LA Times, March 31, 2002
Comments from the County

LA Times, March 30, 2002
"Indian Casino in El Toro's Future?"

Website Report, March 29, 2002
County delegation goes fact finding in Washington

Daily Pilot, March 29, 2002
"South County wary of Newport airport stance"
"The city's shift away from pressing for El Toro is meeting with a skeptical reception."

San Diego Union-Tribune, March 27, 2002, website posted March 28
"[Another Congressman] Hunter opposes move of MCRD to El Toro"

LA Times Inland Valley News, March 28, 2002
"Airline's low traffic forces cut in service"

LA Times, March 27, 2002
"Congresswoman: Marines Not Trying to Return to El Toro"

Website Report, March 26, 2002
Issa promotes the return of Marines to El Toro

LA Times, March 25, 2002 -updated
"School Fight Blocks Reuse of Tustin Base "

Daily Pilot editorial, March 24, 2002
"Time for others to take up the airport fight"

LA Times, editorial, March 24, 2002
"New Leadership for El Toro"

LA Times, March 23, 2002
"Boot Camp Yet Another El Toro Idea"
"Congressman's proposal to move the West Coast facility from San Diego is at least the third base reuse bid since voters rejected airport."

OC Register, March 22, 2002
"Measure W's effects discussed" at SCRAA

Website Report, March 21, 2002 - updated March 22
San Diego Congressman urges Marine training facility at El Toro

Website Report, March 20, 2002 - updated
Airport supporters urge stalling tactics
Bloomer backs V-plan attempt

Daily Pilot, March 20, 2002
"Newport Beach out of Measure W fight"
"The city will focus its efforts on extending flight caps at John Wayne Airport, mayor says."

LA Times, Correction for the record, March 20, 2002
"AWG, CJE do not support the V-Plan initiative"

Website Report, March 19, 2002
Supervisors provide guidance for El Toro study

OC Register, March 19, 2002
"Suit filed over Measure W"
"Coalition of pro-airport groups argues that supervisors have the legal right to decide the fate of the former base."

Website Report, March 18, 2002
Tom Wilson supportive of Irvine annexation

Website Report, March 18, 2002
Pro-airport groups file lawsuit against Measure W

LA Times, March 18, 2002
"A New Power Struggle at El Toro"

Website Report, March 17, 2002
Key Board of Supervisors meeting Tuesday

Website Report, March 17, 2002
El Toro Comments

LA Times, March 16, 2002 -updated
"Navy Assures Cooperation Over El Toro Development"
"Spitzer, Silva discuss options in sale of former Marine base with officials at Washington meeting."

St Louis Riverfront Times, March 13, webposted March 15, 2002
"If You Build It, They May Fly Elsewhere"

OC Register, March 15, 2002
"JWA passenger traffic recovering"

Website Report, March 13, 2002
Congressman seeks a land swap to alleviate housing crunch at Camp Pendleton

OC Register, March 13, 2002 - updated
"El Toro rivals now eye new plan"
"Coad, Spitzer suggest realigning airport planning group."

Website Report, March 12, 2002
Turnout turns the trick

Website Report, March 12, 2002 - updated
Board of Supervisors met this morning - What next for El Toro?

Long Beach Press-Telegram, March 12, 2002
American Airlines wants JetBlue slots at Long Beach Airport

Website Report, March 11, 2002
Congressman Cox clarifies the Navy's intentions

Website Direct, March 10, 2002
POST ELECTION QUESTIONS ON EL TORO

OC Register, March 9, 2002
"Navy re-use study fits with park plan"

Website Direct, March 8, 2002
Navy EIS okays park alternative but not V-Plan

OC Register, March 8, 2002
"County focuses on a park plan"
"In light of Measure W's approval, task force turns efforts away from an airport."

OC Register, March 8, 2002
"'New' land, new issues"
"With an airport effectively killed, a larger swath of land that was used as a buffer could be open for development."

LA Times, March 8, 2002
"Irvine Still Intent on Annexing El Toro"

Daily Pilot, March 8, 2002
"$60 million jeopardized in El Toro crash"
"Taxpayer money at city and county level used in promotion and planning of a proposed airport could be lost forever."

Website report, March 7, 2002
City breakdown on vote shows "Great Tax" campaign was effective though untrue.

Website Report, March 7, 2002
Website banishes the word "airport" from its name

Daily Pilot, March 7, 2002
"Cox unveils El Toro sell-off"
"Navy plan will begin quick sale of base. Newport officials say all signs point to no new airport."

LA Times, Ontario edition, March 7, 2002
"Ontario International stands to benefit from Orange County pulling plug on El Toro project and limiting John Wayne facility's size."

Website Report, March 6, 2002
Airport supporters to sue

Website Report, March 6, 2002 - updated
Navy "will honor decision of voters"

Website Report, March 6, 2002 - updated
Anti-airport sentiment sweeps three key races
Measures V and W pass, Coad defeated

Click here for earlier news - March 2002 pre-election.

Political writer Jean Pasco muses that, "Two former political foes in Irvine are engaged in their own quiet quest for a mutually beneficial redevelopment of El Toro. The fate of the 4,700-acre base links the fortunes of Larry Agran, once and current mayor of Irvine, with the Irvine Co., which owns much of the land in Orange County's core and created the city that bears its name."

"The Navy's news [of a possible sale of El Toro] shocked the city, which had hoped to get the land free. It also surprised officials at the Irvine Co., which hadn't had to consider buying the property--or the prospect of another developer buying the land and building something that might compete with an adjacent development."

"Agran said he views the Irvine Co. as a 'kindred spirit' because of their mutual desire to see the base developed in a way that honors the March 5 countywide vote and reflects good planning. The city and the company want the Navy to hold off on any El Toro decision to give the city time to present a different development plan coordinated with the county and other South County cities, Agran said."

Read the entire article, and the items briefed below, in this week's Early Bird thread. 

LRA Director Gary Simon writes, in a letter that "After years of divisive debate, all parties are starting to come together… Last week, the LRA and the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority met to discuss common goals. Planners from the city of Irvine and the
County met to discuss the impacts of Measure W."

Supervisor Todd Spitzer, in a guest column, says, "Unity on El Toro Now Key."

"The Board of Supervisors, in its role as the federally designated Local Reuse Authority (LRA), must focus on three major policy objectives. First, we must protect the county general fund."

"Second, we must keep our commitment to appropriate land-use planning and the intent of Measure W. As the Navy begins selling off either the whole base or parcels, there is a great risk that good land-use planning will suffer as individual developers eye opportunities that are not overseen by a local government."

"Third, we must regain the credibility lost during the El Toro reuse debate by expanding the voices of those most affected by prospective reuses" … the impacted cities that previously had been excluded.

"The Juaneno Band of Mission Indians is joining the ranks of those eyeing a piece of the closed El Toro Marine base... If it gains recognition by the Bureau of Indian Affairs, which tribal leaders hope will come next year, the tribe could make a claim for federal property within its aboriginal lands, including El Toro."

"Orange County could find itself home to a casino… the federal government encourages economic development for tribes."

Website Editor: Indian leaders have also discussed the possibility of a Native American cultural center on the former base, which would fit with the education/park compatible zoning.

A delegation of Orange County officials will head to Washington on Monday and Tuesday to collect facts to incorporate into the County's El Toro reuse planning.  Supervisors Tom Wilson and Chuck Smith accompanied by their staff members and LRA Executive Director Gary Simon will make a series of stops.  The fact-finding trip is being set-up by Simon's staff, consultants and Washington lobbyists.

A March 25th press release from Wilson's office indicated that the White House and Department of Navy are on the list. Simon says that visits to the White House Intergovernmental Affairs Group are "standard" on such trips.

Meeting with the Navy is the prime purpose for the trip Simon told the website. The Navy will be asked to "stop and pause a moment" before selling the property, he said.  The Navy also will be asked about the proposed relocation of the Marine Corp Recruit Depot from San Diego, a move much discussed in San Diego County.  Orange County officials have yet to take a formal position on this issue.

The delegation is trying to set up meetings at the Department of Transportation and FAA "to bring closure" to the aviation alternative.  "The airport is dead" Simon told us, but there are a few residual issues such as the proposal for training sky marshals at El Toro and the continued operation of existing FAA communications and navigation equipment at the base if the County's lease of El Toro is terminated.

Supervisor Smith reportedly is interested in hearing what the DOT plans to do about satisfying regional airport capacity without El Toro.  He brought this up at the last meeting of the Southern California Regional Airport Authority.

The Cities of Irvine and Lake Forest have also requested meetings in Washington, in mid-April, to discuss the Irvine plan for park reuse of the base. The Board of Supervisors is scheduled to study the County's El Toro options on April 16.  The Navy has said that it will make a disposition decision by April 23, if not earlier.

"NEWPORT BEACH -- Some South County leaders haven't swallowed the news that Newport Beach has left the field of battle over building an airport at El Toro."

"Mayor Tod Ridgeway, on March 21, said the city would not work to overturn Measure W, which rezones the closed El Toro Marine base from aviation use to a park, and that it would not spend any more money to develop an airport there."

"But with the city still a member of the Orange Count Regional Airport Authority [OCRAA], a 14-city coalition of North County cities suing to overturn the measure, initiative spokesman Len Kranser said he was skeptical Newport Beach has changed its stance."

"By continuing its membership in the group, Kranser said it appeared as though Newport Beach is using North County cities 'as its proxies' in the airport fight."

"Kranser also pointed out that over the years the city has invested a tremendous amount of taxpayer money in the pro-airport effort. 'It's hard to believe that a city that has fought for 20 years would suddenly stop,' Kranser said. 'It's reasonable to be skeptical.'" He also reminded the Pilot reporter that the Airport Working Group was allowed to retain a substantial amount of previously supplied, but unspent, City taxpayer money and is taking a lead role in funding the lawsuit.

"On Wednesday, however, Ridgeway reiterated the city's stance: The City Council will focus on securing an extension of the flight caps at John Wayne Airport."

"The city has also not embraced what has become known as the V-plan, Ridgeway said… Under the V-plan, planes would head over some high-priced homes in the Newport Coast area, Ridgeway said…'We are not supporters of the V-plan.'"

Website Editor: The City Council's official Aviation Policy calls for "the development of an additional commercial airport to complement service provided at JWA" and has not been altered.

One person can not speak for all of South County. Post your opinion on the Message Board as to whether Newport Beach is really out of the El Toro fight.

"Rep. Duncan Hunter [El Cajon] said Tuesday he opposes a plan to move the Marine Corps Recruit Depot to Orange County, saying it would cost the Marines and the San Diego economy… Hunter, the second highest ranking member of the House Armed Services Committee, said he would fight an effort to move the boot camp to the now-closed El Toro Marine Corps Air Station." He is the second congressional opponent to speak against the move.

"The recruit depot is a $750 million investment that would be wasteful to bulldoze and difficult to replace, said Hunter. The depot also adds $200 million to the San Diego economy through payroll and contracts, plus it brings 90,000 visitors to the area to see family and friends graduate from the 12-week training sessions."

"Less than three months after celebrating new flights with a Mexican band and Sonoran folk dancers, Aeromexico is scaling back its service at Ontario International Airport, officials said Wednesday.  The service originally launched with 142-seat MD-80 jets. Now the airline will use 33-seat Saab 340B turboprop planes, officials said." Mexican travelers prefer to use LAX.

"The light passenger traffic for the Mexican airline echoes the experience of Air Canada, which pulled out of ONT in September 2000, less than three months after inaugurating its services. The Canadian airline also cited light demand."

Website Editor: The situation at Ontario again raises questions about whether there is genuine demand for an additional area airport.

"The U.S. representative whose district includes the Marine Corps boot camp said Tuesday that Commandant Gen. James Jones assured her he has not engaged in any 'in-depth discussions' about moving the base to the former El Toro Marine base."

"Rep. Susan Davis (D-San Diego) said Jones told her that any consideration of moving the … Marine Corps Recruit Depot, would be done 'in conjunction with the people of San Diego and their elected representatives.'"

"Last week, Rep. Randall 'Duke' Cunningham(R-Escondido) said Jones mentioned to him the idea of moving the base to El Toro. The Marine Corps immediately issued a statement seeming to distance itself from Cunningham's assertion, branding the idea as Cunningham's, not Jones'."

Website Editor: As further evidence that nothing involving El Toro is easy, yesterday, Congressman Darrell Issa promoted the training depot relocation possibilty with Orange County leaders. The mounting confusion emphasizes the need for Orange County officials to quickly develop a non-aviation reuse plan that the Navy can accept.

In a series of meetings today, with Orange County elected and grass roots leaders, Congressman Darrell Issa sought to generate understanding of his "Marine initiative". In a one-on-one meeting with website Editor Len Kranser, he posited that "National defense comes first" in the post September 11 world.

He wants the federal government to "go back through the BRAC [Base Realignment and Closure] process" to identify uses within federal agencies before property is disposed of to others.  Early on, the Navy followed this procedure with El Toro and had few takers.

However, now, San Diego County Congressman Randy Cunningham is proposing to relocate the Marine Corp Recruit Depot to El Toro from its long-time site adjacent to Lindbergh Field.  Reasons for the move range from providing more space for the expansion of the San Diego airport to Issa's argument that it would enable the training of more Marines.

In Issa's view, the MCRD would use "up to 2,000 acres" for training including the use of M16 rifles and side arms.  The amount of land would depend upon the need for buffer space between the training site and surrounding community uses.  The Marine Corp has rejected the idea of locating recruit training at the 128,000 acre Camp Pendleton. When asked why such valuable land in the heart of an urbanized County would be used for training, Issa indicated that there could be interest in swapping the El Toro land for another suitable training site elsewhere.

The training facility would use some existing buildings on the west side of the El Toro property, north of the main entrance, in an area proposed for a new runway by the proponents of a V-plan airport.

Issa said the Marines might also be interested in swapping approximately 400 acres of the base within the City of Irvine, adjacent to the Irvine Auto Park, to a housing developer in return for the developer building quarters for Marine families at Pendleton.  He selected this site because its location within the City puts it outside of Measure W zoning restrictions. "Portions sold outside of Irvine, in County land, may have to conform to Measure W", he said.

He said, "The voters have made it clear that 'We don't want an airport'" and he supports that.  The County can plan a park or whatever it wants in the part of the 4,700 acre base not retained by the Navy.  However, he said the Navy has decided to sell that land - "They want money for it."

Kranser noted that the decision to sell the land was inconsistent with what the Navy previously led the elected officials and voters of Orange County to expect. For example, a September 14, 2001 letter from H.T. Johnson, Assistant Secretary of the Navy for Installations and Environment, described the process for a no-cost Public Benefit Conveyance. "For a public benefit conveyance for parks, the National Park Service (NPS) would recommend that the Navy assign the property to the NPS.  The Navy would assign the property to the NPS, and the NPS then would sign the deed conveying the property to the State or local government applicant.” 

"A nagging impasse over construction of schools on the closed Tustin Marine base continues to block a redevelopment plan approved last month by the Navy."

"The sticking point is whether the Santa Ana Unified School District will build on 22 acres of base land offered by Tustin, or whether the district will fall back on a state law signed by Gov. Gray Davis that requires it to receive 100 acres before Tustin can develop the land."

"Last month, Navy officials issued an ultimatum to Tustin to reach agreement with the districts or see the federal government sell the base to developers. Navy officials flew to Orange County; after three days of talks, they approved giving most of the base to Tustin, regardless of the impasse with Santa Ana. The Navy will keep 240 acres to sell, with the proceeds to help cover the estimated $1-billion cost of closing the Tustin base and the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station."

Website Editor: The long impasse over the disposal of the Tustin base may be a factor in the Navy's announcement that it will act quickly and sell off pieces of El Toro - if the County does not come up with an acceptable reuse plan.

El Toro airport proponents seek to delay County action in order to give litigation, Sacramento lobbying and a new airport initiative more opportunity to take hold. Supervisor Charles Smith, a leading airport advocate, has been supporting a go-slow approach.

Most anti-airport leaders have been urging quick action to develop a plan, though Supervisor Tom Wilson has said that he favors a more methodical "well planned, comprehensive approach" and he hopes that the Navy will allow an extension of the April 23 deadline if the County is making progress in that direction.

Smith and Wilson will be going to Washington on April 1 on a fact-finding trip to discuss the current base Master Lease and timetable issues with the Navy.  Click here for a press release from Wilson's office regarding the trip. 

"Newport Beach took the surprising -- but we believe correct -- step last week of getting out of the El Toro airport fight."

"The El Toro alternative is nearly, if not entirely, gone with the passage of Measure W…. It has also been crippled by the Navy's announcement that it will begin selling the base off by parcels; and with Fullerton City Councilman Chris Norby's defeat of county Supervisor Cynthia Coad, which gives the board an anti-airport majority starting next year."

"Newport Beach has bigger concerns now. City leaders need to make sure John Wayne doesn't physically expand and that any increase in flights or passengers is reasonable and done with residents' best interests in mind."

"No longer can the connection between John Wayne's possible growth and the construction of an airport at El Toro be the linchpin in the argument."

"Losing the black eye the city gained with all the years of bickering and fighting over El Toro will not be an easy thing to do. But now, by getting out of the El Toro fight, the city can perhaps shed that image and get South County involved in limiting the growth of John Wayne."

Website Editor: It is almost exactly 2 years since the Pilot published my guest editorial "Let's Talk". However, the activists of the Airport Working Group and the leaders of Citizens for Jobs and the Economy still show no signs of backing off from the fight.  The AWG website left today's Pilot editorial out of its coverage of El Toro commentary. 

"The internal politics of the county's El Toro battle have been catching up with El Toro redevelopment chief Gary Simon's pragmatic (and job-preserving) resolve to stay flexible on exactly what plan gets implemented. While focusing in recent months on the airport, he also had said previously that his agency stood ready to plan something else instead if that was the will of the voters."

"Supervisor Todd Spitzer and Board Chairwoman Cynthia P. Coad… proposed moving Simon and his authority under the county's chief executive, Michael Schumacher. This move… may have some merit. But in reality, the question of the reporting arrangement is a side issue, less pressing than making the El Toro planning authority more representative."

"In fact, everything that has happened recently argues for a much broader planning group, since the supervisors acting alone have had their chance and bungled it."

"What the county needs to do is be sure that it doesn't simply change the reporting arrangements with an agency that arguably needs to be more representative. It needs to take a broader look at exactly how future planning for the base will take place. Irvine's claim on annexation deserves serious consideration too, because surrounding communities have expressed confidence in what that city would do. Either way, the county must bring others on board in a more formal way. Then worry about who heads the authority."

The complete op-ed is in the Early Bird thread of our message board.

"Rep. Randy 'Duke' Cunningham (R-Escondido), calls for moving the Marines' West Coast boot camp from San Diego to a portion of the former El Toro Marine base. That, in turn, would allow San Diego's airport, Lindbergh Field, to expand onto the depot property… Lindbergh is about the size of Orange County's John Wayne Airport but handles twice as many passengers--15.2 million last year compared with about 7.5 million at John Wayne."

"Cunningham's bid for a slice of El Toro is at least the third to emerge since the election… Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Vista) suggested trading a chunk of base land to a residential developer in exchange for building badly needed housing at Camp Pendleton in north San Diego County."

"Two Orange County supervisors asked Navy officials last week to consider giving 300 acres of El Toro to Cal State Fullerton for a South County campus." This move was contemplated under Measure W.

"The vacuum created by the loss of a future airport, and the lack of a plan to replace it, triggered the last-minute scrambling, said Jeffrey Finkle, executive director of the National Assn. of Installation Developers in Washington, which works on reusing military bases… Finkle said. 'If [local officials] don't reemerge as a strong advocate for the future condition of this property, they'll get willy-nilly [development].'"

"'We call it the great El Toro land grab,' said Gary Simon, executive director of Orange County's El Toro planning office. Planners are working on base options that they'll deliver April 16 to the Board of Supervisors. Simon said his office has been deluged with calls from people pitching development proposals… Several investors also toured the area, including a group that for at least three years has eyed land on the base for a pro football stadium."

"Moving the Marine Corps back to El Toro would mean reactivating a portion of the base, which closed in July 1999 along with its sister base in Tustin. Navy Lt. Comdr. Pauline Storum said Friday from Washington that she knew of no other base in the country that was closed and then reopened."

"During an Orange County appearance last month, Vice President Dick Cheney was asked about bringing the Marines back to El Toro and dismissed the notion. 'We need to be careful that we don't spend money on bases that might not be needed,' he said."

"Rep. Chris Cox (R-Newport Beach), whose district includes El Toro, said Friday that he was aware of discussions about moving the Marines' West Coast boot camp to El Toro but called the prospects 'highly unlikely.'  Cox said, "The Pentagon now has a plan for El Toro and it's my understanding that this is not part of it.'"

"'The Pentagon has set its course to develop the property consistent with Measure W,' Cox said." in today's Register article on this subject. 

"A regional airport group discussed the effects of Measure W on aviation in Southern California but took no action Thursday to try to revive an El Toro airport. The Southern California Regional Airport Authority, made up of four counties and the city of Los Angeles, decided to wait and further assess the effects of the ballot measure, which passed March 5 and killed plans for an El Toro airport, previously a key part of regional airport plans."

"A representative of a coalition of pro-airport cities in Orange County [OCRAA] asked the group … to join a lawsuit against Measure W, but the group did not consider the request."

Website Editor: Supervisor Charles Smith is Orange County's representative on SCRAA.  Peggy Ducey, former OCRAA Executive Director and Assistant City Manager of Newport Beach, is the group's Chief Executive Officer.  The County of Orange provides funding for the organization.

San Diego Congressman Randy "Duke" Cunningham (R 51st) is proposing to move the Marine Corps west coast recruit training from San Diego to El Toro. The training facility move would provide more land for San Diego's Lindbergh Field.

If approved, the facility would occupy 6oo or more acres of the former base's 4,700 acres.  It would consist primarily of classrooms, living quarters, drill fields, recreational uses and similar activities. Weapons training would continue to be conducted at Camp Pendleton.  There would be no aviation operations.

Initial indications are that the military training facilty could be compatible with the property's Measure W goals for open space, park and educational uses.  However, the proposal received a cool reception from the City of Irvine which hopes to plan the entire base parcel of land as one integrated project.

Click here to read the San Diego Union-Tribune's report and to post your reactions.

At yesterday's Board of Supervisors meeting, Supervisor Charles Smith, the lead airport proponent urged a go-slow approach to everything from Irvine annexation to the reassignment of the LRA staff under the County Executive Officer.

Three pro-airport groups sent March 18 letters to Chair Cynthia Coad also urging delay.

Art Bloomer, writing on behalf of the OCRAA, say "Don't forget, you are the majority until January 2003. Don't do anything prior to the Navy's issuance of the Record of Decision (ROD)."

Bloomer also expresses support for a V-Plan initiative to "be presented to the voters in November to maintain the commercial airport zoning."  Backers failed in their previous attempt to gather the signatures needed to place the initiative on the March ballot. The alternative airport plan has been rejected by the County and opposed by the City of Newport Beach.  Airport opponents say that there is no demand for a second airport and that this plan creates traffic and pollution just like the County's plan. The Department of Navy, in its recently released Environmental Impact Study, said it "is not a reasonable alternative".

Bruce Nestande and Tom Naughton, writing on behalf of the Citizens for Jobs and the Economy and the Airport Working Group, say, "We do not agree with relocating the LRA."

Barbara Lichman, writes, on her law firm's letterhead, representing the AWG, that considerations of finances, potential annexation and master planning for alternative uses "are entirely premature" until after the Navy releases its ROD. 

"One of the biggest proponents of the proposed El Toro airport backed out of the fight Tuesday as Mayor Todd Ridgeway announced the city will forgo a role in the legal challenge of Measure W and halt nearly a decade of pro-airport spending."

"'Our focus is on the extension agreement,' Ridgeway said of efforts to extend the caps at the [John Wayne] airport past their 2005 expiration date. 'El Toro is now properly before the entire Southern California region. . . . It is a county issue and not a Newport Beach issue."

"Since 1994, when Orange County planners began developing an airport blueprint for the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, Newport Beach has spent $10.94 million to aid the airport cause. That spending is expected to halt, Ridgeway said."

David Ellis, political consultant for the Airport Working Group said "the group has no plans to seek further grant funds from the city. Founded in 1981 to halt county plans to expand John Wayne, the group has received $4.35 million since 1993 to build support countywide for an airport at the closed base." 

"A March 8 story in the [Times] California section incorrectly identified supporters backing a plan for a new airport design at the former El Toro Marine base. The Airport Working Group of Orange County and Citizens for Jobs and the Economy do not endorse the proposed Reasonable Airport, Park and Nature Preserve Initiative."

Website editor: The V-plan proposal was not supported by the Navy's recently released Environmental Impact Study.

The Board of Supervisors met this morning and prepared a shopping list of policy guidelines to be considered by LRA Executive Director Gary Simon when Simon reports back to the Board on April 16.

Heading the list was a March 15 memo from Supervisor Todd Spitzer.  Spitzer, Supervisor Tom Wilson and Councilmember from the cities of Irvine and Lake Forest stressed the necessity for annexing the base to the City of Irvine.  Chuck Smith called the discussion "premature" and said that he was "personally neutral" on the matter.

Annexation would put the former base under the administrative, planning and development control of the City.  It would not convey ownership of the land to the city.

Several speakers stressed the importance of cooperation on the base reuse process and a suggestion was well received that a "task force" of representatives from groups not currently included in the County's LRA be added to provide community input. In the words  of Supervisor Silva, the Navy will cooperate "only if we get our act together."

Spitzer also reminded the Board that they had agreed unanimously to approve an environmental report that would help to extend John Wayne Airport caps.  Spitzer said, "groups trying to unravel Measure W will unravel the John Wayne agreement… Newport Beach City Council seems to get that message but some of the activist groups there don't."

Tom Wilson, also referring to the anti-Measure W efforts said, "It is unfortunate that we must contend with another lawsuit… a last and desperate attempt."

Supervisor Coad added several social services oriented topics to the Gary Simon study including a proposal that he "seek a mechanism to help the northern part of the County where there is a dire need for parks."

Supervisor Silva stressed that his main concern was the "protection of the County General Fund".  He wants to break the Master Lease with the Navy which is projected to cost the County $25 million in the next 3-1/2 years. Discussion about the lease included a desire by several supervisors to have the Navy take over but continue the present subleases with tenants.

Tom Wilson and Chuck Smith, who constitute the Board's Master Lease Sub-Committee will be going to Washington on April 1 and will approach the Navy on the subject.  At one point, Spitzer who is anxious to meet a Navy deadline for a plan, commented that "We have a responsibility to do a local plan.  Let's stay home and work on the plan and not run to Washington." 

El Toro airport advocates filed a lawsuit Monday to try to overturn Measure W, saying that state and federal law give county supervisors - not the voters - the right to decide how to use the shuttered base…. The lawsuit was filed by Airport Working Group; its president, Tom Naughton; Citizens for Jobs and the Economy; Garden Grove; and [OCRAA], a coalition of pro-airport cities."

"'I don't see anything in this complaint that's a bit surprising or has any chance of success on the merits,' said Rich Jacobs, an attorney for [ETRPA] a coalition of anti-airport cities. Jacobs, who said he will recommend that the anti-airport cities join the effort to defend the measure, called most of the suit 'political rhetoric.'"

"Bruce Nestande, head of Citizens for Jobs and the Economy, said the election was misleading - promising a park and downplaying the death of the airport - and the lawsuit aims to fix that. 'Clearly, when it is an airport vs. a park, it is not exactly rocket science as to which (will) prevail,' he said."

"Airport foes said the lawsuit is a desperate and hopeless attempt to save the airport. 'It's a nuisance, and it certainly will cost taxpayers more money to deal with this through the courts,' said Paul Eckles, top administrator of [ETRPA]. 'The reality is, the airport is dead.'"

"'This whole question of reuse of a former military base is an issue ... that has been exclusively delegated to the Board of Supervisors, and is not subject to local initiative,' [plaintiffs' attorney Fredric] Woocher said."

"'Once they see they are not legally bound by Measure W in any sense, we're hopeful that they will recognize this is not a decision they need to jump into next month,' he said. 'And hopefully they'll let the lawsuit play itself out before they make any commitments.'"

Website Editor: As we noted several times in recent days, delay is Supervisor Smith's game and the Woocher argument reinforces this.  The Board of Supervisors action this morning will shed light on whether Smith can gain support from other supervisors for a go-slow strategy

"Rob Thornton, the attorney who wrote Measure W for airport opponents… pointed to Measure A - the 1994 initiative that zoned El Toro for an airport, and which was defended by airport backers then as legal - as proof that initiatives can set the course of the base."

"Jacobs said the lawsuit, though expected, may end up a waste of time, given that pro-airport Supervisor Cynthia Coad was defeated by anti-airport challenger Chris Norby, tilting the balance of power 3-2 against the project." 

An erroneous e-mail message, circulated by an area resident, suggested that Supervisor Wilson does not support Irvine annexation of El Toro. El Toro is in the City of Irvine's State designated sphere of influence for annexation.

We have been asked by the Supervisor's office to publicize the following clarifying message.

"… There appears to be a gross misunderstanding about my position on this issue.  We are now entering into a new non-aviation planning phase, and I am looking forward to a well planned, comprehensive approach towards the future of El Toro which certainly includes the annexation application from the City of Irvine." - Tom Wilson

It comes as no surprise that pro-airport groups - including the OCRAA cities, the Airport Working Group and the Nestande led Citizens for Jobs and the Economy - have filed suit against the County, seeking to overturn Measure W.  They request that the case be transferred out of Orange County and that there be injunctive relief granted.

Pro-airport groups have filed suit against the County in the past, and anti-airport groups have stepped in to mount the principal defense.

The arguments against Measure W are apparently a repeat of some used against Measure F and some employed in earlier unsuccessful attempts to keep W off the ballot.  Initiative supporters, and even some airport backers, consider Measure W to be very legally sound.

The initiative will become law 30 days after passage, regardless of the lawsuit.  The Board of Supervisors is expected to certify the results of the election at a brief meeting at the end of this month.

"Supervisors Todd Spitzer and Board Chairwoman Cynthia P. Coad … have proposed moving the El Toro Local Redevelopment Authority under the county's chief executive, rather than the Board of Supervisors, which has been polarized for years with three members supporting an airport and two opposed…. The proposal to bring the authority under the CEO will be considered by supervisors Tuesday."

"Spitzer and Coad also are asking for a thorough study of El Toro's future in light of voters' approval of Measure W."

"In his job as [LRA] executive director, [Gary] Simon earns about $182,000 a year overseeing an agency of 29 employees, whose task is to plan the switch from military base to civilian use. It also is charged with maintaining and maximizing base assets, such as stables, a golf course and agricultural leases while the county leases the land from the Navy."

"The authority now must shift its emphasis from planning for an airport to developing it in accordance with Measure W. Spitzer says his proposal is an effort to speed that process."

"But Supervisor Chuck Smith, who supported an airport, called Spitzer's proposals a 'knee-jerk' reaction after the election and a veiled attempt to fire Simon."

"'I want to let the dust settle a little,' Smith said, adding that he believes Simon has done a good job and that any attempt to get rid of him now would be a waste of valuable county time and money because of the Navy's pending decision on transferring or selling the base."   Website Editor: We noted Smith's delaying tactic, and possible reasons, in a news report yesterday.

"Spitzer said he also was trying to fast-track the decision-making process, noting that Simon wanted to wait until April 16 to convene a special meeting of the board, which also sits as directors of the redevelopment authority. 'I didn't want to wait seven weeks to give direction. It's imperative we do it immediately,' Spitzer said."

Meanwhile, the Register reports that the OCRAA cities have voted to support an expected lawsuit against Measure W brought by the AWG and Nestande's group.

On Tuesday, March 19 at 9:30 AM, the Board of Supervisors will take up the issue of El Toro reuse planning.  On the agenda will be proposals by Supervisor Todd Spitzer in whose district the former base is located.  The public is encouraged to attend and participate.

Spitzer will be urging his colleagues to move quickly to shape an agreement with the federal government that moves El Toro decision making into hands that will implement the mandate of Measure W.  The Navy has issued an April 23 deadline for such action.

Supervisor Charles Smith and pro-airport forces are expected to favor delays that allow litigation, lobbying, competing initiatives and other forms of mischief to gain momentum.

After years of surviving on a daily diet of El Toro comment no one seems ready to let go.  Visit our Early Bird thread for the full text of a herd of letters and op-ed submittals.

In the Times, Irvine Mayor Larry Agran writes, "Great Park's Time Has Come"

"Our top priority now must be to enlist the cooperation of Orange County cities and county officials in order to bring about the long-anticipated annexation of El Toro by Irvine… Once all parties agree that El Toro is subject to Irvine's land-use planning, the city then will be in a position to begin planning and creating the magnificent park that was envisioned by Measure W."

"Once Irvine annexes the land, the first phases of the Great Park can start to emerge within the next few years--and at very little cost… While some elements can materialize much sooner than many people think, the fully evolved Orange County Great Park will be decades in the making."

The Daily Pilot editorializes, "More city money for El Toro airport risky and unwise."

"For the last 10 years, nearly $11 million in tax money from the residents of Newport Beach has gone toward the planning and pushing for an airport at El Toro…Now, we hear rumblings that the pro-El Toro airport forces aren't finished spending money yet. That they will be asking for more money from the Newport Beach City Council to pursue their pro-El Toro efforts in the courtroom and elsewhere. We urge Newport Beach leaders to act with caution and guard the taxpayer's from what may become an even bigger monetary loss."

Congressman Christopher Cox criticizes an earlier Pilot writer, who predicted rampant development at the base, with "Columnist makes mistakes pertaining to El Toro"

"Joseph N. Bell (The Bell Curve, "The Game's Not Over on El Toro Airport,") makes a serious mistake to suggest that the Navy intends to avoid the zoning requirements legislated in Measure W.  Selling the base property -- through a General Services Administration auction -- will end its status as federal property. Like all local property, it will be subject to local zoning. The zoning applicable to the former base property is Measure W."

"Bell is even more wrong to imply that the Navy had a premeditated plan to avoid compliance with Measure W. …[The] Pentagon has stated explicitly and repeatedly that it would honor the results of the countywide vote on Measure W.

"In fact, the Navy had two press releases prepared for Wednesday morning after the election -- one for an airport and one for non-aviation uses. Had Measure W failed, the Navy would have moved ... to build an airport there.  It was Orange County that made this decision, not Washington, and that is as it should be." 

"Two county supervisors were told at a Washington, D.C., meeting that the Navy will work with Orange County officials to assure that when the El Toro Marine base property is sold, its future use will be consistent with Measure W, passed by voters last week."

"Navy officials affirmed their commitment this week to sell the land now that Orange County voters have killed the possibility of putting a commercial airport there."

"In an effort to quickly deal with the passage of Measure W, Supervisors Todd Spitzer and Jim Silva met Wednesday with H.T. Johnson, assistant secretary of the Navy for installations, and Duncan Holaday, Johnson's deputy, to discuss the base's future, Spitzer said Friday. Rep. Christopher Cox (R-Newport Beach) also attended the meeting."

"Spitzer said he and Silva told the Navy that the county wants to stop paying for maintenance at the base and subsidizing activities there, which costs about $7 million a year."

"The county also wants the Navy to honor five-year leases for existing tenants, including a golf course, horse stables and a recreational-vehicle storage facility."

The Register reports that "Spitzer also wants the county to let Irvine annex El Toro as soon as possible."  Click here for Spitzer's memo to the Board with suggested actions.

"Supervisor Chuck Smith said late Friday that he wants the county to stop spending money on the former Marine base, including planning for a park. He rejected Spitzer's suggestion that the county and Irvine--which borders the retired military base--embark on a development plan for El Toro."

"'We should stop the planning process completely and work with the Navy to sell the base,' Smith said."

"Smith and Supervisor Tom Wilson asked Navy officials on Friday to give up a chunk of the military land for free by signing a letter on behalf of Cal State Fullerton, for 300 acres for a satellite campus at El Toro."

"Smith and Wilson also want to open up 853 units of former base housing along Irvine Boulevard for affordable housing."  Both actions are consistent with Measure W. 

The St. Louis article has relevance to controversial El Toro airport planning and the Southern California Association of Governments' (SCAG) dubious projections of regional demand.

"The bulldozers are rolling, even if the figures don't add up. As part of Lambert Field's ongoing expansion, 1,925 houses are being bought and demolished to prepare for more than 51,000 takeoffs and landings that won't happen ... The $1.1 billion W-1W runway project is being pursued despite an overall decline in flight operations …and that slide is expected to continue, because this town's own bankrupt airline, TWA, has been swallowed up by Texas-based American Airlines."

"But hey, don't worry. Airport planners knew this all along… The lying-about-the-future part started early and was repeated often." 

"The number of passengers using John Wayne Airport, where business plummeted after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks, has nearly returned to normal. The airport served 527,943 passengers in February, 1 percent less than in the same month last year, according to airport officials."

Website Editor: The recovery is a good thing. However, before anyone starts to worry about JWA becoming overloaded, consider these facts:

At 527,943 passengers in a month, JWA is running at an annual rate of only 6.3 Million Annual Passengers.  The County has recently approved an EIR for allowing its use to serve 9.8 MAP.

Despite the County's spin, the "nearly normal" February was in fact the airport's slowest month since January 1996, except for this past September when the terrorist attacks shut all airports for several days. JWA traffic voume has been static for years.

Congressman Darrell Issa wrote to Navy Secretary Gordon England today, proposing "a land for housing exchange" under which a developer would receive a parcel of land at El Toro in exchange for constructing badly needed housing for marines at Camp Pendleton.

According to the letter, "The housing situation at Camp Pendleton has reached the point of crisis, with over 2,000 families on waiting lists."  The Navy previously rejected a proposal to house Pendleton marines in vacant units at El Toro and have them commute.

Presumably, if a swap occurred, the developer would need to use the land parcel for projects consistent with Measure W.

"In a joint memo, Supervisors Todd Spitzer… and Cynthia Coad… said they will ask the full board next week to consider a power shift. They suggest transferring oversight of the 4,700-acre former Marine base away from a 30-member county team created to plan an airport. That group would report to the county's top administrator, rather than the board."

"They also want to direct various county administrators to join in with nonaviation recommendations… Spitzer said the reorganization would make county staff members more efficient in helping the board make decisions, by adding experts outside the El Toro team."

"The county's options include declining to take any base property, trying to help the city of Irvine or another entity build the park, or developing a park itself. Any county proposal must gain approval of the Navy, which started to close the base in 1993 and wants to quickly rid itself of El Toro."

"Gary Simon, who heads the El Toro team, said his group would just as energetically fulfill a different county project at the site." 

One of the decisive factors in last week's 57.2 percent victory for Measure W was the larger than average turnout in cities where the proposed airport would have the greatest impact.  With 37 percent of voters countywide casting a ballot - one way or the other - on the anti-airport measure, every South County city produced an above average turnout.

While the more populous North County produced more "Yes" on W votes, the cities around El Toro added to the margin of victory with their Get Out the Vote efforts.

With volunteers calling every voter in precinct after precinct, with residents manning tables at major markets the weekend before the vote, and human billboarders waving signs at intersections on Election Day, people power weighed the scales in favor of the initiative.

In a county where money has often dominated politics, the role of grass-roots organization has never loomed larger.  Click here for a campaign photo album.

One had to listen carefully for nuances and references to El Toro.  Measure W was never specifically mentioned.  The meeting provided few clues as to where individual Board members are headed as a result of the passage of the anti-airport measure. However, Supervisor Spitzer indicated that he and supervisor Coad had agendized the matter for next week's Board meeting.

Spitzer questioned the assignment of LRA staff as guides for student photography class tours since the staff should be working on "our top priority" - the upcoming April 16 LRA meeting to discuss El Toro options.

John Wayne Airport Director Alan Murphy finally received approval for increases in parking fees from $11 to $17 a day.  Murphy's recommendation had been put off several times prior to the recent election.  Supervisor Tom Wilson questioned whether the increases would be necessary had "we not decimated John Wayne funds for El Toro?"  Murphy said the increases were needed to meet new higher operating costs.

Supervisor Spitzer added language to the fee increase item to require that JWA enterprise money be restricted for John Wayne airport maintenance and improvements only.  This fund has been the main funding source for El Toro planning.

Supervisor Silva, when moving the motion to increase the parking fees, stated briefly, "We will have to let the El Toro issue go at some point."

The Navy has asked for an El Toro reuse proposal by April 23. The Board schedule for upcoming weeks is as follows:

March 19, 2002 Regular Meeting
March 26, 2002 Cancelled Meeting
April 2, 2002 Cancelled Meeting

"American Airlines has requested four more daily flights at Long Beach Airport so it can begin service to two new destinations this summer… New York City-based JetBlue Airways has the rights to 27. And even though JetBlue is using only three now, the airline will not give up any of the rest."

"JetBlue has made Long Beach Airport a large part of its operations, flying nonstop three times daily to New York City's John F. Kennedy International Airport. It adds another flight to New York in July" and will begin service to Washington in May. 

On KPCC radio, on March 8, Congressman Christopher Cox clarified the Navy's intentions regarding disposition of the El Toro property.

"The decision has been made on El Toro, and that's the view of the Pentagon as well… no matter what happens, sale of the property is for the purpose of converting the property to the park plan that was enacted by the voters."

Host Larry Mantle queried, "The characterization of the Navy's action is a bit a different depending on which reporter's work you read in which publication.  In the Los Angeles Times yesterday in a front-page story, it was quite definitive that the Navy is going to sell the land. But in the Orange County Register, the report was that the Navy may sell the land, particularly if the county can't figure out what it definitely wants to do."

The Congressman replied, "The Pentagon is very interested in moving forward in implementing Measure W.  And they're going to work with local government to bring that about."

Click here for a transcript of the entire interview.

Today, the newspapers are full of opinions but no new facts.  To read all the editorials and letters to the papers, visit the Early Bird thread on our message board and scroll to the bottom where readers have posted most of the reams of comment that were published.

Two days ago, those of you who subscribe to our free E-Mail Bulletins received a digest of the most important questions and answers about the election's aftermath.  Here's an abbreviated summary of the bulletin for those who have yet to subscribe:

QUESTION # 1. WHAT WILL HAPPEN NEXT WITH EL TORO?

It won't be an airport, but each day may bring a new surprise. I urge you to check the website news regularly. We've been posting new information several times a day.

QUESTION # 2.  WHAT'S THE SIGNIFICANCE OF THE NAVY ANNOUNCEMENT THAT THEY MAY SELL THE BASE?

Our understanding is that the Navy will sell it if the County can not work out a satisfactory plan, quickly, for its conversion to non-aviation use. The County's fumbling of the base reuse process frustrates the Navy.  The delay in unloading the property has cost the Navy millions of dollars.

The Navy, and Congressman Cox are clear that they expect the County to come up with a non-aviation plan or the property will be sold for non-aviation purposes..

THE AIRPORT IS DEAD, but we might end up with a park that is smaller than the full 4,700 acres, if portions of the land are sold for commercial use.  The money will be used by the Navy to pay for its costs of relocating the Marines and for other national defense needs.

QUESTION # 3. WHAT IF THE AIRPORT WORKING GROUP OF NEWPORT BEACH TRIES TO OVERTURN MEASURE W?

Losers often do this.  They try, in court, to win what they could not get at the ballot box. Measure W becomes law in 30 days, whether there is a lawsuit or not.

At least 5 law firms participated in the drafting of Measure W.  Proponents also hired one more firm that did not participate, just to critique the work of the others. The initiative follows the recommendation of the judge who objected to Measure F - as to how best to stop the airport.  From what I hear of the approach from the pro-airport side, they have no case.

QUESTION # 4. WILL SUPERVISORS SILVA AND COAD LIVE UP TO THEIR PRIOR STATEMENTS ABOUT RESPECTING THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE OR WILL THEY KEEP TRYING TO BUILD AN AIRPORT?

I won't guess at an answer. Clearly, the litigation, lobbying and planning is easier to unravel if there is cooperation on the Board of Supervisors.  New Supervisor Chris Norby does not take office until the end of the year and much has to be done in the interim.  We'd hate to see more money wasted on this failed airport project.

QUESTIONS #5. WILL PRO-AIRPORT GROUPS LAUNCH A NEW INITIATIVE?

There is no way to keep people from wasting their money.  Polls say that you can't sell an airport plan of any size, shape or form to Orange County voters.  I suspect that such an attempt would anger the Navy and could speed up their decision to parcel out the base.

As the website reported yesterday, "A Navy environmental study released Friday keeps the former El Toro Marine base on track for development as a park - refuting naysayers who had warned that Measure W would stall planning for years. Airport backers had argued that approval of the anti-airport initiative might force the Navy to scrap its study of the county airport proposal and start over with new environmental scrutiny."

"County El Toro director Gary Simon, who had expressed concerns about how the Navy might respond to Measure W, said he was relieved to learn from a top Navy official this week that the current study is adequate." 

The Department of Navy Environmental Impact Study for the disposal of El Toro reads in part, "The final EIS for MCAS El Toro, while addressing aviation use as the preferred alternative, also fully addresses potential nonaviation land use alternatives, including mixed use variations substantially similar to those described in Measure W."  The report became available today.

In other words, transfer of the property for park use is covered and allowed by the Navy disposal documentation.

On the other hand, the Navy EIS concludes that the so-called V-Plan airport design "is not a reasonable alternative".  A group, including Charles Griffin, Russell Niewiarowski and Bob McGowan, filed a Notice of Intent to collect signatures to qualify their "Reasonable Airport, Park and Nature Preserve Initiative" for the November election. The group failed in their previous effort to get the V-Plan measure onto the March 5 ballot.

"A 30-member team of staff members formed to build an El Toro airport is now focused on how the county might put a sprawling park at the former Marine base instead. County officials Thursday said they will consider all sorts of options, from waiting for lawsuits to building the park to letting Irvine take charge of it."

"But Supervisor Chuck Smith of Westminster, a longtime supporter of a commercial El Toro airport, said he is going to ask Federal Aviation Administration officials to push forward and construct the airport themselves as a necessary way to meet air-travel demand. He concedes his option is a long shot."

"Supervisor Cynthia Coad, an airport supporter, said she now accepts public opposition to an airport plan. 'I see no reason not to support the voters' decision on Measure W,' she said."

"Rep. Chris Cox, R-Newport Beach, said Thursday that a likely scenario would be one or more groups buying the land and dedicating much of the property for open space. But any buyer would have to build recreation and education projects allowed in the measure, Cox said, such as a professional sports stadium, museums, research and development sites, a school campus, golf courses and tennis facilities."

"Another scenario has the county letting Irvine annex the property. 'It's their prerogative,' Coad said. 'The county doesn't own it.'"

"At least some who support a commercial El Toro airport haven't raised the white flag."

"A group filed paperwork Thursday with the county Registrar of Voters to circulate a petition to get a new airport proposal onto the November ballot with flight paths more popular among pilots. The group acknowledged it's a long-shot effort."

"Attention once focused on what might be built on the former El Toro Marine base has expanded to include [14,000] thousands of acres in a protection zone surrounding it. Voters effectively erased the need for the buffer by approving Measure W on Tuesday, killing a proposed El Toro airport."

"Airport Land Use Commissioner Denny Harris on March 21 will formally ask the commission to end its control of the area and turn it over to the cities where the buffer property is."

"The biggest chunk of land in the buffer zone belongs to the Irvine Co. Spokesman John Christensen said the company's plans will not be affected."

Irvine and Lake Forest have city zoning control over the area.  "Mark Pulone, Lake Forest's assistant city manager, said that … "Regardless of Measure W's approval, before any new projects were to move forward, the city would have to change its zoning on the property." 

"Irvine officials plan to forge ahead with their bid to annex the former El Toro Marine air base and convert it into a sprawling park, despite the U.S. Navy's plan to sell off the prime suburban real estate to the highest bidder."

Irvine City Councilman Chris Mears said, "'The people overwhelmingly said, 'Enough is enough. We want the use described in Measure W,' and I think they ultimately will have it…. We're going to proceed with what we hope is the successful annexation of the base as a Great Park.'"

Website Editor:  The unincorporated base is in Irvine's state designated "sphere of influence" for annexation.  Part of the base is already within the city boundaries.

"NEWPORT BEACH -- City and county leaders pushing an airport for the closed El Toro Marine Corps Air Station have invested more than $60 million combined over the last decade, money that now may be forever lost after Tuesday's Measure W vote."

"Over those years, the Newport Beach City Council authorized expenditures totaling $10.94 million for airport-related matters, city records show. Much of that total was spent on lobbyists, legal advice, public relations efforts and other expenses geared toward building a commercial airport at the base, officials said."

"Of course, the city played a supporting role to the majority of Orange County supervisors, who funneled about $50 million to an airport planning arm."

"'The City Council felt they had a mandate from the city,' Councilwoman Norma Glover said. 'We tried to make El Toro happen. We weren't successful.'"

"The Airport Working Group was given $4.35 million. 'The city has been pretty much a lone warrior on this issue," [Political consultant Dave] Ellis said. 'We haven't seen any of the other North County cities bellying up to the bar.'"

"The working group has refused to release details of how that money was spent… When city officials were asked how pro-airport groups spent the grant money, they said they didn't require detailed records of the expenditures, but that the money was only to be used for public information about aviation issues."

"Since 1993, the city has given $1.76 million to Citizens for Jobs and the Economy. Costa Mesa billionaire George Argyros launched the group in 1994 but has since handed over the reins to [Bruce] Nestande."

"Argyros spent nearly $3.5 million of his own fortune before leaving for an ambassador post in Spain last year."

"The city also handed $394,129 to the now-defunct Orange County Airport Alliance, a group founded in January 1999 by activist Tom Wall but disbanded about a year later."

"'It's incredibly unfortunate that this amount of public money has been spent on a flawed project,' said Laguna Hills Councilman Allan Songstad, one of the leaders in the drive to kill the airport." 

Opposition to an El Toro airport has been deep rooted, consistent and countywide. Several millions of dollars of County funded "Just the Facts" literature, presentations and media could not generate support for the unpopular airport.

Support for a Central Park at El Toro - the latest non-aviation reuse alternative for the property - has been less durable under political attack.

When the Central Park proposal was initially put forward, it polled more strongly than the general anti-airport sentiment. That is to say, even some pro-airport residents preferred the park reuse.

However, the park idea lost backing in the face of a dirty campaign based on a steady  barrage of "great tax" charges.  Despite the fact that the County Auditor-Controller found that no tax would be needed, and California Propositions 13 and 218 require approval from two-thirds of the voters for any new tax, the aggressive No on W anti-tax campaign found votes.

At the polls on March 5, anti-airport residents of South County cities held firm and supported Measure W with big percentages and big turnout. In the north, where the "great tax" scare was aimed, many residents waivered or abandoned Measure W - even though they were anti-airport.  Click here for a preliminary city-by-city tally of votes.

The El Toro Airport website will become the El Toro Info Site to reflect the new reality.  Our homepage has a new look, as does the logo that appears at the top of this page. The annoying airplane graphic is banished from the homepage, as planes will no longer threaten our homes.

The website address remains www.eltoroairport.org since a change in hundreds of pages would be too much work.  However, viewers can also access the site by clicking on our new alternate address www.el-toro.info

The airport is dead.  However, reuse of El Toro will remain a topic of interest that we will continue to cover for the long haul.  Thanks for your support.

"With the Great Park initiative's victory still fresh on the books Wednesday, a local congressman made a stunning announcement that the Navy would quickly begin selling off the base in pieces to the highest bidder… Rep. Chris Cox, who represents Newport Beach, said, 'At long last, the decision on an El Toro airport has been definitively made,' Cox said. 'No aviation use will be further pursued by Washington.'"

"City leaders in Newport Beach said they weren't surprised by the announcement and are already shifting their focus to nailing down the flight restrictions at John Wayne Airport. The eight-year effort to build an airport at the closed El Toro Marine base is basically over, Newport Beach Councilwoman Norma Glover said."

"South County leaders were jubilant about the win, but also said it should be used as an opportunity to break bread with Newport Beach. The airport debate has divided the county since 1993, when the base was tabbed for closure." 

"ONTARIO -- While growth was stifled at one Orange County airport [JWA] last week and a second [El Toro] may never be developed, Ontario International Airport is preparing for millions more passengers and an increase in air cargo."

"On Tuesday, the Los Angeles Airport Board gave its staff the authority to negotiate a contract with HNTB Architects to prepare a master plan for Ontario International. The contract is expected to be awarded later this month.  It will be the first master plan in the airport's modern history and will mean the development of plans for three more terminals and more space for handling cargo."

"Once the airport reaches 10 million passengers two years in a row, it will open negotiations with airlines to build more terminals. Each of the airport's two terminals is designed to handle 5 million passengers, and Ontario has room to add three more terminals."

"It will be needed if the airport grows to Southern California Assn. of Governments' projection of 30 million passengers a year in 2025, up from 6.7 million passengers handled in 2001."

"Orange County residents are migrating to San Bernardino County because of lower home prices, and their companies will follow by building offices in the Inland Empire… The potential for growth at ONT also comes from San Gabriel Valley residents who have been going to LAX instead of Ontario."

Barbara Lichman, President of the Newport Beach based Airport Working Group announced to the media that her group would attempt to overturn Measure W.  The action was no surprise, since initiative losers frequently try to win in court what they can not win at the polls.

Lichman's highly publicized announcement is seen here as an effort to bolster pro-airport morale in the wake of yesterday's major election defeats. In particular, the pro-airport side needs to keep Supervisors Silva and Coad from carrying out their previously stated intent to drop the airport project should Measure W win.

Lichman has repeatedly argued, during the campaign, that the Navy would not convey the property for a purpose other than an airport.  Today's press release from the Navy proved her wrong on that crucial point.  See story below.

In her media statement, Lichman continued to take words out of context from Measure W.  Ignoring the fact that the initiative stipulates that uses must be park-compatible, Lichman threatened that there would be "industrial uses, high rises and waste dumps."

"There is no park in the Great Park initiative", she said.  Sorry Ms. Lichman, there is a park - but there is no airport in the Great Park initiative.

Moving quickly on the heels of yesterday's election outcome, the Navy issued a press release this morning stating that the Record of Decision for disposal of the former Marine base "will honor the decision of Orange County voters in favor of non-aviation uses of MCAS El Toro."

"The Department of the Navy's Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) for reuse for the former Marine Corps Air Station (MCAS) El Toro will be made public March 8, 2002."

"The FEIS addresses not only aviation use as the preferred alternative but also a wide range of potential land use scenarios, including mixed use variations similar to those described in Measure W."

The Navy began the base closure formal proceedings with the publication of a November 1996 schedule for the federally required Environmental Impact Statement (EIS). The EIS was intended to be completed by the end of 1997 but was delayed by repeated County changes in direction.

In April 2000 the Navy released a Draft EIS for public comment. It stated that the "preferred alternative" was an airport since this was the intended use by the County.  Today's announcement indicates that a non-aviation alternative will also have Navy support.

Following the Final EIS (FEIS) which will be issued this week, the Navy will issue a Record of Decision (ROD).  Airport opponents have worked for years to obtain a "neutral ROD" as opposed to one that allows only airport use. Today's announcement confirms that outcome.

The neutral ROD will be released by April 23, 2002.  It may allow the auctioning of some of the property for non-aviation uses. Airport opponents expressed great satisfaction with the Navy decision to abide by the decision of the voters.

Congressman Christopher Cox wrote, "I look forward to working with Secretary Rumsfeld and our local elected officials to swiftly implement the decision of the people of Orange County."

In a big win for anti-airport sentiment, Measure W passed 57.8 percent to 42.2 percent.  The almost 16 percent spread was the sort of strong showing that the opponents of El Toro airport were looking for in order to send an unambiguous "No airport" message to county and federal officials.

In addition, anti-airport challenger Chris Norby won a stunning 53.7 percent to 47.5 percent upset over the incumbent pro-airport Chair of the County Board of Supervisors. Supervisor Cynthia Coad had heavily outspent Norby but went down to defeat in her North County district. The Norby victory will provide a 3-2 anti-airport majority on the Board of Supervisors next year.

In a third crucial race, Measure V passed by 52.5 percent to 47.5 percent. Much of the money against Measure V came from the OC Professional Firefighters union that had governance issues with a charter and also hoped to see its President appointed by the Governor to an upcoming vacancy on the Board of Supervisors. The union has no position on the airport or Measure W.  With this victory, the County charter will be changed so that the predominantly anti-airport 3rd district will elect its own supervisor at a special election.

California Proposition 40, the $2.6 billion state park bond measure also passed. The measure could provide significant funds for a start on Orange County's Central Park.

Leaders of the anti-airport movement called for the County to stop spending money on the "politically dead" divisive airport project.  They urged all citizens to work together, now, to create El Toro's democratically decided non-airport future.

Click here for a statement that Chris Norby sent to Measure W supporters on Election night prior to posting of the results.
Click here for the ETRPA press release distributed today.

Complete returns from the Registrar of Voters - Click here for all races.

To post personal comments on the results, click here.

Click here for previous news stories - March 2002 pre-election