'I have no confidence they won't try to sneak something in contrary to the law,' Spitzer said of the pro-airport board majority. 'As long as El Toro is mentioned anywhere in any legal document that someone could point to in the future [as authorizing cargo flights at El Toro], I'm not voting for these lease agreements.'"
Editor: Cargo flights have been operating from John Wayne on a year to year basis, which is acceptable to the carriers. The Airport Working Group pushed for the new 5-year arrangement that requires the movement of all-cargo flights to El Toro. The AWG proposal also seeks to allow the airport director to modify the carriers' leases without Board of Supervisor approval, opening the door for more pro-El Toro mischief.
Aloha can still fly from JWA if TWA and Continental each give up
one slot as has been discussed. This routine approval was given by the
Board and need not be tied to the El Toro cargo issue.
IRVINE, CA - Voters in Orange County say education, crime and traffic should be the top priorities this year for local officials and put a new County airport at the bottom of the list, according to a new independent poll released on Tuesday.
The poll, of 511 registered voters in Orange County, finds 53% of voters saying improving local schools should be a "top priority". Forty-eight percent say "fighting crime" and 44% say "relieving highway congestion" should be "top priority" issues. Improving the quality of health care also received 44%.
In the face of the energy crisis, voters place programs for energy conservation fifth in importance, with voters in North County giving the issue the most prominence.
Just 12% of voters say building a new international airport in the County is a "top priority" concern, as the issue ranks last of all 13 issues tested in the survey. The next lowest issue, maintaining good relations with Mexico, was considered "top priority" by 21%.
"The numbers indicate that the more focus that is put on the airport - which voters believe is less important than almost every other issue in Orange County - the more risk there is in alienating the public... voters strongly believe [the supervisors] cannot handle El Toro."
The Pacific Poll is a public-interest research project funded by Pacific Opinions. It is conducted regularly on social and political issues in the diverse communities of San Diego and Orange County.
"The Orange County District Attorney's Office is investigating whether a large apartment-complex owner overcharged thousands of renters for repairs when they moved out. Arnel Management Co., which owns and manages... 4,535 apartments in Orange County, engaged in an 'unlawful, routine and arbitrary withholding of tenants' security deposits,' according to internal district attorney documents."
"George Argyros is chairman and chief executive of Arnel Management Co. Argyros is also a supporter of Republican candidates, including District Attorney Tony Rackauckas."
Editor: Argyros is the principal financial backer of initiatives to build El Toro Airport. Rackauckas was one of the signers of the ballot arguments against Measure F in the March 2000 Voters Pamphlet. The arguements called the measure "Good for Convicted Criminals".
A
more complete story is on the Register website.
The El Toro Reuse Planning Authority has reached out repeatedly to Newport Beach residents and leaders, seeking cooperation for a No El Toro/No John Wayne Expansion joint effort. ETRPA has agendized a fresh look at the policy for its next meeting on February 26. Please attend and state your views. ETRPA listens!
In 1998, ETRPA Executive Director Paul Eckles sent a letter to Newport Beach residents: "We need to think about a regional airport plan that does no harm to any resident of Orange County." In 2000, the ETRPA Board passed a resolution opposing physical expansion of John Wayne airport. Anti-El Toro forces provided equal protection to John Wayne neighbors, along with El Toro neighbors, in the Safe and Healthy Communities Initiative, Measure F.
Thus far, hostile leaders in Newport Beach have rejected these offers, of an "olive branch"Newport Beach sued to overturn Measure F. Barbara Lichman, Executive Director of the combative Newport Beach Airport Working Group said recently of South County, "We don't need their support on [extending the John Wayne caps] extension. Talking with them or trying to get their support doesn't matter."Others in Newport Beach have been equally belligerent in rejecting South County overtures.
ETRPA leaders are evaluating how far Newport Beach intends to go on its own way, pushing for El Toro as the county's main airport, at the expense of its neighbors. Many South County citizens argue that local aviation demand does not require another county airport, and that if more capacity is ever required, John Wayne can provide it.
The latest ETRPA mailing,
"Deflating the El Toro Airport Proposal", is the first to discuss
the additional capacity available at John Wayne airport. Prior to
this, ETRPA had avoided talk of increasing John Wayne utilization.
Click the picture to review this and other ETRPA mailers.
Post your comments on the Message
Board.
"The Navy and the Federal Aviation Administration have decided to work together on environmental studies for an El Toro airport, a decision that Orange County officials say could put their project a year or more behind schedule."
"'The county is very, very much opposed to doing that,' said Supervisor Charles V. Smith. 'We can't see how they could do it, without setting back the schedule a year or two, though they've claimed they could do it and not set the schedule back,' he said. 'They're playing right into the hands of the south-county people.'"
"The county had hoped the Navy would hand over the former Marine base to the county before the FAA had completed its review. With two agencies combining their studies, that scenario seems unlikely. Airport opponents - for whom each delay in the airport project provides more time to kill it - were pleased to learn of the decision."
"'We certainly applaud the Navy and the Federal Aviation Administration for saying that regardless of what kind of political pressure is put on, they're going to do things right,' said Paul Eckles, executive director of [ETRPA] a coalition of nine anti-airport cities."
Editor: Pro-airport spin-doctors have been claiming, of late, that the new Bush administration would fast-track El Toro because of national airport expansion needs - which are primarily in the east and mid-west. Join the Message Board thread on this subject.
"Federal officials told the county at a White House summit in November that they were considering a joint environmental review."
"That likely pushes the completion of the federal studies - and the transfer of the base to the county - into mid-2002, possibly after airport opponents have forced a fourth election on whether El Toro should be an airport."
"Smith, who said the county had never received word of the decision to do a joint Navy-FAA review, blamed the Navy for ongoing delays. 'The Navy has done a terrible job of transferring this base to the county,' he said. 'I don't have any faith in the Navy at all in terms of getting the job done.'"
"Last month, the county approved paying five Washington lobbying firms
up to $1.5 million - including $372,000 if El Toro was transferred to the
county within 30 days of completion of the county environmental report."
For those who like data for their letters to the newspapers, we offer two new bits of information.
A regional map shows that Orange County is only 2 percent of the land area. There's wide open spaces elsewhere for another airport... and very little here.
Our population
growth chart has been enhanced with the addition of San Diego data.
Adding in San Diego shows that Orange County will account for only 6 percent
of the future population growth in Southern California.
The Board of Supervisors will meet
next on Tuesday morning, February 6 at 9:30 AM.
Item 18 on the consent calendar is the following item regarding John
Wayne airport cargo flights: "Authorize Director to allocate regulated
average daily departures, seat capacity, remain over night and passenger
capacity to scheduled commercial passenger carriers, commercial cargo carriers
and commuter carriers under Phase 2 Commercial Airline Access Plan and
Regulation for 2001-02 Plan Year, 4/1/01 - 3/31/02 - District 5"
What is new about this annual administrative procedure is an agreement reached on February 2 between the City of Newport Beach, the Airport Working Group and Stop Polluting Our Newport. A 1985 Agreement, limiting the use of John Wayne airport, has been amended several times by stipulations. One such stipulation allows FedEx and UPS to operate one flight a day each (five days a week, plus additional days to a maximum of 275). This week's agreement makes the continuation of the flights contingent on the availability of El Toro.
The agreement placed before the Supervisors will state that, "the Community
Reuse Plan for MCAS El Toro and the proposed Airport System Master Plan
currently under review by the County both contemplate that, at such time
as it becomes a commercial service airport, all scheduled all-cargo operations
in Orange County would occur at the El Toro site." The stipulation
allowing all-cargo flights at John Wayne would expire. In other words,
whether FedEx or UPS like it or not, they will be kicked out of John Wayne
if El Toro is built.
"John Wayne Airport may get its first direct flights to Hawaii under a proposal that will be presented to county supervisors next week... The carrier [Aloha Airline] hopes to be flying out of the airport by April 1." The possiblilty was discussed on this website in September.
"County officials were pleased with the prospect of adding daily departures to Hawaii provided the proposal is approved by Newport Beach and two citizens groups [including the Airport Working Group] --all party to a 1985 court agreement that capped expansion of John Wayne Airport until Dec. 31, 2005."
"The new service, though, is tied to the fate of two cargo flights now flown from John Wayne Airport by Federal Express and United Parcel Service. Each year, the county must get permission from county supervisors and the two Newport Beach citizens groups to let the cargo flights continue at John Wayne."
"Airport Director Alan Murphy said county negotiators hope to get approval from the citizen groups--the Airport Working Group and Stop Polluting Our Newport--by Tuesday's board meeting. Murphy said one of the groups indicated it would sign off on the Aloha deal only if the county added a clause pledging that it will build an airport at El Toro."
Editor: Please note that John Wayne airport has the capacity
for the additional flights and a long enough runway. The only thing holding
back Aloha from providing the service looks to be political blackmail from
Newport Beach. If this seems wrong, write
to the newspapers.
The Southern California Association of Governments has released its Draft 2001 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) Update Program Environmental Impact Report (PEIR) for public review and comment. The PEIR evaluates the potential adverse environmental impacts associated with the adoption of the 2001 RTP Update.
Of particular interest to viewers of this website will be the Regional Aviation Scenarios on pages 109-113 of the 813 page report. A summary table, "2025 Aviation Scenarios" is on page PD-30, which is the 113th of the report.
Various scenarios have El Toro at between 0.0 and 29.7 million annual passengers. John Wayne is cast at 8.4 million annual passengers in 2025 in all scenarios, even though its legal limits expire in 2005.
There is strong evidence that John Wayne will close if El Toro is built. Therefore, scenarios with El Toro at over 28 MAP concurrent with JWA at 8.4 MAP may be very unrealistic.
The public comment period begins on January 29, 2001 and ends on March
15, 2001 (45-day period). The document may be downloaded (using Adobe Acrobat)
and comments may be submitted electronically via the SCAG public web site,
http://www.scag.ca.gov/major/major.htm
. Choose the link to "Draft 2001 Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) Update
Program Environmental Impact Report". Please remember to include a return
address and the name of a contact person in your agency, if any.
For more on the above, check the LA Times and Orange County Register websites.
Click here for previous news stories
