NEWS - November 2003
Click on date for story
LA Times, November 30, 2003
"El Toro 'Airport' Snarls Projects"
"Orange County land-use commission still rejects plans for tracts near
the former base until its sale is final, which could take a year or more."
Daily Pilot, November 30, 2003
"Costa Mesa officials won't oppose [Newport Beach] takeover"
LA Times Business Section, November 29, 2003
"Branson May Base Airline in L.A."
OC Register, The Orange Grove, November 28, 2003
"The 'Great Park' bait and switch"
El Toro Info Site editorial, November 28, 2003
Call off the dogs
LA Times, November 27, 2003
"Airport Lacks the Holiday Stuffing"
"Travelers at John Wayne wonder where the predicted crowds are,
and they have hours to do so."
LA Times, Burbank edition, November 26, 2003
"[Burbank] Airport at odds with SCAG report"
El Toro Info Site report, November 26, 2003
- updated
Should Newport Beach take over management of John Wayne
Airport? No.
LA Times, November 25, 2003
"Newport Beach Might Seek Control of Airport, Harbor"
Los Angeles Daily News, November 23, 2003
"LAX contracts probed"
Press-Enterprise, November 23, 2003
"Business travelers drive airlines"
Daily Pilot, November 22, 2003
"City mulls running JWA"
Coastline Pilot, November 21, 2003
"Noise from low flights raising hackles"
OC Register, November 20, 2003
"Lawmakers seek 2nd opinion on base commissary"
El Toro Info Site report, November 19, 2003
Navy-AWG lawsuit concluded
The Press-Enterprise, November 18, 2003, posted November
19
"Airport name will trade on LA's fame"
"The marketing campaign intends to help lure passengers
and airlines away from LAX."
El Toro Info Site editorial, November
18, 2003
No on Jim Silva
El Toro Info Site report, November 16, 2003
ALUC prepares to reject another residential
project.
OC Register editorial, November 14, 2003
A bumpy flight is over
Daily Pilot, November 13, 2003
"AWG may sue to stop annexation"
"A Wednesday decision to allow Irvine to annex
El Toro may face a legal challenge from the Newport-based group."
OC Register, November 13, 2003
"The El Toro turnaround"
"Retirees helped turned the tide when it appeared
certain an airport would be built in south county."
El Toro Info Site report, November 12, 2003
LAFCO approves Irvine annexation,
5-2
LAFCO meets this morning and we'll be there
to report the story. Please check back later.
LA Times, November
11, 2003
"Annexation OK Could Be Start of
Great Park"
El Toro Info Site report, November 10, 2003
Smith elected as OCTA rep to SCAG
El Toro Info Site report, November 10, 2003
El Toro opponents have a stake
in the LAX debate
El Toro Info Site report, November 9,
2003
OCRAA update
Daily Breeze, November 8, 2003 - updated
Novemember 9
"Analysis finds fault with
Hahn airport plan"
"LAX: An engineering expert says the
mayor’s proposal would fail to cut the facility’s capacity."
El Toro Info Site report, November 7, 2003
ETRPA comments on LAX Master
Plan
Daily Breeze, November 7, 2003
"LAX plan hits more opposition"
El Toro Info Site report, November 7, 2003
New Great Park website
OC Register, November 6, 2003
"El Toro annexing backed"
"LAFCO says city, county would benefit
from proposed Great Park, but agency's study also contains
precautions."
El
Toro Info Site report, November 5, 2003
Navy litigation settlement
posted
Daily Pilot, November 5, 2003
"Legal win for El Toro
proponents"
"While victory does not mean an airport
will be built at closed base, officials still hope to get
planes flying there eventually."
OC Register, November 4, 2003
El Toro lawsuit near resolution
El Toro Info Site report,
November 3, 2003
AWG-Navy settlement not
quite put to bed
El Toro Info Site report,
November 3, 2003
OCRAA tries to find a
role for itself
LA Times, November 1, 2003
"El Toro Airport Backers
Settle Suit With Navy"
Click here for previous news stories
LA Times, November 30, 2003
"El Toro 'Airport' Snarls Projects"
"Orange County land-use commission still rejects plans for tracts near
the former base until its sale is final, which could take a year or more."
"It was business as usual as an Orange County land-use commission [ALUC]
recently turned down plans for an Irvine housing tract, saying it would be
too close to an airport."
"Some of the houses, commissioners reasoned, could end up so close to
the runways that they would be in a potential crash zone. And the noise
of jets overhead made the area unsuitable for homes."
"There is only one problem: The airport doesn't exist."
"Although the decade-long battle over building an international airport
at El Toro seems all but decided, a little-known state-mandated panel is
rankling cities and developers by rejecting projects near the former airfield."
"'Until the title [to the land] is transferred, it is not a dead issue,'
said Seal Beach Mayor Patty Campbell, a commission member. 'Anything can
happen.'"
"'We are the only vestige of government that thinks' El Toro can still
be an airport, said Commissioner Denny Harris, who frequently clashes with
the majority. 'On most issues, this panel has a common-sense approach — except
on this one.'"
"Campbell, the Seal Beach mayor, says common sense calls for putting an
airport at El Toro. 'People in south [Orange] County. . don't
mind driving to LAX or Long Beach. Well, I mind them driving through my
city,' Campbell said."
"In July,
the commission turned down a residential project in the Irvine Spectrum
because it was in El Toro's jet noise path. In October, the panel approved
another Irvine project but
required that the homes be soundproofed — something the developer
already planned to do because of freeway noise — and that future residents
be notified that airplanes might again fly from El Toro."
"Joan Golding, the commission's executive officer whose [John Wayne Airport]
staff makes recommendations to the panel, did not return phone calls seeking
comment."
Click
here for the entire article.
Daily Pilot, November 30, 2003
"Costa Mesa officials won't oppose [Newport Beach] takeover"
"COSTA MESA — City leaders seem comfortable taking the usual backseat
role to Newport Beach regarding airport issues, saying on Friday they would
not oppose the neighbor's bid to take control of John Wayne Airport."
"Costa Mesa Mayor Gary Monahan said he would support Newport's attempt
to take control of the only Orange County airport, saying it would help in
controlling its expansion."
"Newport Beach has announced a campaign to take control of the airport
from county officials and place it in the capable hands of city leaders."
"While Costa Mesa officials are on record as supporting an airport at
El Toro, Newport Beach took their support one step
further by helping to finance the local Airport Working Group, which led
the pro-airport campaign."
LA Times Business Section, November 29, 2003
"Branson May Base Airline in L.A."
"Start-up Virgin USA could create up to 1,500 jobs. Schwarzenegger has
been asked to lobby LAX to make upgrades."
"Richard Branson, the flamboyant British billionaire who founded Virgin
Atlantic Airways, is thinking of making Los Angeles the headquarters for
an airline he wants to launch in the U.S. Branson . . . has
discussed the idea with California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger."
"The low-cost airline, which Branson would call Virgin USA, could create
up to 1,500 jobs. A decision on the headquarters could come within six weeks,
he said in an interview."
"Virgin Atlantic operates two nonstop flights a day from London to Los
Angeles."
"In his letter to Schwarzenegger, Branson urged the governor to encourage
LAX officials to make improvements, including installing passenger gates
capable of accommodating what will be the world's biggest passenger plane,
[the Airbus A380] which Virgin Atlantic plans to begin flying in 2006."
Click
for the entire story.
Website Editor: We wonder if this will be an opening shot in a new battle
over whether LAX should be limited in capacity, as proposed by Mayor Hahn,
or expanded to maximize its economic benefits as the region's major airport.
OC Register, The Orange Grove, November 28, 2003
"The 'Great Park' bait and switch"
Supervisor
Chuck Smith shows his feelings about El Toro, South County, Measure
W, annexation and The Great Park in his op-ed submission to the Register.
"So what's to become of the 4,700 acres now that Irvine has control
of El Toro's land-use zoning? It doesn't sound like a 'Great Park.' A 'Great
Scam' on Orange County voters is more like it."
"Traffic can be expected to be 10 times the traffic generated by the
promised Great Park and about four times what an airport would have generated.
Instead of an Irvine Great Park, we'll have South County's Great Parking
Lot."
"Irvine's annexation of El Toro is just the beginning of a massive
urban development that will cause traffic gridlock and Orange County's
quality of life to deteriorate."
"Remember what Measure W promised and compare that to what's now unfolding.
This is a classic bait-and switch on the voters."
El Toro Info Site editorial, November 28, 2003
- updated
Call off the dogs
The Airport Working Group recently settled their El Toro related lawsuit
against the Department of Defense. It cost taxpayers hundreds of thousands
of dollars. The AWG is suing the City of Irvine and is threatening to sue
LAFCO, to block Irvine's annexation of the former base The AWG has not
given up its lawsuit against the County over Measure W.
AWG's money comes principally from the City of Newport Beach. In recent
years the city council has handed the group nearly $4 million of taxpayer
money. The AWG is Newport Beach's hired surrogate in the airport battle.
Its leaders and consultants are the attack dogs that do the city's political
and legal dirty work.
On November 25, the Newport Beach
City Council voted to ask Chairman of the Board of Supervisors
Tom Wilson to dialog with them about the city taking control of John Wayne
Airport.
We have a suggestion before supervisors begin considering whether
Newport Beach's claims to John Wayne are any greater than those of Costa
Mesa or Irvine, which also border the airport, or the several other cities
in the flight paths, or the County which built the airport.
We urge Chairman Wilson and the other supervisors to file away
the proposal until the AWG ends every one of its El Toro related lawsuits.
If Newport Beach wants to talk, a precondition should be to call off the
dogs.
(Note: The Daily Pilot ran an earlier version of this letter on November
29 just as it was submitted.)
LA Times, November 27, 2003
"Airport Lacks the Holiday Stuffing"
"Travelers at John Wayne wonder where the predicted crowds are, and
they have hours to do so."
"They say the day before Thanksgiving is the heaviest travel day
of the year, but that wasn't evident from the look of things at John Wayne
Airport on Wednesday afternoon."
"'There's nobody here!' exclaimed Wesley Stevenson, 18, of Lake Forest,
heading to his father's house in Sacramento. 'I'm really surprised.'"
"Said Teresa O'Connell, 28, hanging out with her fiancé at
the terminal two hours early for a flight to Missoula, Mont.: 'I thought
it would be packed. I don't know what's going on — I guess we'll go to McDonald's.'"
"Airport spokesman Justin McCusker didn't know what was going on
either, explaining the terminal's
wide-open spaces and ticket counters sans lines as simply a lull.'
This is the busiest weekend of the year for us,' he insisted."
Click
here for the full story. Also read the one that follows it in
the Message Board thread. Drive carefully.
"Doubling of Region's Air Traffic Predicted . . .The
forecast called for flight delays, long lines and heavy traffic at Los
Angeles International Airport on Wednesday. But passengers and airport
officials said the start of the holiday travel season was as easy as
pumpkin pie."
LA Times, Burbank edition, November 26, 2003
"[Burbank] Airport at odds with SCAG report"
"Officials say regional agency's report on passenger demand is based
on flawed assumptions."
"Burbank-Glendale-Pasadena
Airport officials are taking exception to a report by the Southern
California Assn. of Governments that predicts passenger demand at the
airport will exceed 10 million annually by 2030."
"'In general, the Authority believes that the forecast of 10.7 million
annual passengers at Burbank Airport in 2030 significantly overstates
the passenger handling capacity of this facility,' wrote Authority Executive
Director Dios Marrero in a letter to [SCAG's] lead regional planner.
"An Authority-sponsored projection two years ago found that passenger
traffic would increase from about 5 million a year to 7.2 million by
2015, airport spokesman Victor Gill said."
Website Editor: Officials near March Inland Port also expressed
concern with their allocation of regional air traffic. The SCAG
Aviation Technical Task Force minutes of October 9, 2003 state:
"The Preferred Plan was generally well accepted by the Aviation
Task Force and the Transportation and Communications Committee. One exception
was the forecast for March Inland Port. The City of Riverside and the
March Joint Powers Authority has said that their primary focus is on air
cargo and are not comfortable with a forecast of 8 MAP in 2030."
SCAG supports efforts to reduce gates and eliminate growth at LAX
by assigning
future demand to other airports in the region. Inability to achieve
the objective could revive calls for an airport at El Toro.
El Toro Info Site report, November 26,
2003 - updated
Should Newport Beach take over management of John Wayne
Airport? No.
The Register's admittedly unscientific November 25th online poll
asked:
"Should Newport Beach take over management of John Wayne Airport?"
The response was lopsided with 88 percent of the 298 responses
saying "No".
These results, though limited, are a better indicator of public
sentiment than past polls because the newspaper now blocks repeat email
voting. In the past, airport
proponents encouraged multiple voting as a tactic to manipulate
survey outcomes.
We expect that opinions countywide would run counter to handing
over the airport to any one city. Before the county spends large sums
on studies and legal opinions, supervisors should "Just say no."
LA Times, November 25, 2003 - updated
"Newport Beach Might Seek Control of Airport, Harbor"
"Newport Beach is considering ways to expand its control over
county-run facilities in or near the city, including negotiating with
the Orange County Board of Supervisors to eventually take over John Wayne
Airport and Newport Harbor."
"The recommendations have come from a city airport policy committee,
which has been studying how to increase Newport's influence over the
airport."
"The City Council is expected today to create a task force and
invite representatives from the county to join."
"Last year, the county abandoned its effort to build a second
airport at the closed El Toro Marine base after a countywide initiative
killed that plan."
"'The question was: Where do we go from here?' City Manager Homer
Bludau said. 'We didn't think [John Wayne] was going to be the only [county
airport]. We're looking at this long term.'"
Click
here for stories from the Times, Pilot and Register.
See our story below. Newport
Beach is not the only city bordering John Wayne or impacted by it.
Los Angeles Daily News, November 23, 2003
"LAX contracts probed"
"D.A. looking at awards, politics, money links"
"Joining two city agencies, the [Los Angeles] District Attorney's
Office has opened an inquiry into possible wrongdoing by Airport Commission
members, including President Ted Stein, in the awarding of contracts
for Mayor James Hahn's $9.1 billion LAX modernization, an official said
Saturday." Click
for the entire story.
"City Controller Laura Chick and the city Ethics Commission
also are scrutinizing how contracts are awarded at LAX."
"The Los Angeles Business Journal claims Stein sought political
contributions from the contractors."
"Stein previously faced a federal grand jury probe in a case
involving Whitewater investigation figure Webster Hubbell during a previous
term as Airport Commission president when he served under former Mayor
Richard Riordan . . . Then-City Controller Rick Tuttle conducted an
extensive investigation [and] found Stein's actions were improper but
no charges were filed by local or federal officials."
Website Editor: Stein's name has appeared several times in
connection with this website's coverage of the El Toro debate. As vice-chairman
of the SCAG Aviation Task Force, he promoted creation of an
airport authority with power to implement a regional plan including El
Toro. Stein
co-authored the LA bid to Washington for LAX to takeover and
run an airport at El Toro.
Press-Enterprise, November 23, 2003
"Business travelers drive airlines"
In
a pair of articles, the Inland Empire newspaper looks at the
business and leisure travel sides of the air travel market as it effects
Ontario Airport.
"Vacationers are considered 'gravy' by carriers, according to
a marketer in the industry . . . Armed with research quantifying the
convenience of Ontario in terms of minutes saved by avoiding LAX congestion
and downtown driving, Los Angeles World Airports
plans to make a pitch to Orange County and Los Angeles County
businesses that generate air travel."
"Ontario's tourism marketing plan is proximity to the things
it doesn't have. The surfing is about a 45-minute drive. Disneyland is
less than 30 miles away, about the same distance from Ontario International
Airport as it is from Los Angeles International Airport. There's skiing
and hiking in the nearby mountains."
Daily Pilot, November 22, 2003- updated
"City mulls running JWA"
"NEWPORT BEACH —Local officials on Friday said they will consider
whether the city should play a role in a host of county services,
which could result in John Wayne Airport's being moved from county
to city control."
"The City Council on Tuesday will consider a list of recommendations
from the city's Airport Policy Review Committee, including creating
a 'Sphere Issues Committee' to examine a four-part plan."
"That committee would try to open talks with county leaders
on roles the city could play in matters city leaders say directly
touch Newport Beach's borders — including Back Bay tidelands, the Coyote
Canyon Landfill and the sheriff's Harbor Patrol. But one item on their
list — John Wayne Airport — could prove to have the most significant implications
for the city and the region for decades to come."
"Mayor Steve Bromberg, City Atty. Bob Burnham and City Manager
Homer Bludau all conceded the proposal could pave the way for the city
to take over airport operations."
"Any discussions of the airport's future come in a climate
almost assuredly lacking El Toro as a secondary option. City leaders
admit that taking over administration of the airport is a long-term possibility,
although the clearest goal is to have more control over the next round
of settlement agreement talks, set for 2015." Click
for more.
Website Editor: The last time I looked, John Wayne Airport "directly
touched" Costa Mesa, Irvine, and Newport Beach. The JWA airport website
lists its postal address as Santa Ana. The airport administration
building address is in Costa Mesa. Most of the ground access
traffic and aircraft enter the airport by way of Irvine. Most
takeoffs are over Newport Beach.
Coastline Pilot, November 21, 2003
"Noise from low flights raising hackles"
"Noisy air traffic became scarce after complaints, but have
recently increased"
"[Laguna Beach] City officials sounded off Tuesday about
the noise from commercial airlines flying over the city at low altitudes.
The city will monitor the altitude, flight origination and destination
and the specific airlines before taking any action on the low-altitude
flights."
Ed Merrilees, vice president of the Laguna North community
association "said that it now seems that all flights leaving John
Wayne Airport for the East Coast pass over North Laguna and Top of the
World. Bluebird Canyon residents claim they know when it is 7 a.m. because
that is when flights begin departing from the airport and shortly thereafter
fly over their homes."
"Flights out of John Wayne Airport take off over the ocean
until released by the Federal Aeronautics Administration to turn
back over land. The low-altitude flights occur when the control tower
at John Wayne allows the pilots to turn back to land before the planes
gains a sufficiently high altitude to render them almost noiseless to
the communities below."
"Low-altitude flights are a fairly new problem in Laguna.
After the closure of the U.S. Marine Air Base at El Toro, some commercial
airliners began making the inland turn earlier, which saves time and
fuel." Click
for the complete story.
"Complaints should be directed to the John Wayne noise abatement
number, (949)252-5185, and the FAA Noise Hotline for the Western
Region at (310) 725-3638, or write the FAA Regional Administrator,
P.O. Box 92007, Los Angeles CA, 90009.
Website Editor: A telephone complaint report from JWA
shows 317 calls for the three months ending June 30. Only 2 were
recorded from Laguna Beach. 125 were from Balboa Peninsular where a
few individuals call in regularly. The second largest group of calls,
80, were from unspecified cities lumped as "other".
Click here for
the John Wayne Airport Flight
Tracker to identify the planes overhead.
OC Register, November 20, 2003
"Lawmakers seek 2nd opinion on base commissary"
"Perhaps the old El Toro Marine base will get a 'great commissary.'"
"Three members of Orange County's congressional delegation
are asking the Defense Department to conduct a new study to determine
whether to reopen the commissary at the closed air base and site of the
future Great Park."
"In a letter to Assistant Secretary of Defense Charles S.
Abell, Rep. Christopher Cox, R-Newport Beach, Rep. Ed Royce, R-Fullerton,
and Rep. Loretta Sanchez, D-Santa Ana, said the results of earlier studies
on the commissary 'have been varied and contradictory.'"
"Irvine Mayor Larry Agran has indicated that plans for the
Great Park could accommodate a reopened commissary."
El Toro Info Site report, November 19, 2003
Navy-AWG lawsuit concluded
Yesterday, Judge Taylor of the Superior Court signed the
order officially ending
the litigation brought by the AWG against the Department of
Defense. The suit failed to slow the annexation or sale of the El Toro
property.
It remains to be seen how the AWG uses the $270,000 they
will collect from the federal government for settling this case.
The Press-Enterprise, November 18, 2003, posted
November 19
"Airport name will trade on LA's fame"
"The marketing campaign intends to help lure passengers
and airlines away from LAX."
"Ontario International Airport will be getting a new
name in an upcoming marketing campaign aimed at promoting it as Southern
California's alternative to an overcrowded Los Angeles International
Airport."
"The new name? Los Angeles-Ontario International Airport."
"Ontario's official name will not change and neither
will the ONT designation that identifies it. However, all marketing
uses, including the listings passengers see on travel Web sites,
will take the new name."
"Last year, Ontario served 6.5 million passengers, about
one-fifth of the 30 million passengers projected to use the facility
by 2025."
El Toro Info Site editorial, November 18, 2003
No on Jim Silva
Presently, Jim Silva is vice chairman of the Board
of Supervisors. Unless a change is made, he is next in line to
take charge of the Board if Tom Wilson wins the seat he is seeking
in the Assembly. Our editorial urges that
Silva be passed over when the Board selects its chairman
and vice-chairman for 2004 in January.
We list examples of how Silva supports El Toro airport-at-any-cost
and without regard for the will of the voters. The most recent
example was last week's LAFCO meeting when Silva played to the Newport
Beach contingent in the audience, by announcing that if allowed,
"I would vote against annexation."
Silva signed the letter with Supervisor Chuck Smith
to Transportation Secretary Norman Mineta, supporting Los Angeles'
bid to take over El Toro and have it operated by LAX. Smith lost his
vice-presidency of SCAG over this issue. However, Silva got off without
so much as a slap on the wrist.
Supervisors Wilson, Norby, and Campbell should heed
their supporters and put an anti-airport supervisor next in line
for the chairmanship of the Board of Supervisors.
El Toro Info Site report, November 16,
2003
ALUC prepares to reject another residential
project.
The Airport Land Use Commission meets next week and
ALUC staff recommends labeling another Irvine residential development
"inconsistent" with the Airport Environs Land Use Plan. The housing
is within the 65 dB noise zone of the former El Toro Marine airbase.
A different Irvine Company housing project was
turned down at the previous October 16 meeting.
The minutes of the October meeting
summarize the debate involving Tom O'Malley of ETRPA who is a
Board of Supervisors appointed commissioner, ALUC Chairman Gerald
Breshnahan, and Councilmember Patty Campbell of Seal Beach who sits
on both ALUC and OCRAA, the Orange County Regional Airport Authority.
Apparently El Toro supporters on ALUC give more weight to what the nearly
defunct OCRAA has to say than what the Navy, the voters, and the
Board of Supervisors have decided.
OC Register editorial, November 14, 2003
A bumpy flight is over
"Like a bumpy plane flight that finally lands,
the fight over El Toro Marine Corps Air Station is over - except
for some final legal maneuvering."
"The Great Park idea was never our first choice
for a parcel of this scope and location; we always believed that
auctioning the land to private investors would bring the mix of business,
housing, education and other amenities that best served the needs
and desires of the market."
"But the choice has been made, and only a lawsuit
brought by the pro-airport Airport Working Group continues over
the Great Park's environmental impact report."
"It's time to stop fighting old battles. It's time
to focus forward on the park's development, its governance by
a new board and the decisions they make."
Click for the entire editorial. Thank you Register, for setting aside the editorial board's old animosities towards the park and the Irvine leadership. We wish the AWG could be half as pragmatic.
Daily Pilot, November 13, 2003
"AWG may sue to stop annexation"
"A Wednesday decision to allow Irvine to annex
El Toro may face a legal challenge from the Newport-based group."
"Airport Working Group leaders are considering
suing the Local Agency Formation Commission to force it to overturn
its decision on Wednesday allowing Irvine's annexation of the closed
El Toro Marine Air Base."
"'We've got our legal people looking into it,
and we'll be deciding over the next few days what our next move
is,' said Tom Naughton, president of the Newport Beach-based
group that has long supported building a commercial airport at
El Toro."
"Airport Working Group leaders said there are
several bases for legal action. Most notable, Naughton said,
is that a pending lawsuit over environmental documents for the annexation
challenge the basis of the annexation."
"The group [also] could argue that the Navy did
not have the power to include [the 897-acre habitat area] . .
. in its annexation application without written approval from federal
aviation authorities."
"Dana Smith, executive officer for the [LAFCO]
commission, said she believes that the process was fair and thorough
and that the decision was legally solid.
OC Register, November 13, 2003
"The El Toro turnaround"
"Retirees helped turned the tide when it appeared
certain an airport would be built in south county."
"An unlikely combination carried the campaign
to defeat an airport at El Toro – retired people and the Internet."
"Galvanized as they were, south county needed
soldiers and a way to reach people quickly and efficiently."
"Bert Hack provided the soldiers; Leonard Kranser
provided the medium."
"[Hack] organized what eventually grew to an army
of as many as 10,000 volunteers who gathered signatures for petitions,
wrote letters and campaigned person to person. In part to strengthen
its position against the airport, Leisure World filed for cityhood
and won. Hack is the mayor."
"Kranser's Internet site, www.eltoroairport.org,
evolved into a daily must-read for airport foes and advocates.
He even wrote a book on the experience called 'Internet for Activists.'"
Website Editor: The
Register's report singles out too few of the many individuals
and organizations that contributed to the complex, massive effort
to turn the tide of public opinion. It is an embarrassment to be
given credit for what was a great team effort. Someday, I hope there
will be trees or benches throughout the Great Park with plaques honoring
the hundreds of what former Supervisor Todd Spitzer called the "Unsung
Heroes." Appropriate recognition needs to be given to the many volunteers
(young and old), elected officials, professionals, consultants, and
contributors who made the turnaround possible.
A commercial airport at El Toro was a bad idea from the inception. It
took a lot of time and effort to make that fact apparent to a county with
3 million residents.
El Toro Info Site report, November 12, 2003
LAFCO approves Irvine annexation,
5-2
The Local Agency Formation Commission, LAFCO,
voted 5-2 to approve annexation of the former MCAS El Toro to
the City of Irvine. The hearing room was nearly full, with many
airport supporters from Newport Beach.
Chairwoman Arlene Schafer opened the discussion
by saying, "We are going to make history today." However, three
hours later she appeared swayed by the large number of audience
members calling for delay. Admitting that she had not visited the
property as much as she might have, and had not read all the voluminous
documents generated for the annexation, she voted "no", not out of
opposition but out of a stated wish for more time.
Supervisor Chuck Smith voted "no", questioning
what would be done with the ruble from demolishing
the runways.
Supervisor Jim Silva, an alternate on the commission,
noted that he could only vote if one of the other supervisors
was sick. However, without giving a reason, but apparently playing
to the large crowd of his constituents from Newport Beach, he said
that if he could, "I would vote against annexation."
Voting "yes" were City Councilmen Randal Bressette,
and Peter Herzog who made and seconded the motion, Supervisor
Bill Campbell, Water District Commissioner John Withers, and public
member Susan Wilson. Campbell commented on the many audience members
who spoke in opposition and noted that any meeting can be "stacked."
What counted with him was the vote on Measure W.
During the long public hearing, about twenty
pro-airport speaders, almost all from Newport Beach and Costa
Mesa, raised a variety of complaints about the economic analysis
conducted by LAFCO staff and consultants. The consultants had concluded
that at buildout the park plan would generate approximately $500,000
a year in net revenue for Irvine and around $1,600,000 for the County
and County Fire Authority.
Speaking for the annexation was previously pro-airport
State Assembly candidate Cristi Cristich who said "My views
have evolved . . . It took a series of initiatives to bring the
facts to me. I urge LAFCO to support the annexation."
Near the end of the lopsided flood of public
comments, website Editor Len Kranser noted mockingly that he
was surprised to see so many residents from Newport Beach and
Costa Mesa expressing concern for the taxpayers of Irvine. "I
always thought that they opposed the park because they wanted to
move the jets from their city to someone else's backyard."
AWG President Tom Naughton and Director Richard
Taylor raised legalistic objections that hint at the group's next
moves.
LA Times, November 11, 2003
"Annexation OK Could Be Start of
Great Park"
"Approval is expected for Irvine's bid for the
El Toro Marine base site. Plans include homes, businesses and
open space."
"The Local Agency Formation Commission is expected
Wednesday to approve the annexation."
"Under Irvine's plan, nearly 3,900 acres would
be dedicated to wildlife habitat, golf courses, sports parks and
other public uses, making it one of the largest park complexes
in the country."
"Developers must agree to deed large portions
to the city for public use in exchange for rights to build on
the remainder."
"The Navy, which still owns the land, plans
to auction it off in four parcels early next year."
Click
here for the entire article.
El Toro Info Site report, November 10, 2003
Smith elected as OCTA rep to SCAG
After nearly
five months of stalemate, the Orange County Transportation
Authority board elected Supervisor Chuck Smith to represent
the organization at the Southern California Association of Governments.
Smith beat out Supervisor Bill Campbell for
the post. In a first ballot, Campbell voted for himself and
had the support of Norby, DeYoung, Ward, and Pulido - with six votes
needed to elect.
Smith then was backed by himself, Brown, Winterbottom, McCracken, Keenan and Pulido. Pulido voted for each of the candidates in the two separate votes that were taken.
Smith lost his seat as Orange County's rep to SCAG in June as a result
of supporting an LA attempt to takeover El Toro and run it
as a satellite of LAX. Smith was next in line to become SCAG
President when he was removed as the county's representative.
As OCTA's rep he is not eligible for the SCAG presidency but can
be appointed to committees.
El Toro Info Site report, November 10, 2003
- updated
El Toro opponents have a stake
in the LAX debate
Mayor Hahn's plan to limit the capacity of
LAX creates a threat for local residents who seek to restrict
airports in Orange County. A major LA business group questions
capping LAX. However, The
Los Angeles County Economic Development Council's recently
released LAX Master Plan Assessment is clear in
its opinion about Orange County.
"A regional solution is required and should
include Ontario, Burbank, Long Beach, John Wayne, Palmdale,
San Bernadino, March, George (and yes, El Toro)."
"When residents of Orange County decided
they don't want the impacts of having their own airport at
El Toro, and suggest LA needs to solve its 'own airport problems'
at the expense of local residents in El Segundo, Westchester and
Inglewood, issues of equity and burden sharing are painfully evident."
"Mayor Hahn should be commended for taking
the political risk to try to move LAX modernization (and the
El Toro alternative) forward."
The
Valley Industry and Commerce Association, on the
other hand, supports LAX growth and makes this more pragmatic
single comment about Orange County. "Unfortunately El Toro no
longer appears to be a viable airport option . . ."
El Toro Info Site report, November
9, 2003
OCRAA update
Our page is updated on the Orange County Regional
Airport Authority.
Thanks to activist Dave Kirkey and his
California Public Records Act request we added the group's
financial information. In the past, most of OCRAA's money came
from the City of Newport Beach and the County.
Most of what was collected went to political
consultants Townsend, Raimundo, Belser & Usher for an
anti-Measure W campaign to be funded with $5 million of taxpayer
money voted by the Smith-Silva-Coad Board of Supervisors. That
effort was blocked by an ETRPA lawsuit.
Other major beneficiaries were General
Art Bloomer, the political law firm of Reed & Davidson,
and current OCRAA Executive Director Jack Wagner.
Today, OCRAA is
running out of purpose, cash, and its membership
is dwindling. Bit by bit, organizations on both sides of the
El Toro debate have been, and will continue to fade away as the
airport becomes less of a reality. We are not there yet but 2004
should bring major progress.
Daily Breeze, November 8, 2003 - updated
November 9
"Analysis finds fault with
Hahn airport plan"
"LAX: An engineering expert says the mayor’s
proposal would fail to cut the facility’s capacity."
"In the latest assault against Mayor James
Hahn’s $9 billion Los Angeles International Airport modernization
proposal, a new analysis . . . conducted for the city of El
Segundo, concludes that Hahn’s plan would allow LAX to serve
at least 87 million passengers a year. Hahn has pledged to constrain
the airport to its current theoretical capacity of 78.8 million
annual passengers."
"Still, El Segundo Mayor Mike Gordon said
he believes Hahn remains committed to constraining LAX. He
said the two cities are working on a legally binding agreement
to ensure that the airport is constrained."
"Gordon said El Segundo and Hahn’s office
are working on an agreement that would further reduce the
number of airplane gates, to 146."
"The [Hahn] plan fails to study the noise
impacts from moving the southern runway 54 feet closer to
El Segundo to accommodate a new centerline taxiway . . . Separating
the runways will increase capacity by reducing delays and
improving air traffic flow."
Website Editor: This is regarded as
bad stuff by LAX opponents who want the capacity moved to
other airports in the region. Click
for the entire article.
Sunday's
Times summarizes the situation with LAX Plan Receives Bad Reviews.
"Hahn's $9-billion modernization proposal is widely
criticized as being too costly and failing to improve security,
limit capacity or protect the environment."
El Toro Info Site report, November 7, 2003
ETRPA comments on LAX Master
Plan
ETRPA comments on the LAX Master Plan
EIR/EIS focus on the use of data from SCAG's 2001 Regional
Transportation Plan, RTP - which included El Toro - instead
of using the more recent 2004 RTP analysis. ETRPA did not comment
on Mayor Hahn's proposal to cap the airport's size or to build a
controversial Manchester Square check-in site. See story below.
"The LAX EIR/EIS relies entirely on the
2001 SCAG RTP demand projections for the six-county region.
ETRPA has consistently disputed the validity of those projections,
especially the assumptions used for Orange County."
Noting developments since 2001, including
September 11 and Measure W, ETRPA concludes, "Based on recent
developments in the aviation markets and a renewed regional
emphasis on strategic land use and transportation policies that
support the development of the Inland Empire airports, the LAX Master
Plan EIR/EIS must be revised to incorporate regional aviation demand
projections and capacity enhancements consistent with
the 2004 SCAG RTP."
Daily Breeze, November 7, 2003
"LAX plan hits more opposition"
"Mayor James Hahn should abandon his
plan to limit growth at Los Angeles International Airport
and construct a proposed passenger check-in facility on
existing airport property instead of at Manchester Square, a
county business group said Thursday."
"The Los Angeles County Economic Development
Corp. released a 13-page report critiquing Hahn’s $9 billion
LAX plan, saying the proposed limit of 78 million annual passengers
would sacrifice up to half a million jobs and $20 billion in
economic activity."
"The analysis of Hahn’s plan, which will
be submitted to the city today, also questioned plans for
a passenger check-in facility at Manchester Square, which
would take seven to nine years to complete because much of the
property has yet to be purchased by the city."
"Deputy Mayor Troy Edwards defended the
mayor’s plan for limiting growth, an effort that is supposed
to be accomplished by reducing the number of airport gates from
163 to 153."
“'It is simply unfair for the communities
around LAX to bear the burden of the region’s entire aviation
needs,' he said."
El Toro Info Site report, November 7, 2003
New Great Park website
The City of Irvine has added a comprehensive
new Great Park website linked from the city site. It contains
a wealth of material that will be updated periodically. Visit
the site at http://greatpark.ci.irvine.ca.us/
for maps, timelines, financing, and information on the governance
of the park. We have added it to our Links page.
OC Register, November 6, 2003
"El Toro annexing backed"
"LAFCO says city, county would benefit
from proposed Great Park, but agency's study also contains
precautions."
"A report released Wednesday applauding
the economic potential of Irvine's Great Park could kill
any remaining hopes for a commercial airport at the old El
Toro base."
"The study
prepared for next week's meeting of the Local
Agency Formation Commission concludes that the city as well
as the county will benefit financially from the Great Park.
It concludes that Irvine should be allowed to annex the base
land to build and develop the park."
"The report prepared for LAFCO .
. . concludes the Great Park will generate a tax surplus
of $500,000 annually at build-out. It was prepared by Economic
& Planning Systems Inc. of Berkeley."
"However, the study cautions that
the Great Park plan, while 'highly innovative presumes
that a number of key events and components fall into place ..
. Failure of one or more of these factors to turn out as planned
could place unsustainable strain on the financial and development
plan proposed by the city.'"
"Specifically, the report cautions
that:
"Still, EPS says the infrastructure cost estimates 'appear reasonable';
it also notes the strong demand for housing in south
county."
El Toro Info Site report, November
5, 2003
Navy litigation settlement
posted
We have posted the entire text
of the Navy-AWG settlement provided to us by the Department
of Justice. With various parties spinning the result of the
settlement to their favor, members of the public can read the
document for themselves.
We previously
posted an AWG press release showing their (unfulfilled)
expectations for the litigation.
Today, the Newport
Beach paper presents the AWG's spin on the Navy
settlement:
"NEWPORT BEACH — Airport Working
Group leaders have won their push for more stringent environmental
studies of the El Toro site and will continue to have some
oversight of plans to develop the closed Marine air base."
"Once the site of Newport's best
hope for an airport to alleviate future John Wayne air
traffic, the 4,700-acre base was rezoned last year by voters
as a site for open space, houses and retail buildings. After the
vote, the Navy planned to sell the land at auction, but the working
group filed suit to stop any such sale until more stringent environmental
studies can be done. . . Most notably, a study must be done on the
possible environmental hazards of tearing up the runway."
"Group President Tom Naughton said
that the Airport Working Group will continue to oversee
environmental studies as plans are implemented to develop the
land. 'We at AWG are still engaged,' he said, explaining that
they will review the air quality report and other documents to assure
they meet the objectives of Monday's agreement."
"Though the settlement counts as
a success for the Newport Beach-based working group, Monday's
agreement in no way increases the chances a commercial airport
will be built there, Naughton said. The settlement deals only with
environmental studies that must be performed on the land."
"Airport Working Group leaders still
hold out hope that an airport can be built there, albeit
not as a result of Monday's settlement."
OC Register, November 4, 2003
El Toro lawsuit near resolution
As predicted, "Tom Naughton, AWG
president, said he 'absolutely' is pleased with the settlement
terms, which allow his group to go back to the judge if disagreements
arise after the order is signed."
"Still remaining is a case in state
court challenging the environmental-impact report on Irvine's
plan to build the Great Park, a mix of houses, shops, museums,
athletic fields and parks on the old base."
"But the [remaining AWG] suit isn't
expected to affect either the Navy's auction of the base
or a hearing next week to consider
Irvine's request to annex the land. The online auction is expected
early next year."
"The pending federal settlement 'keeps
us on schedule for the annexation, the auction and the
ground-breaking for the Great Park,' said Irvine Mayor Larry
Agran."
Website Editor: "On track" might
be a better description. The schedule has slipped by several
months from the one
presented earlier this year.
El Toro Info Site report, November 3, 2003
AWG-Navy settlement not
quite put to bed
Today in court, Judge Gary L. Taylor was generally supportive of the
agreement worked out between the parties. He wants
ETRPA and Irvine to review the environmental study of any
air pollution from tearing up of the runways. The judge asked
the government's attorney to draft the order for the settlement
this week.
El Toro Info Site report, November 3, 2003
OCRAA tries to find a
role for itself
The Daily Pilot reports that the Costa Mesa City Council "will consider
a request from the Orange County Regional Airport Authority
to adopt a resolution supporting construction of a transportation
tunnel . . under the Cleveland National Forest and Santa
Ana Mountains to the I-15 Freeway in Riverside County."
"Since Measure W eliminated the former
El Toro property from becoming a civilian airport, the authority
has pursued other ideas that meet its goals of improving air
transportation access and services for the county."
OCRAA "adopted a resolution supporting
the tunnel concept in May. Now the authority is asking
each member city to adopt a similar resolution."
In facts, the tunnel is the brainchild
of former Irvine City Councilman William Vardoulis. Vardoulis
received a favorable reception when
he presented the idea to the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority almost three
years ago. It was seen as a way to carry O.C. residents
to an airport at the former March airbase in Riverside. At the
time, pro-El Toro groups would have nothing to do with the idea.
LA Times, November 1, 2003
"El Toro Airport Backers
Settle Suit With Navy"
"Supporters of a commercial airport at the closed El Toro Marine base have
agreed to settle a lawsuit they filed against the U.S. Navy challenging the
federal government's plans to sell most of the property to developers."
"The settlement, which must be approved
by a judge, would bolster plans to redevelop the 4,700-acre
base as a massive regional park, with homes and commercial
centers instead of as an airport . . . Plans for an airport have
failed to regain traction and seem to be growing dimmer every day."
"The settlement bars any future challenges
by the plaintiffs."
"The settlement also calls for $270,000
in attorneys fees to be paid to the plaintiffs. Barbara Lichman,
a lawyer for the Airport Working Group of Orange County,
the lead plaintiff, did not return calls requesting comment."
Website Editor: We took the Times'
call and commented that the money should be returned to
the Newport Beach taxpayers who paid for filing the lawsuit.
See story below.
Click here for previous news stories