The full text of each article or letter posted to the Early Bird News this month is archived.  Click here
but note that the file is very large and will load slowly. 

Website Direct, July 31, 2001
Lower Court rules against County in lawsuit over Ballot Summary

New York Daily News, July 28, website posted July 29, 2001
"The train to the plane is back — this time headed to Newark Airport."

LA Times, July 28, 2001
"Airport Foes Sue Newport Beach, Group"

ETRPA Press release, July 27, 2001
ETRPA Files Suit Against Newport Beach for Illegal Use of Taxpayers Funds

LA Times Inland Valley Edition, July 27, 2001
"Landing costs might deter more touchdowns"
"Ontario airport fees, the highest in Southern California, termed 'exorbitant' and 'rash'."

Cal State Fullerton/OCBC Press Release, July 25, 2001
Latest poll results released - Park Initiative leads with 62.4 percent.

Website Direct, July 25, 2001
 History of Air Tragedy at Leisure World

Website Direct, July 24, 2001
Commitment to Open Space - Just the Facts

LA Times, July 23, 2001
"For the GOP… "

Website Direct, July 23, 2001
Tom Wall is coming back to tout an airport

OC Register, The Buzz, July 23, 2001
"The other El Toro debate was undersized"

Daily Pilot editorial, July 22, 2001
"A switch that was long in coming"

LA Times, July 20, 2001 - UPDATED 1:10 PM
"U.S. to Study Expansion of Local Airports"
"Formation of task force is applauded by foes of the $12-billion LAX modernization proposal"

KCRW, July 17, 2001 Forum posted July 19
Transcript of the forum published.

OC Register, July 19, 2001
"El Toro pitch promises 'Just The Facts'"
"But airport foes say the county's public-information campaign will offer only 'selected facts.'"

Website Direct, July 18, 2001
FAA wrestling with airport approval

OC Register, July 18, 2001
"Analysis of park initiative Okd"

Supervisor Tom Wilson e-mail, July 17, 2001
"Latest News on Redistricting:"

Website Direct, July 17, 2001
John Wayne air passenger traffic continues with no growth.

LA Times Editorial, July 17, 2001
"The Numbers, Please…"

Inland Empire On-Line (Press -Enterprise), July 16, 2001
"Panel raps LAX plan"
"Members of a county government association say the proposal could hurt Inland airports."

LA Times, July 15, 2001
"Plan Would Ease Noise in Cities Northwest of El Toro"
"O.C. officials recommend that many flights from proposed commercial-plane site should turn right over foothills to ocean."

Website Direct, July 15, 2001
Which Way, LA? forum Tuesday

Website Direct, July 14, 2001
Petition Drive in Full Gear

OC Register, July 13, 2001
"Homes by El Toro Okd"
"Planning Commission approves Irvine Co. development for parcel that's just 1.5 miles from the proposed airport."

Wall Street Journal, July 12, 2001
"FAA to Order Repair of Jetliner Engines"

Website Editorial Comment, July 12, 2001
Putting news stories together signals more obstacles for the V-Plan

OC Register, July 12, 2001
"Orange sues El Toro PAC over spending cap"
"City accuses the group of giving 2 airport-friendly council candidates more money than the law allows."

OC Register, July 11, 2000
"Airport foes say panel overstated O.C. demand"
"4 million phantom passengers cause confusion."

LA Times, July 9, 2001
"Air Passenger Count for O.C. 33% Too High"
"Regional agency concedes it overestimated county travelers in 2000 by 4 million. The higher figure has been used to argue for a new airport."

LA Times, Newport Beach Metro, July 7, 2001
"Forget El Toro, a better Marine base airport awaits"

Website Direct, July 6, 2001
Signature Gathering in High Gear - See photos

Website Direct, July 6, 2001
Who Uses JWA?

LA Times, Newport Beach Metro, July 4, 2001
"Newport Beach officials say V-plan would give airport foes more time to change zoning for their Great Park."

Website Direct, July 3, 2001
Pro-airport group sues County over initiative

OC Register, July 3, 2001
"New petitions for airport foes"

Website Direct, July 2, 2001
AWG hopes to pack the July 17 El Toro forum, first.

Website Direct, July 2, 2001
Sacramento Sneak Attack – Call now!

Website Direct, July 1, 2001
Petitions are available for pickup at Campaign Office

Click for earlier news briefs

A lower court judge ruled, today, that the County Counsel prepared a "false and misleading title and summary" for the Orange County Central Park and Nature Preserve Initiative.

The lawsuit was brought by the pro-airport Citizens for Jobs and the Economy against the County - and not against the initiative or its backers.  The judge had no problem with the initiative itself and said, "If you read it, its okay."

The County is solely responsible for preparing these summaries which must appear on every petition.

Many supporters of the initiative were angry that the County failed to mount an adequate defense of its own legal work. It was the County Counsel's duty to convince the court that they had done their job properly.

The campaign committee will appeal the matter to the next legal level. Bill Kogerman, Chairman of the Committee for Safe and Healthy Communities said, "We believe that the lower court erred, the Title and Summary meet the requirements of the law, and we will be in the Appeals Court immediately.  We are confident that we will prevail and the petitions will be counted."

The volunteer supporters of the initiative are well on schedule to qualifying it for the March 2002 ballot. Kogerman said that signature gathering will continue and the popular Park initiative will be decided by the voters.

The lawsuit is seen as one more legal roadblock, thrown up in a pro-airport struggle to try to thwart the will of the people.

"While a major project to improve train service to Kennedy Airport continues, air travelers headed to Newark will soon be able to get there from Penn Station entirely by rail."

"The new trains will start running in two or three months… One to three trains per hour will run in each direction most of the day.  The $415 million Port Authority/NJTransit project 'will enable countless airline passengers to reach their flights without ever having to set foot in a car or a bus.'  The new service also will relieve traffic on highways and reduce air pollution " an official stated.

"Late next year, air travelers headed to Kennedy also will have a commuting option: the $1.9 billion AirTrain is expected to run between Kennedy's terminals, parking lots and the A train subway line in Howard Beach, Queens, a … spokesman said… The Metropolitan Transportation Authority also is studying rail service to LaGuardia Airport."

Editor:  There are 7 airports within 50 miles of El Toro. We don't need more airports, just better ways to get there. The City of Irvine hopes to begin park and ride service from the Irvine Transportation Center to LAX and Ontario next year.

"Foes of converting the closed El Toro Marine base to a commercial airport sued Newport Beach and the Airport Working Group on Friday, alleging that the city illegally allocated about $3.7 million in public funds to help defeat an anti-airport ballot measure."

"The lawsuit seeks to recover any spent funds and stop the city from spending any more public funds on what the airport foes say is a political campaign to promote the airport. State law forbids public entities from directly or indirectly spending taxpayer dollars to influence an initiative."

"Newport Beach City Atty. Robert Burnham said the money is not being used for political purposes and that attorneys screen the funds to make sure the spending is legal."

More details below and in our Litigation Section.

The El Toro Reuse Planning Authority (ETRPA) filed suit today in Orange County Superior Court against the City of Newport Beach and the Airport Working Group (AWG) for illegally allocating $3.67 million in public funds to pay for a political campaign against the Orange County Central Park and Nature Preserve Initiative.  ETRPA asked the court for injunctive relief to stop all expenditures of Newport Beach taxpayer funds by Airport Working Group pending the court’s review of the case.

A 1976 California Supreme Court Decision, Stanson v. Mott, forbids public entities from directly or indirectly spending public funds to support or defeat a ballot measure.  Yet in May, the Newport Beach City Council contracted with the AWG to create a massive political campaign designed to defeat the initiative. “There is clear evidence that the Newport Beach City Council was aware of the law and that they intentionally violated it to serve their own political agenda,” said Rich Jacobs, ETRPA’s attorney.

Paul D. Eckles, Executive Director of ETRPA, believes that the south county cities have a strong case against Newport Beach.  “The Newport City Council may claim that they want to present even-handed information, but everything they have produced so far, and everything they have expressed, has been completely one-sided.”

The lawsuit seeks to stop Newport Beach from spending any more public funds on the political campaign, and also to recover money that has already been spent.  The purpose of the California law is to prevent taxpayers from being forced to pay for political campaigns which they do not support.

Although the contract between the Newport Beach City Council and AWG states their understanding of the law forbidding the use of public funds to defeat a ballot measure, AWG’s proposal outlines the clear intent to defeat the Initiative and build an unneeded, unwanted and unsafe airport at El Toro. Among the objectives listed in the proposal are to reach a group “large enough to result in a majority favorably viewing commercial aviation as the ultimate reuse of El Toro,” and to “prove that the Millennium Plan and the Great Park are economically unsound.” Newport Beach City Council Member Gary L. Proctor stated that “If Measure A is taken off as the law in terms of the reuse of El Toro, then the inevitable is going to happen.  We have to do everything we can to prevent that from occurring, and we need the two-airport system, and we need to convince the voting population of the appropriateness of that.”

Since the Newport Beach City council signed the contract with AWG on May 22, AWG has received $2.1 million of the $3.67 allocated.  They have produced at least three anti-Initiative television commercials and have also sent out at least three direct-mail pieces aimed at defeating the Initiative.

Click here for the legal filing by ETRPA and a Newport Beach resident.

"Landing fees at Ontario International Airport are the highest in Southern California, even greater than those charged at Los Angeles International Airport, a survey of airports in the region shows.  The fees… are charged to both passenger and cargo flights. Los Angeles World Airports, Ontario's owner, recently hiked the fees."

"A week ago, regional airport officials hiked the landing fees at Ontario from $1.25 per 1,000 pounds to $1.99. Long Beach and John Wayne airports charge $1.46 and Burbank charges 70 cents per 1,000 pounds."  LAX charges $1.93. "Besides landing fees, the Board of Commissioners increased the fees airlines pay for leasing gates, counter space and offices."

"Some 29 cents of the 74-cent increase is attributed to higher administration costs billed to Ontario by LAWA, which also owns LAX, Palmdale and Van Nuys airports."

"Ontario's economic development director, said the fees will only make it more difficult for Ontario to attract more service. The city has been unsuccessful so far in trying to convince United Airlines to add more flights to Chicago and American Airlines to add flights to Chicago and start nonstop service to Washington D.C."

"Los Angeles said they support regionalization of airports, but all they have supported is LAX expansion," Ontario Councilwoman Debbie Acker said. 'These are exorbitant rate hikes. I think the commission did [former Los Angeles Mayor] Richard Riordan one last favor. This will discourage air service from coming.'"

"U.S. Rep. Joe Baca (D-Rialto) called the rate hikes 'rash' and said they could scare airlines from Ontario. He sent a letter to LAWA Executive Director Lydia Kennard urging that LAWA review its finances and identify alternatives to fee increases."

"Airport officials said the rate hikes won't affect service because space rentals and landing fees are only between 5% and 8% of an airline's costs."

"The $72 million Ontario budget includes $7.8 million in debt service payments on bonds to help pay for the new terminals -- 63% of whose costs were paid by passenger fees on tickets." a spokesperson said.

Cal State Fullerton and the pro-airport Orange County Business Council released their latest survey of O.C. residents.  The report is headed: "County Residents Oppose International Airport at El Toro - But Shift Toward More El Toro Airport Support, While Also Supporting 'Great Park' Proposal."Click here for the full report and data.

"The opinions of Orange County residents have shifted somewhat in the direction of support for a planned international airport at the closed El Toro Marine Base, according to the latest Cal State Fullerton - Orange County Business Council (CSUF-OCBC) survey of County residents. The airport plan still trails in Orange County opinion."

However, "More than six out of ten said that they would be either 'very likely' or 'somewhat likely' to vote in favor of a park."  The data shows the park favored y 62.4 percent to 37.6 percent.

Editor: The OCBC spin is apparent in the report's dig from Julie Puentes, spokeswoman for the Orange County Business Council. "These results are particularly interesting in light of the airport opponents' paid signature-gathering effort that has been underway during this period… ", she says.  Puentes, and CSUF, owe an apology to the hundreds of unpaid volunteers who are the driving force behind the OC Central Park Initiative campaign and are setting signature-gathering records. 

On Sunday, January 22, 1967, two A-4B Skyhawk attack bombers collided as they came in for a landing at the Marine Corps Air Station at El Toro and crashed into an eight-unit building in Leisure World killing four residents and one of the pilots.

Today, Leisure World residents are threatened by proposals for a huge 24/7 commercial airport with flights just over their rooftops.  Pro-airport claims, of a buffer zone around El Toro, are deceptive and not "just the facts" as some in County government claim.

Resident Dave Blodgett provides this chilling report, as a reminder to all, of the dangers of airports close to residential communities.

Click here for our Message Board and to post other examples of not "just the facts". 

During the Barclay forum, "Which Way LA?", Airport Working Group leader Barbara Lichman read two sentences, out of context, from the Orange County Central Park and Nature Preserve Initiative. Lichman argued - based on those few words – that the park initiative does not guarantee an open space future for the property. Those of us who worked on the document knew that she was making an outrageous legalistic claim for political purposes.

A response from Dan Jung sets the matter straight.  "Ms. Lichman was not correct."  We publish his memo because, we want to share "just the facts". 

Buried in a political article about Bill Jones, Republican candidate for California Governor, is mention of LAX booster and former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan as another possiblity for the job.  Further down in the story is this tidbit:

"Orange County muckety-muck George Argyros was very much absent from the ambassadorial nominees the Senate Foreign Relations Committee has been churning out and passing along for confirmation. The big-bucks GOP donor and even bigger-bucks developer is the Bush administration's choice for ambassador to Spain, but the Washington Post says that news reports of allegations that Argyros' management company unfairly held onto security deposits from perhaps thousands of tenants make it 'unclear if this one's going anywhere any time soon.'"

Editor:  Many hope that Argyros will get the appointment, find new challenges in Spain and leave the Orange County airport battle to the people to decide.

In a July 21 e-mail, El Toro program manager Gary Simon wrote, " As you all know, the LRA is in the process of implementing a comprehensive public information program - which includes a 'speaker's bureau'. Tom Wall was very effective in the past in this regards, and I am glad to inform you that he has agreed to return in a similar capacity. We have purchased a block of hours from Tom's employer (URS Corp.) so that Tom may assist us in this regards on a part-time basis as requested."

"The El Toro debate many people tuned in to last week was the KCRW live broadcast of 'Which Way LA?' on stage in Irvine before a crowd of 500 or so, with a radio audience of thousands."

"But there was a second El Toro debate in Garden Grove… Its audience however was smaller – much, much smaller. As in five or six people. The four panelists duked it out, getting hot under the collar, to the point that [OCRAA executive director, Art] Bloomer and his deputy director decided to call it a night early," and walked out of the forum. Meg Waters and Tom O'Malley of ETRPA carried the anti-airport side.

Newport Beach - "It was known as the Fabulous Fifth, a coastline county supervisorial district that stretched from Newport Beach to San Clemente. And politically, since 1971, it has been dominated by Newport Beach interests, namely Gen. Tom Riley and later Marian Bergeson, until the ascendancy of Tom Wilson, who was appointed by then Gov. Pete Wilson in December of 1996."

"Newport Beach forces cried foul from the start that a South County interloper who opposed the planned El Toro airport was now representing them at the county seat."

"Silva will change all of that…" With the redistricting that will go into effect in March 2002, Jim Silva will represent Newport Beach on the Board of Supervisors.  Full text of the editorial is posted in the website's Early Bird section. 

"A federal task force will create a draft plan for boosting capacity at Southern California's regional airports that Los Angeles officials can weigh against a $12-billion LAX expansion proposal, Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta told legislators on Capitol Hill on Thursday."

"Mineta and Federal Aviation Administration chief Jane Garvey met with local officials, led by Rep. Jane Harman (D-Redondo Beach), who are pushing for the benefits and burdens of airport growth to be spread throughout the region."

"The lawmakers, including members of the Los Angeles City Council and the county Board of Supervisors and other local elected officials, said that … Mineta stopped short of formally endorsing the regionalization plan. He made the encouraging offer of a task force to help regional expansion efforts get off the ground…drafting a comprehensive regional transportation plan for Southern California that will be intermodal, including ground, rail and air transportation".

"The closed El Toro Marine base and, to a lesser degree, John Wayne Airport have been considered part of the regional solution to meeting transportation demands."

"The decision about which path Los Angeles will pursue … ultimately lies with the Los Angeles Airport Commission. Its seven members are expected to be named soon by new Mayor James K. Hahn, in an eagerly anticipated announcement that observers believe will reveal whether Hahn supports the LAX expansion, despite having signed a pledge to oppose it during his campaign."

Editor:  LA County Supervisor Don Kanabe pointed out that Palmdale, Ontario, San Bernadino, Southern California Logistics and March – airports with suppport from surrounding communities are "ready to go."  LA City councilwoman Ruth Galanter refered to Palmdale as an airport to take the burden off of LAX.

Congressman Rohrabacher was critical of anti-El Toro residents of Orange County.

For anyone who is interested, the text transcript of the first hour of the foum is now on this website.

"County officials kicked off their [$3 million] pro-El Toro airport PR campaign Wednesday with a glossy brochure sent to every household in the county, a revamped Web site and an information booth at the county fair. Over the next few months, the county and its consultant, Amies Communications of Irvine, will send out a series of mailers, open a visitors center at the former Marine Corps base and hold a series of community open houses."

"'It shouldn't be called 'Just The Facts,' it should be called 'Just The Selected Facts,'" said Supervisor Todd Spitzer, an airport foe. 'Do you think they're going to select any facts that don't paint the airport as the rosiest picture? Of course not.'''

Editor:  The El Toro Reuse Planning Authority filed lawsuits against the County, alleging illegal diversion of funds to this PR project and violation of the California Environmental Quality Act.  Additional lawsuits are expected, charging violation of state law, which bars public entities from advocating for or against a ballot measure once it has been filed with the Registrar of Voters.

ETRPA and the City of Irvine ended all mailings after the May 1 launch of the Orange County Central Park and Nature Preserve Initiative. They hope that speedy court action will block the spending of this $3 million and another $5 million of public money which Supervisors Smith, Silva and Coad have granted to the Orange County Regional Airport Authority (OCRAA).

Click here for one of our all-time favorite cartoons from the Register

FAA approval of the County's El Toro plan was expected several months ago. The release date keeps getting pushed back, evidence that the agency is wrestling with the plan.

Criticism of the County plan has come from the AirLine Pilots Association, the Air Traffic Controllers, some OCRAA members, and from within the agency, itself.  The task is complicated by the County's desire to present a politically safe plan with minimum impacts on Central and North County voters. See, for example, the letterfrom the City of Anaheim.

The FAA regional office has been working closely with the County to finalize an approval.  The latest evidence of political tinkering is a July 7 letter from the County's Gary Simon to the FAA, discussing how takeoffs to the north might be routed into a 180 degree right turn back towards the coast over South County.

Click here for yesterday's July 17 response to the Simon letter from ETRPA's Tom O'Malley. The County is trying to expedite the FAA approval and O'Malley raises technical objections with which the FAA should have to deal.

The FAA has characterized its job as that of passing judgement on the plan presented to it by the airport proprietor, in this case, the County.  The FAA has not been asked to select the best design for El Toro, the best site for an airport in Southern California, or to analyze whether demand exists within Orange County for an additional airport.  Apparently, the process calls for the County to submit its plan and the FAA then gives a "pass or fail"… with or without qualifications and conditions.

The County has stated that it might consider changes to the plan after the property is conveyed and after the March 2002 election.  Opponents characterize this as a "bait and switch" tactic. 

"County supervisors voted 3-2 Tuesday to start the process for a fiscal analysis of an anti-airport initiative proposed for the March ballot… The board decided to open bids for a consultant to do the study."

"Airport foes Todd Spitzer and Tom Wilson opposed the consultant plan. They questioned the estimated $250,000 cost and the board majority's intent to release the analysis in January, less than two months before the election."

Editor:  Under State law, the County Auditor-Controller prepares an independent Fiscal Impact Statement, which appears in the Voter Information Pamphlet. The 500-word statement must conform to requirements of the law, and must be complete by December 7, the last day for the Board of Supervisors to place an initiative on the March 5, 2002 ballot.

The study proposed by Supervisor Coad presumably will be far ranging and is sought to develop anti-initiative information. The Board or County staff will define the scope of the consultants' study.

Tom Wilson writes, "The process for adjusting the boundary lines for supervisorial and special districts is drawing to a conclusion…  A second Board hearing was held on July 17th and we selected a map which I believe creates a Third District with a strong South County presence, allowing an anti-airport Supervisor to prevail."

"I'm pleased to say that the map which was selected provides an even stronger Third District with the swapping of Irvine for Lake Forest and Mission Viejo.  This means the [Wilson] Fifth District will include the cities of San Clemente, Dana Point, San Juan Capistrano, Laguna Niguel, Laguna Beach, Laguna Woods, Laguna Hills, Aliso Viejo, Mission Viejo, Lake Forest, and Rancho Santa Margarita, in addition to the communities of Newport Coast, Portola Hills, Foothill Ranch, and Coto de Caza."

"Newport Beach will move into the [Silva] Second District, and Irvine and Tustin will become the southern anchor of the Third District."

"Now that the Board has selected a map, technical maps will be drawn and the Board will finally, officially adopt the new districts on August 14th. Then these district lines will be used for the upcoming Board of Supervisors' election in March of 2002."

Editor:  This seems to quell concerns that the pro-airport majority might squeeze anti-airport South County into one supervisorial district.  Wilson's 5th District is safe.  Spitzer's 3rd District, with Irvine added, looks even more solid for the anti-airport side than in the past.  It seems like the 3-2 split on the Board of Supervisors will continue.

Passenger traffic in June was 685, 949, which was less than last June's 701,721.

For the most recent 12 months, 7,610,961 passengers used John Wayne.  This is slightly ahead of the same 12-month period in 2000, but still lags the comparable period in 1997. The airport use fluctuates but shows no growth.

"A regional development agency's blunder, overstating by millions the number of Orange County air passengers, is echoing through the political battle over a commercial airport at the former El Toro Marine base. It has given unfortunate credence to the old adage about lies, damned lies and statistics."

"El Toro airport opponents, long mistrustful of the Southern California Assn. of Governments' figures, recently got the agency to acknowledge that in May it overestimated by 4 million the number of Orange County airline passengers using all Southern California airports… SCAG now says that … about 7 million Orange County passengers traveled through Orange County's John Wayne Airport last year. Another 5 million were said to have used Los Angeles International and Ontario International."

"SCAG's error is more fuel for opponents of an international airport at El Toro. It will certainly add to the skepticism that already exists about county supervisors' current plans for El Toro and about the county's obligation to regional airport needs."

Click here for the entire editorial.

"San Bernardino County transportation officials have criticized portions of a $12 billion plan to expand Los Angeles International Airport. They say the proposal fails to consider a cheaper and more environment-friendly alternative -- the use of Inland airports to handle future passenger and cargo growth."

"The LAX plan is designed to serve about 89 million passengers a year and calls for construction of a new terminal, more cargo facilities, a light-rail station, extended runways and new access roads. LAX officials and supporters say the proposed expansion is vital to the Los Angeles region's economic health and the future of passenger and cargo growth."

Ty Schuiling, Director of Planning and Programs for the San Bernadino Associated Governments, SANBAG, has another approach. "Existing facilities -- such as Ontario International Airport, which is controlled by LAWA; San Bernardino International Airport, formerly Norton Air Force Base; March Air Reserve Base near Moreno Valley and Southern California Logistics Airport, formerly George Air Force Base near Victorville -- are able to handle passenger and cargo growth in a way that would be cheaper and have less of an impact on the region, he said." 

"More than 150 daily flights leaving north from the proposed El Toro airport would be forced to make a right turn over foothills on their way to the ocean, county officials said in documents released Friday."

"Gary Simon, executive director of the county's El Toro office, said in a July 7 letter that the county will require a right-hand turn 'whenever possible.' The change would eliminate the need for some planes to make left-hand turns over Villa Park, Tustin and Orange. Officials in those cities had worried that the left-hand turns would cause noise and pollution problems."

"The proposed takeoff pattern 'avoids overflights and helps to minimize noise impacts and community disturbance in communities to the northwest of [El Toro] that would oppose left turns,' Simon wrote to Paul Galis, the Federal Aviation Administration's deputy associate administrator for airports in Washington."

"County officials originally planned for one-third of all planes from El Toro to take off to the north in a straight line… The straight-north departure for El Toro has been branded unworkable and unsafe by the nation's airline pilots' unions and air-traffic controller representatives."

"Simon said in his letter that turning planes to the right and off to the ocean will make traffic flow more efficiently."

Editor: Instead, the aircraft would turn and head towards the coast near San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano and Dana Point.

Simon's letter seeks to insert County spin into the long delayed FAA report on El Toro.  The report was originally expected in April, but has been pushed back until at least the end of this month.

Simon writes, "We are aware that individuals, groups and elected officials have submitted letters to the FAA commenting [on the County] LRA's Draft Airport System Master Plan ... and airspace determination issues.  We understand that these letters and past or present FAA officials have proposed alternatives to the LRA's proposed procedures for OCX."

"We recognize that the FAA may be required to analyze alternative procedures or modifications of the LRA's proposed procedures, but we assume that the FAA will clearly identify these differences or modifications… including how these differences would potentially affect capacity in the Southern California system.  The LRA, as a long time airport proprietor, is familiar with the purposes and use of FAA airspace determinations and knows how to read them. The general public, which has a great deal of interest in this important project, likely does not."

Click here to read Simon's letter.

The "Which Way, LA?" forum will be live at the Barclay Auditorium at UCI on Tuesday at 6:30 PM. Chuck Smith, Barbara Lichman, Larry Agran and Len Kranser will be talking with host Warren Olney and fielding questions from the audience.

Anyone who wants to attend, and could not get free tickets from the Beckman, can post a request on our message board.  Others may have extra tickets that they will not be using.

The forum will be carried live on National Public Radio station KCRW 89.9 FM.

It will also be available on line during the show and archived afterwards on the Internet. Click KCRW.organd near the bottom of the Keywords menu, select "Which Way, LA?"  RealPlayer software is required and is available for free download from the KCRW website.

The drive is in full gear, to collect over 71,000 valid signatures and place the Orange County Central Park and Nature Preserve on the March 5, 2002 ballot.  Petitioning Chairman Jim Davy says that signatures are being collected at a record rate and the goal will be met.

Anyone who has not signed since July 1 is allowed to do so again. You can find petitioning locations near you by checking the website message board.

Volunteers are needed so that the drive can continue at full speed up until its early September completion.  Join your friends and neighbors with are participating in this vital community service. See our on-line photo album.

Much needed financial contributions - to help pay for petitions, operating the campaign office, and legal expenses - can be made on-line by credit card.

A nuisance lawsuit brought by the George Argyros funded Citizens for Jobs and the Economy will have a court hearing on July 31. 

"IRVINE -- A proposed 2,500-home development near the former El Toro Marine base was unanimously approved by the [city] Planning Commission on Thursday despite warnings that the city could be sued for problems created by an airport the county wants to build.  If everything goes smoothly, the first residents can move into the new neighborhood by late summer 2002."

"The Irvine Co. project is on a 1,239-acre lot bordered by the San Diego (I-405) and Laguna (133) freeways, Sand Canyon Avenue and Shady Canyon. It's 1.5 miles from the El Toro base."

"'The city requires disclosures advising (potential homeowners) that the county has plans to build an airport,' [city attorney, Joel] Kuperberg said. '(A lawsuit against the city) assumes the development of an airport, which is highly conjectural at this point.'" 

Federal regulators, concerned that widely used jet engines may lose power during takeoffs, are expected to mandate the removal and refurbishment of certain older engines made by the Pratt & Whitney unit of United Technologies, industry officials said."

"The anticipated tighter safety rules are partly a reaction to the near-crash of an Airbus A300 jetliner in Saudi Arabia, four months ago, when both of its Pratt engines lost thrust during or immediately after takeoff… An official report of the incident indicates that the engines didn't produce any thrust for about 50 seconds, and the jet came within 67 feet of crashing into the Red Sea before the pilot was able to regain power."

Editor: Anyone want to take off into the mountains around El Toro? For more about engine failure incidents in California, including Orange County, click here.

Proponents of a contemplated initiative, to mandate a V-Plan airport alternative for El Toro, face new obstacles. The initiative is proposed to compete with the Orange County Central Park and Nature Preserve Initiative which is currently collecting signatures to get on the March 2002 ballot.

The so-called "Public Benefit Initiative", is being pushed by Bob McGowan, Charles Griffin and Russ Niewiarowski. They want to turn the County's airport plan on its ear –with landings from the north. Several OCRAA cities are supporting the V-Plan airport out of dissatisfaction with the County's plan. This only shows the severe disarray in the pro-airport camp.

Anti-airport sentiment in the County is too great for any airport proposal to succeed.  Given all of the obstacles to its passage, the initiative seemingly has only one function – to confuse and siphon a few votes away from the popular Central Park Initiative.

But first, the backers have to get the V-Plan on the ballot, and they have yet to submit it to the Registrar of Voters. Their initiative then must be reviewed by County Counsel, given a title and summary, published in the newspapers and printed.  With time running out, there is no chance that the group can collect enough signatures by an early September deadline, unless a stealth backer is ready to pay for professional signature gatherers.

The proponents have said that they hope that three pro-supervisors, Smith, Silva and Coad, will put it on the ballot for them.

Today's OC Register, in a redistricting story, "Map Likely to Fold", reports that one of the three, Jim Silva, "would gain Newport Beach from [Tom] Wilson" in the March redistricting. The full story is posted on the website's Early Bird Section.

Today's Times, in another story posted on the Early Bird, says Newport Beach City Manager "Bludau blasts El Toro V-plan".  Bludau says, "This issue is about quality of life in this community." He added that supporters of an El Toro airport first need to ensure the airport is built, and then they can worry about details such as the runways and flight paths."

If Newport Beach opposes the V-Plan, and Silva will be Newport Beach's Supervisor after redistricting, it doesn't look promising for the V-Plan to get a free ride onto the ballot from three pro-airport supervisors. 

"ORANGE -- The city on Wednesday sued the Airport Working Group Political Action Committee and its contributors for $168,000, claiming the group spent more money in the November 2000 City Council election than local law allows."

"Orange leaders said it was unfair and illegal for the group - established to promote a commercial airport at the former El Toro Marine base - to spend more than 25 percent of its annual expenditures on the election… The PAC financed a series of mailers backing Councilwoman Joanne Coontz and candidate Scott Steiner and attacking Councilman Mike Alvarez and candidate Carolyn Cavecche, who oppose an airport at El Toro."  Alvarez was elected, and Cavecche eventually won a special election in June 2001.

Editor: The Airport Working Group has become the beneficiary of $3 million of City of Newport Beach money and is now spending heavily on mailers and TV spots opposing the OC Central Park and Nature Preserve Initiative. 

 "Regional airport planners are trying to assign responsibility to Orange County for about 16 million air travelers last year - including about 4 million on connecting flights at LAX who never set foot in the county. That calculation heated up a long-running dispute this week over the demand for air travel in Southern California - now and in the future."

"El Toro airport foes charged that the Southern California Association of Governments botched a recent analysis that included El Toro as a necessary part of the future mix of regional airports."

"Opponents of a commercial airport at the former Marine base say the regional agency overstated the demand for air travel in Orange County - with 16 million passengers cited for 2000, when the actual number of travelers starting or ending trips in the county was about 12 million."

"Officials at the regional agency Tuesday defended their work as valid, saying that their numbers are accurate but that officials incorrectly described the 16 million in response to questions… The 16 million included 4 million assigned to Orange County as part of a technical model of how the market might reallocate some of the connecting flights at Los Angeles International Airport to other counties and other airports, said Mark Pisano, executive director of [SCAG] the association.

"Both numbers, the 12 million and the 16 million, are valid because they represent different ways of looking at demand - the real world and the theoretical, Pisano said."

Editor: The "Orange County's theoretical share" concept, if applied in this manner, assumes that each county must carry a share of the region's connecting passengers. Some number of those who fly, for example, from Phoenix to Tokyo, or New York to Santa Barbara, would have to make their connections through airports in each of the 5 SCAG Counties. This is clearly absurd. All such connections are likely to be made through LAX for the foreseeable future.

To arrive at the 16 MAP figure, SCAG planners multiplied the wrong two numbers together. Their consultant clearly provided them with OC's Percentage of Regional Origin/Destination Demand. See large file attached. They admitted to multiplying this percentage by the wrong demand figure.

Comments?

"Regional airport officials have acknowledged that they overestimated by 4 million the number of airline passengers leaving or heading to Orange County--a number that supporters have used to justify plans for an airport at the closed El Toro Marine base. The Southern California Assn. of Governments [SCAG] estimated in a report approved in May that Orange County accounted for 16 million of the 89 million passengers using Southern California airports in 2000."

"The actual number of Orange County travelers using all airports in 2000 was 12 million, SCAG aviation planner Mike Armstrong said last week. About 7 million Orange County passengers traveled through John Wayne. That left LAX and Ontario picking up the remaining 5 million, he said."

Editor:  El Toro proponents had claimed, in their literature, that LAX and Ontario picked up 12 million annual passengers from Orange County, not 5 MAP as SCAG now acknowledges.

"Armstrong said the miscalculation doesn't affect SCAG's estimate of future airport demand or the agency's support for a new airport at El Toro. 'It was an oversight,' he said of the 16-million figure, which was included in SCAG's report in response to questions from El Toro anti-airport activist Len Kranser. Kranser first challenged the demand figures in February and asked for justification of SCAG's estimates."

"'It's fair to say if they can't measure the current passengers correctly, how can they project passengers into the future?' Kranser said… The miscalculations make him suspicious of SCAG's forecasts for the future. For example, SCAG estimated in 1982 that airport demand in 1995 could top 110 million, he said; the actual number of passengers in 1995 was 74 million."

"A coalition of South County cities last month sued SCAG over its long-range airport plans, saying they are flawed and based on the assumption that El Toro will be built. The plans also assume that John Wayne Airport will stay capped at 8.4 million passengers through 2025."

The full article is posted in the Early Bird News.

Click here for the entire record of how the SCAG error was detected.

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

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

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

"Pendleton has been suggested for an airport as far back as 1972, when it received positive reviews from three different Southern California Assns. of Government. Pendleton already has Amtrak rail transportation to its door."

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

Click here for more on Pendleton International and the full text of Smith's column.

Hundreds of volunteers are out collecting signatures for the Orange County Central Park and Nature Preserve Initiative.  Collecting is on schedule for the September turn-in date.

The campaign committee has decided to not publish regular totals on the number of signatures collected.  This is to avoid providing any tactical information to the pro-airport camp, which is trying to impede the campaign by every available means.

However, we will post periodic reports of special events and interesting happenings. An on-line photo album is at Volunteers for Central Park.

Information on Petitioning Locations, and volunteer needs, can be posted by the area captains and accessed by viewers. 

We continue our examination of regional air travel demand with an update of Who Uses John Wayne Airport? South County use is not as great as portrayed by proponents of an additional airport at El Toro

The answer, based on the airport's latest survey, is 51 % visitors from out of the area, 6 % residents of the surrounding Southern California counties, 22 % North Orange County residents and 16 % South County residents (including Irvine).

For more data on Orange County air travel demand, see also, Who Uses LAX? and the companion report, Who Uses Ontario?

"Cypress Mayor Mike McGill has put his name on a growing list of supporters of an alternative runway alignment for an airport at the closed El Toro Marine Corps Air Station. Since mid-June, a pilots group and a North County airport coalition said they supported federal review of what has become known as the V-plan. It was crafted by retired engineer and Newport Beach resident Charles Griffin."

"Griffin and a group of supporters formed The New Millennium Group, a political action committee, to launch the V-plan as a ballot initiative in March. … Group leaders imposed a Thursday deadline to raise $10,000 so they can hire an attorney to make the initiative 'bulletproof,' said group member and Villa Park Councilman Bob McGowan."

Editor:  In an initial press release, the group claimed that contributions were tax deductible, but later withdrew that statement when they were shown that it is false.

"The V-plan would realign El Toro's east-west runway so it would form an inverted V-pattern with the north-south runway."

"Newport Beach officials pushing for an airport at the base said the county shouldn't consider Griffin's plan because it would delay the airport long enough for South County leaders to change the zoning with their Great Park initiative… Despite McGill's endorsement, Newport Beach Councilman Gary Proctor said he was unconvinced Griffin's plan would ever succeed."

Editor:  The emergence of the alternative plan, which turns the county airport on its ear, underscores the disarray of pro-airport forces.  Post your reaction here.

In the latest attempt to interfere with the OC Central Park and Nature Preserve Initiative, Bruce Nestande and the Argyros-created Citizens for Jobs and the Economy are suing the County Counsel and Registrar of Voters.  The lawsuit complains that the ballot title and summary, written by the County, are misleading. The suit is seen as an attempt to delay the popular initiative and prevent its passage by the voters.

County Counsel took a total of 38 days to study the initiative and draft a title and summary.  Initiative backers see the County Counsel as generally supportive of the wishes of the three pro-airport Supervisors and not inclined to favor the anti-airport side. The title and summary, which he issued on Friday, June 29, are accurate.

Initiative supporters say that there will be no delay in signature gathering. The CJ&E lawsuit is seen as a desperation move to block the popular initiative.

"El Toro airport opponents are back on the streets with new petitions that they believe are valid and invulnerable to challenge. The Central Park and Nature Preserve Initiative seeks to rezone most of the former Marine base for a large park. If it qualifies for the March ballot and passes, it would remove zoning for an airport."

"Backers have had to start over ...  after technical and legal flaws were discovered in their documents. Anyone who signed it before now should sign again, said Len Kranser, a spokesman for the initiative."

Click here for information on petitioning locations.

The Newport Beach group has posted this notice, hoping to get a big pro-airport crowd at the July 17 forum with Chuck Smith, Barbara Lichman, Larry Agran and Len Kranser.

"Mark you calendars! NPR is coming to town to debate El Toro"

"KCRW-FM (89.9), the National Public Radio affiliate in Santa Monica, will broadcast a LIVE debate from the Irvine Barclay Theater about the El Toro reuse project… on Tuesday, July 17, at 6:30 p.m."

"This broadcast is major and we need your help. There will be general admission tickets available to the public. They are FREE and they will be at the Barclay box office beginning July 5 at 10 a.m. But YOU can order tickets NOW online at http://www.thebarclay.org/events_07_17_2001.htm  (free, but must give a credit card – that is how their website works!)"

"Please tell your friends and get as many tickets as possible. Starting on July 5 at 10 a.m., you can get them by calling (949)854-4646, or by going to the box office. They will also be available at the Web site -- www.thebarclay.org -- but you're encouraged to either call or do it the old-fashioned way and line up outside the box office at 8 a.m., just like you did for your first junior high school Duran Duran concert! So let's get people to turn out, hear just the facts and cheer for the home team!"

AB 1436 was amended by Assemblyman Lou Correa and will be heard Monday afternoon in the State Senate Local Government Committee.  The bill will allow the county to start building infrastructure on the base for airport purposes using a non-competitive bid process called "design-build".  This is part of a last minute attempt by the county to put airport uses in place prior to the March vote on the Central Park Initiative.

There is no justification for abandoning competitive bidding to facilitate an airport.

Senator Dick Ackerman is on the Committee and should be called at his Sacramento office, 916.445-4264 or his Tustin office, 714.573-1853, and asked to vigorously oppose the AB1436 in committee Monday. They are counting the "yes" and "no" calls so you can make it short and sweet. No on AB1436.

Orange County Central Park Initiative petition forms were printed yesterday and are available at the Committee for Safe and Healthy Communities Office. Volunteers will be there today until around 5 PM and again tomorrow to distribute petitions. Click here for the phone number and directions to the office.

Signature gathering can not commence until after the Notice of Intent to Circulate has been published in the newspaper and Proof of Publication is delivered to the Registrar of Voters tomorrow.

A special message board thread has been started with information about petitioning locations and specific calls for volunteers.

For more on the above, check the LA Times and Orange County Register websites.

Click here for previous news stories