News - FIRST QUARTER - 1999

WHAT'S HOT  - Click on date.  Complete story is below.

Newport-Costa Mesa Daily Pilot, March 31, 1999
“County switches to Plan B for airport”
“Board of Supervisors votes 3-2 to push for more passengers at El Toro and fewer at John Wayne”

Website direct, March 30, 1999
Supervisors vote, 3-2, for bigger El Toro; JWA will shrink.

LA Times, March 30, 1999
“Web May Carry Supervisors' Meetings Long Before TV Does”

LA Times, Orange County Perspective March 28, 1999
"The Train to the Plane"

LA Times, March 28, 1999
"Travel Budget to Push El Toro Plan Soars"
"Spending triples as pro-airport officials make rounds in Washington and elsewhere.  Supervisors against it aren't invited.  Critics say rules broken and public left in the dark."

Website direct, March 27, 1999
John Wayne utilization continues to slide

Website direct, March 26, 1999
Pat Bates' bills in State Assembly would upset county's airport plans

OC Register, March 26, 1999
“Hunt for new jail site back on track” “
Sheriff Michael Carona says he can settle for 50-acre site, easing fears of a Musick expansion.”

Newport - Costa Mesa Daily Pilot, March 23, 1999
“Supervisors may change course on El Toro”
“Board Chairman Chuck Smith proposes switching to plan that would shift more passengers to new airport, easing load at John Wayne.”

Website Direct, March 22, 1999  FLASH
Supervisor Smith recommends pushing for larger El Toro airport

LA Times, March 20, 1999
“June Test Flights at El Toro Base Still Up in Air”

OC Register, March 20, 1999
“'People mover' for El Toro has a sky-high price tag”
“Without the elevated train, John Wayne traffic would shift south, a county study shows.”

Website Direct, March 19, 1999
County Airport Planning Shifts to Bigger El Toro.  John Wayne to die on the vine.
Report raises “serious questions” about “feasibility” of proposed connecting people mover.

Website Direct, March 19, 1999
Free Aircraft Noise Demo

ASSOCIATED PRESS, March 18, 1999
"Airliner Barely Missed Mountaintop"

LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--March 16, 1999-- Website posted March 17
“Contracts Awarded for Residential Soundproofing Near LAX”

LA Times, March 15, 1999
“U.S., Europe Edging to Brink of a Trade War”
“Conflict Over Jet Noise”

Website Direct, March 12, 1999
An Airline Captain Speaks Out on El Toro

Website Direct, March 12, 1999
“Straight Talk About El Toro”

OC Register, News Focus March 11, 1999
“El Toro Foes Get Savvy”
“Proponents admit that their opposition has become a formidable force.”

TIMES ORANGE COUNTY POLL, March 11, 1999
“Most Surveyed Back Supermajority Initiative”
“More than 60% of respondents say yes to requiring two-thirds support for big projects like a new airport..."

Newport - Costa Mesa Daily Pilot, March 10, 1999
"A BLOW IN EL TORO FIGHT"

NPR - All Things Considered, March 4, 1999 Website published March 10, 1999
Airport pollution increasing

Long Beach Press-Telegram, February 27, 1999 Website posted March 9, 1999
"UPS unveils plans for Long Beach"

Newport - Costa Mesa Daily Pilot,  March 8, 1999
“City Council ponders pro-airport budgets”
“Three groups scheduled to receive about $275,000 to lobby in favor an airport at El Toro.”

Newsweek.com March 5, 1999,  Website posted March 6
Leisure World-Laguna Woods Vote Against Airport

Website Direct, March 6, 1999
Irvine Ranch sales brochure omits airports

Website Direct, March 5, 1999
John Wayne Seat Allocations for 1999-2000 Revealed

Daily Pilot, March 2, 1999
"Airport alliance OKs action plan, budget"

OC Register, March 2, 1999
"Bill Would Crimp Plans to Finance an Airport"

Los Angeles Times, February 25, 1999
"County Proposes Added Mitigation for El Toro"

Website Direct, February 24, 1999
Want to See the Board of Supervisors in Action?

Website direct, February 24, 1999
ETRPA Explains Safe and Healthy Communities to all OC Cities

OC Register, February 24, 1999
Irvine - "County Will Fail"

OC Register, Opinion, February 23, 1999
"Airport red herring"

CNN.com February 22, 1999
“Build it and they will come?”
“Airlines, passengers lacking at $330-million MidAmerica airport”

OC Register, February 20, 1999
“Carona's south-county backers hope to work out jail solution”
“Airport foes say their plan doesn't have to mean expansion of the James A. Musick Facility.”

Newport-Costa Mesa Daily Pilot, February 20, 1999
"El Toro airport consultants may be short-timers"
"Newport Beach council subcommittee recommends letting go experts, blending with pro-airport groups."

LA Times, February 19, 1999
“Anti-Airport Measure Spurs Jail Talk”
“Sheriff wants to move on expansion of Lake Forest facility, before proposed initiative that would require two-thirds approval of such projects”

Website direct, February 18, 1999
Safe and Healthy Communities Initiative Moves Forward

LA Times, February 18, 1999
“‘Quiet’ Zones Home to Jet-Noise Complaints”
“Most calls logged about John Wayne flights come from areas miles from runways.”

Website direct, February 16, 1999
ETRPA to Finalize Initiative at Public Meeting Thursday

Newport-Costa Mesa Daily Pilot, February 12, 1999
“[Pro-] El Toro alliance to meet today”

OC Register, Political cartoon, February 11, 1999
Cartoonist Mike Shelton lampoons county's air cargo plan

OC Register, February 10, 1999
“Marines now back air cargo at El Toro”
“Despite the switch, opponents say a lengthy environmental review is still required.”

OC Register, February 10, 1999
"How will Bren land on airport?"

OC Register, February 9, 1999
“Jurisdiction issue slows interim uses for El Toro”
“South-county challenge delays transfer that is usually a formality.”

Website direct, February 8, 1999
FAA never asked to approve straight north takeoffs.
County balks at requesting federal consideration of politically motivated flight paths

Orlando Sentinel, February 5, website posted February 7, 1999
“Residents Told Jets Are Not Too Noisy”

OC Register, February 5, 1999
“Low-rent O.C. area eyed for high-rises”

OC Register, February 4, 1999
“County airport mailer en route”
“Project foes call it tax-funded propaganda.”

LA Times, February 3, 1999
Tustin City Council votes to join OCRAA

Orange County Business Journal, February 1, 1999
“Marines-OC Rift Widens:  July Flights in Doubt”

Greensboro News and Record,  January 31, website posted February 1,
FedEx Brings Both Pain and Gain at Indianapolis Airport

LA Times, February 1, 1999
“Airport Foes Drafting New Ballot Appeal”
“Proposal would require two-thirds approval of ‘noxious uses’.  Success may hinge on lessons from past initiatives.”
OC Register, January 29, 1999
“Toxin discovered beneath El Toro base “
“Officials say the chemical is contained, but a panel wonders about other unknowns.”

Boston Herald, January 28,  website posted January 29, 1999
“Neighboring Suburbs Join Fight Vs. Logan Air Traffic”

LA Times, January 28, 1999
Bits and pieces and an important correction

Website direct, January 27, 1999
Newport Beach trying to disguise its El Toro push

LA Times, January 27, 1999
"El Toro Cargo Flights OKd Despite Uproar"
"Supervisors hear complaints about noise, then approve plan for interim use after Marines move out.  Start date up in the air."

Website direct, January 26, 1999
John Wayne Airport Utilization Declines

OC Register, January 26, 1999
“Cities against El Toro airport move ahead with initiative”
“Opponents of an aviation plan at the base are trying to get their measure prohibiting noxious uses on the March 2000 ballot.”

Website direct, January 25, 1999
Anti-Airport Groups Unanimous on Advancing Safe and Healthy Communities Act
Newspaper Scolded for ‘Misinformation’

Associated Press, Website posted January 24, 1999
"Opponent of Narita Airport Dies"

OC Register, January 23, 1999
“Airport foes weigh ballot-measure effort”
“The initiative would require that 'noxious' projects be put to a countywide vote.”

LA Times, January 22, 1999
“Anti-Airport Initiative Comes to Crashing Halt”
“South County coalition, lacking consensus on strategy, abandons vow to force special election this year.”

OC Register, January 21, 1999
“Cargo plan reflects rifts over El Toro”
“Backers see it as a test, airport opponents see it as a threat.”

Website direct, January 20, 1999
Supervisors to look at interim aviation use.

Wall Street Journal, California, January 20, 1999
"High Speed Rail Plan Moves Ahead"

Website direct, January 20, 1999
“City Councils reflect split over El Toro”

LA Times, Orange County Voices, January 17, 1999
"Airport Wars Need Regional Peacemaker"

OC Register, January 14, 1999
“El Toro contract appears far off”
 “The county wants to begin cargo flights when the base closes in July, but the Marines don't expect agreements until next year.”

Stirling Company press release, January 13,  Website posted January 14, 1999
Southern California International Airport Authority Contract Approved for 4,000-acre Southern California International Airport at Victorville
Construction Will Commence in Spring to Improve SCIA's Infrastructure

LA Times, January 13, 1999
“$3-Million Test of Noise at El Toro Okd”
“Planners say demonstration is useless as an official evaluation. Military must sign off on it before flights can be scheduled.”

OC Register, January 12, 1999
“Measure could aid foes of airport”
“El Toro reuse and other 'noxious' projects would require a countywide two-thirds vote for approval.”

Orange County Business Journal, January 11, 1999
“Tension in Pro-El Toro Airport Camp”

LA Times Editorial, January 10, 1999
"The Politics of the Gavel"
Airport Politics Decides Selection of Board Chairman

LA Times, January 9 1999
“Non-Aviation Plans?  Airport Foes Have Plenty”

OC Register, posted January 8, 1999
"Anti-airport war chest might get huge boost"

Letters to the Editor, posted January 6, 1999
A light-hearted note from Minneapolis and sober thoughts from Fountain Valley.

LA Times, January 6, 1999
“Leisure World Governing Board Backs Cityhood” - Airport a Big Issue

Website direct, January 5, 1999 FLASH
Smith elected Chairman of Board of Supervisors
Wilson remains Vice-Chairman in El Toro "Dogfight"

Orange County Business Journal, January 4, 1999
“Irvine Co. Gives Boost to Millennium Plan Efforts”

Website Direct, January 3, 1999
“Environmental Impacts of America’s Airports” study added to Website’s Issues Section
"Flying Off Course"

Website E-Mail, December 31, 1998
The 1998 Year in Review

(For full articles see L.A. Times at http://www.latimes.com and O.C. Register at http://www.ocregister.com/news/)

“Flights in and out of John Wayne Airport are expected to shrink by almost half, while flights at the proposed El Toro airport will grow by 15% under a new plan approved Tuesday by the Orange County Board of Supervisors.”

“Newport Beach residents approve of the switch because it means fewer planes flying over that city to and from John Wayne Airport. ‘The city of Newport Beach likes the idea of less noise coming out of John Wayne Airport,’ Councilman Gary Adams said prior to the meeting.”

But many South County residents who live in the flight path of El Toro angrily denounced it as a betrayal of promises...  Some have even suggested that the switch will result in the closure of John Wayne Airport altogether because major airlines will choose not to operate out of both airports...and will all choose to relocate to larger El Toro. ‘It's goodbye to John Wayne Airport,’ Leonard Kranser said [speaking to the Supervisors]. ‘We knew for years that the plan was to move everything from John Wayne to El Toro.’" 

Website direct, March 30, 1999
Supervisors vote, 3-2, for bigger El Toro; JWA will shrink.

The Board of Supervisors, meeting as the Local Redevelopment Authority, voted 3-2 to abandon their previously preferred Option C - which was a two-airport plan with El Toro and John Wayne connected by a people mover.  Instead, El Toro will be expanded and John Wayne Airport will be left to shrink under “market” forces.   The Board also scrapped the study of three smaller sizes for El Toro that had been voted in 1996, as a concession to south county.

Pro-airport Chairman Charles Smith had the votes of Supervisor Cynthia Coad, who was silent during the debate, and of Supervisor Jim Silva who, at one point, eagerly seconded a Smith motion before Smith could even make it.  Supervisors Tom Wilson and Todd Spitzer, representing the communities that would be adversely impacted, voted against the move to a bigger airport.

Wilson, who was on the Board and voted against the airport in 1996,  said that the plan was known to be wrong “a long time ago.” Spitzer noted that, “A two-airport system is doomed to failure.” He questioned whether legal analysis had been done as to whether the county could continue to spend John Wayne funds on El Toro planning.  None of the county attorneys in attendance had an answer and they said that a legal opinion was being drafted.

The Board also acted on the contentious issue of the flight demonstration, now planned for June.  Citizen activist Gail Reavis presented the Board with a check for $100, collected by neighbors in her Mission Viejo community, so that a noise monitor could be installed there during the demo.  Supervisor Todd Spitzer asked that the monitor be installed, along with one in Foothill Ranch, which is the first neighborhood planes fly over after taking off to the east.

Supervisor Jim Silva announced that he would vote against the two additional monitoring stations unless Spitzer and Wilson supported the $3 million demonstrations.  Spitzer responded that “You are trying to hold us hostage... It is outrageous that staff did not recommend a noise monitor at the closest point to the main takeoff.”  The motion was made by Smith to proceed with the demo, including the two extra monitoring stations.  Spitzer voted yes, making it clear that he considered the tests a waste but wanted the monitors added.  When Spitzer voted yes, Silva voted no almost reflexively,  realized that he had just voted against the demo he wants, and asked to change his vote. 

“Orange County supervisors, who can't seem to agree on a plan to televise their board meetings, will likely get audio versions on the Internet long before they get their mugs on television... on the county's Web site.”

“Orange County is the only major county in the state that does not televise its meetings, and 75% of the county's residents favor such coverage, according to a Times Orange County poll. But proposals in the past two years have been either killed or delayed indefinitely.”

“Two supervisors said Monday that a key roadblock to televised meetings has been concern over the county's controversial plans for an international airport at the Marine Corps Air Station at El Toro... Supervisor Tom Wilson is adamant that the board televise its meetings. ‘I think it's absolutely essential that the Board of Supervisors provide our constituents with the opportunity to see us in action,’ Wilson said.... ‘In my mind, this all centers around one issue, [and] that's El Toro,’ Supervisor Todd Spitzer said. ‘What started out to be an open-government idea has put a huge amount of fear into the three other supervisors that support El Toro.’

“[Pro-airport] Supervisor Jim Silva, ...said the calls to his office favoring televised meetings come from South County residents, many motivated by their opposition to El Toro... Silva long has opposed airing the meetings.” 

Commenting on the economically unfeasible plan to connect John Wayne and El Toro by a people mover, the editorial states that, "The rail link is at the heart of the two-airport system being proposed".  "The question rises as to whether this could be the first in a series of acknowledgments that what the county hoped to do at El Toro may not be possible." Click for full text.

Borrowing a line from proponents of a new voters rights initiative, the article concludes that, "Since this is essentially a pre approved airport, the public is in the position of having to wait until all the planning is done before it finds out what it is going to get... The county should have had more definitive answers before going forward."  The Safe and Healthy Communities Initiative requires that projects like airports, large jails and toxic dumps be subjected to analysis and public disclosure before being submitted to the voters for approval. 

"The travel budget for Orange County officials promoting plans for an airport at El Toro has nearly tripled in a year to $98,000, yet two supervisors opposed to the project charge that scant details are provided about trips taken and issues discussed."  "Details of most of the dozen trips over the past 15 months were kept so secret that [Supervisor Tom] Wilson, at one point last year, threatened to file requests under the state's open records law."

"'They don't want us there and they have the majority to back them up.  That's the way of the El Toro world'", said Supervisor Todd Spitzer, who had requested, unsuccessfully,  to be included in the trips. "'There's no point in bringing someone to discuss building an airport when they can only say, We don't want it' said Supervisor Charles Smith." 

Website direct, March 27, 1999
John Wayne utilization continues to slide

Passenger traffic at John Wayne airport continues to slide.  For 1998, the number of passengers was 3.4% below 1997 levels.  January and February 1999 continued the decline and slipped below 1998 levels. The airport is operating at approximately 1 million passengers per year less than its agreed to cap, negotiated between the county and Newport Beach, and at less than half of its estimated physical capacity.

Cargo tonnage carried so far this year is 9.6% below last year.

The only statistic that shows a gain is the number of general aviation (private) aircraft operations, lending some credence to the suspicion that the county hopes to move all commercial jets to El Toro and turn John Wayne into a landing field for small planes. 

Website direct, March 26, 1999
Pat Bates' bills in State Assembly would upset county's airport plans

Opponents of a commercial airport at El Toro are attacking on several fronts. Assemblywoman Pat Bates of Laguna Niguel has introduced two bills in Sacramento that have the county scrambling.  County Executive Officer Jan Mittermeier has asked the Board of Supervisors to direct lobbying effort against Bates' Assembly Bills AB1248 and 1479.

AB1248 would require voter approval of  bonds for the construction of an airport in Orange County.  Voters rights over airport spending exist in every other California county except for Sacramento.  Orange County received an exemption for John Wayne airport which is being stretched by the county to cover El Toro.

AB1479 would require that any city with jurisdiction over part of a closing military base must be included in the membership of the Local Redevelopment Authority.  The bill would have the effect of giving Irvine a sixth seat on the El Toro LRA, which currently has a 3-2 pro-airport majority.

While Pat Bates is a strong opponent of El Toro, Assemblywoman Marilyn Brewer has refused to answer website questions about her position on El Toro or the Bates bills.  Brewer represents both Irvine and Newport Beach in the 70th district.  E-mail her at a70.assembly.ca.gov and urge her to support AB1248 and AB1479. 

OC Register, March 26, 1999
“Hunt for new jail site back on track” “
Sheriff Michael Carona says he can settle for 50-acre site, easing fears of a Musick expansion.”

“Orange County Sheriff Michael S. Carona said Thursday that Lake Forest and Irvine have a good chance of finding a new jail site instead of seeing expansion at the James A. Musick Facility.  ‘I'm optimistic about it,’ the sheriff said moments after a two-hour meeting Thursday in Irvine City Hall. ‘It was an enjoyable meeting. Productive.’"

“Recently, the sheriff said a proposed ballot measure, meant to stop the planned commercial airport at El Toro, would make it extremely difficult to find an alternative site. The measure would require voters to approve, by two-thirds majority, any large jail within a half-mile of homes unless a local council supported the facility.”  However, the cooperation between Irvine, Lake Forest and the sheriff in finding a suitable jail site appears to remove the difficulty and improves chances for passage of the Safe and Healthy Communities initiative.

“County supervisors will consider switching next week to an airport plan that would cause future use of the proposed El Toro Airport to increase by 15% and use at John Wayne Airport to shrink by almost half....  If the board decides to switch plans, it will be good news for Newport Beach.”

“Ellen Cox Call, the county's El Toro spokeswoman, said it is possible for Plan B to result in the closure of John Wayne because of market forces. However, she said county officials don't expect that to happen.”

“El Toro foes are calling the move another example of how the county cannot be trusted, saying airline officials already have made clear their desire to fly out of El Toro and not John Wayne. ‘Their ultimate goal is leading the county to closing John Wayne,’ said Lake Forest Councilman Richard Dixon, a member of the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority.  Airport opponents also accused [Supervisor] Smith and Supervisor Jim Silva of reneging on the promise they made to South County last April...and making this flip-flop on its commitment to the two-airport system."  Click here for a chronology and summary of the changing airport plans.

Website Direct, March 22, 1999  FLASH
Supervisor Smith recommends pushing for larger El Toro airport

Board of Supervisors Chairman Chuck Smith, in a letter to the Board today, acknowledged that the two-airport concept for John Wayne and El Toro, connected by a people mover, was "both unprecedented and unproven".  Smith will ask the Board, at its March 30 LRA meeting, to change directions again and select Option B as its preferred plan for El Toro.

Under this plan, El Toro will be expanded to 29 million annual passengers and John Wayne will be allowed to shrink.  This change of direction has been anticipated by El Toro opponents for years.  The two-airport plan has been criticized as unsound by almost everyone except county planners and the three pro-airport supervisors.

Supervisor Tom Wilson responded, "Goodbye John Wayne" and "This airport planning process smells worse by the day."

See March 19 and 20 news below for more on this change of direction. 

“Officials hope to fly several airliners from El Toro runways in June to demonstrate how loud flights might be from a new commercial airport planned for the base. Orange County supervisors will decide March 30 whether to grant final approval for several test flights on the first or second weekend of June.”  The demo was originally planned for last October but fell behind schedule.

“The noise tests are expected to cost from $2 million to $3 million. Final estimates will be submitted in 45 days. Supervisors approved the tests in January ... but South County airport foes argue that the tests will not be valid because the planes will not be as heavy as if filled with passengers and that the test cannot simulate the effect of flights estimated to take off or arrive on an average of every five minutes. They also argue that the quietest planes would be used instead of louder aircraft such as the wide-body Boeing 747.”  For more on flight demo take off routes click here.

“Costs to build and ride the 'people mover' that is supposed to connect John Wayne and the proposed El Toro airports could kill plans to join the airfields into one aviation system.  Now, the focus is quickly shifting to the county's backup plan, which consultants had studied all along: letting both airports operate separately and scheduling flights based on market needs. That could mean shifting more passenger traffic from John Wayne to El Toro.”

"‘I think it's time to refine our plans,’ said Charles Smith, chairman of the county Board of Supervisors. ‘I prefer a system that is market-driven. The airlines have expressed their concerns with (linking the airports) from the beginning.’ Smith said he will recommend this month that the board consider dropping the people mover from airport plans.”

“Supervisor Todd Spitzer said it has always been clear to him that a people mover, which would take 25 minutes to travel the eight-mile route, wasn't feasible. ‘That had to be one of the most ludicrous things I've ever heard,’ Spitzer said. ‘A two-airport system will not work for at least 15 years. That's what the county has admitted.’  Spitzer said he is fearful that if El Toro were built, it would serve substantially more passengers than the county is predicting and John Wayne might be shuttered at some point.”

“A consultant for residents of Newport Beach and other cities beneath John Wayne's flight paths who oppose expansion of that airfield said the people-mover's cost is good news  ‘We've always believed that market forces should dictate (airport use),’ said David Ellis of the 5,000-member Airport Working Group. ‘It helps us in our 20-year goal of securing a second aviation facility in Orange County.’"

“Paul Eckles, the top administrator for a coalition of seven south-county cities opposed to an El Toro airport, said county reports already had determined that a people mover didn't make sense. ‘Most of us thought all along that's what they wanted: a single airport.’ Eckles said.  ‘They can open (El Toro), and then say, 'Gee, all the airlines want to move over from John Wayne. I guess we'll have to close that one.'“.  More below.

In December 1996, county planners recommended closing John Wayne and building a big El Toro in its place.  Political considerations lead the supervisors through several costly redesigns. Their currently “preferred Option C” would force all flights under 500 miles to depart from John Wayne and those over 500 miles to use El Toro - a so called perimeter rule.  A people mover would transport passengers between connecting flights.

However, a press release issued by Courtney Wiercioch today, along with the issuance of two new technical reports, acknowledges what serious observers have said all along. Option C is not feasible. For the people mover, “per passenger costs are estimated in the range of $55 to $124 per rider.”

Wiercioch finally admits that “airlines have long expressed concerns... and have stated candidly that they do not favor the development of an airport system in Orange County which depends upon or incorporates the perimeter rule and connector concepts.”

With this, the county is signaling a turn away from Option C, which depends upon these rejected planning concepts, and towards Option B... a larger El Toro with John Wayne left to die on the vine. Wiercioch writes that they would “operate as two market driven independent airports” whatever that means. There is little reason to expect passengers or carriers to use the high cost John Wayne facility, with its curfews and special noise abatement procedures, since more flights, longer hours of operation and better connections will be provided at El Toro. 

Website Direct, March 19, 1999
Free Aircraft Noise Demo

The website offers a computerized demonstration that provides more non-scientific information for free than the county will provide for $3 million - and it runs 24 hours a day like a real airport.  Click here.

"A United Air Lines 747 with 400 passengers aboard barely cleared a mountain on takeoff from San Francisco International Airport last year after an engine quit, a radio station reported Thursday.  The incident took place ... when the plane suffered engine problems moments after departing for Australia, said KCBS".

"The Federal Aviation Administration confirmed that the plane dropped off radar for some 15 seconds as it cleared San Bruno Mountain by a mere 100 feet. The plane dumped some fuel and returned safely to the airport. No injuries were reported."  There was no explanation as to why the story surfaced today.  Click here for more about mountains in the takeoff path from El Toro.

"Los Angeles Board of Airport Commissioners Tuesday awarded three contracts for residential soundproofing work near Los Angeles International Airport (LAX). The combined contracts, [are] valued at not to exceed $2,976,924.”

“The contracts cover sound insulation modifications on 113 single- and multi-family residences located in the communities of Westchester and Playa del Rey. These contract awards bring the total number of homes completed or in the process of soundproofing construction to 735. The residences are outfitted with dual-paned windows, solid-core doors, attic insulation and other necessary soundproofing improvements.”

“LAX's noise mitigation program includes nearly 9,000 residences in the Los Angeles communities of Westchester, Playa del Rey and South Los Angeles with a recorded Community Noise Equivalency Level (CNEL) of 65 decibels or higher.” 

“On March 29, EU transport ministers are supposed to decide whether to ban older U.S.-made jetliners, including DC-9s and Boeing 727s and 737s, that have been equipped with engine mufflers to make them less noisy. Last month, the EU parliament voted in favor of such a ban, which would take effect April 1, 2002, contending that the modified planes are still too noisy and that their mufflers, called ‘hush kits,’ increase fuel consumption [and consequently air pollution] by 50% on takeoff and landing.” 

Website Direct, March 12, 1999
An Airline Captain Speaks Out on El Toro

Captain Charles Quilter II provides new answers to some "Not So Frequently Asked Questions", rebutting a county spokesman regarding the safety and commercial usability of El Toro. 

Website Direct, March 12, 1999
“Straight Talk About El Toro”

Standing room only crowds heard elected leaders voice fighting words about the campaign against El Toro - at two meeting yesterday in Irvine City Hall - and they loved it.  The meetings were organized to showcase steps being taken by the cities in ETRPA, and particularly by the largest south county city, Irvine.

Irvine Mayor Christina Shea was applauded when she said that Irvine had a $17 million surplus in its budget and that no amount of money was too much to spend to prevent El Toro airport from ruining the city.  Shea also won crowd approval while reading her just-sent March 11 letter to Federal Express.  In it, she charged that company with being “an accomplice in compromising the community planning process” and said that the company’s “position in favor of cargo flights does not make Federal Express a good neighbor.”

Irvine City Councilman Larry Agran pleased the crowd with the promise that interim cargo flights would NOT take place on July 2, 1999 or 2000 or 2001.  He invited everyone to come out to El Toro to hear the “sweet sound of silence” that would be imposed on the base by a barrage of lawsuits.

On other fronts, officials discussed Assemblywoman Pat Bates’ bill, AB1248, which would require the county to obtain voter approval of El Toro bonds.  Residents should write to their representatives in Sacramento urging their support for the bill.  Irvine is pursuing annexation of the base and possible outright purchase of the land from the federal government.  Leaders of the ETRPA cities will be making another trip to Washington in the next few weeks to push the south county case with federal officials. 

OC Register, News Focus March 11, 1999
“El Toro Foes Get Savvy”
“Proponents admit that their opposition has become a formidable force.”

“The anti-El Toro airport campaign may have started out as a small grass-roots movement of political neophytes, but no more.  As deadlines loom at year’s end for final decisions on El Toro’s future, airport supporters find themselves faced with an increasingly sophisticated and energized opposition.”

“The money and the highly paid attorneys and consultants it has bought have allowed airport opponents to open their campaign on new fronts:” including State agencies, State legislation, and Federal lobbying.

“‘We’re bigger.  We’re smarter and we’re more worldly now.  We’re a people powerhouse.’”, Taxpayers for Responsible Planning Executive Director Bill Kogerman said.  Irvine City Councilman Larry Agran boosted the current “‘multi-faceted, diverse strategy [which] is much more likely to be successful’... The idea was to weave a web of litigation, legislation, ballot measures and challenges to the government process that at the very least would delay the airport... With public opinion surveys showing growing disenchantment with the airport, opponents believe it’s only a matter of time before they prevail.”  Click here for the full text of the Register report.

“Orange County residents favor a proposed initiative that would require a two-thirds vote of the public to build or expand airports, jails or hazardous waste landfills, but support drops when residents are told it could kill the planned airport at El Toro, a Times Orange County Poll found.... Overall, 61% of residents polled supported the Safe and Healthy Communities Initiative. But when told the measure could stop the county's plans for an international airport at El Toro, support dropped to 50%.”

“The Times poll is the first independent gauge of countywide support for the proposed initiative since it was unveiled last month by the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority, a coalition of seven South County cities fighting the El Toro airport. An earlier poll commissioned by the anti-airport coalition showed 71% support for the concept countywide....Tom Shepard of Campaign Strategies, hired by El Toro opponents to promote the new measure, said voters generally are alienated about how elected officials make decisions and that they trust their own judgment more...The problem, he said, is ‘the cavalier attitude’ of supervisors in their decisions on where to locate major public projects.”

“The Times poll reflects the ambiguity in Orange County voters' reactions to the proposed initiative and to an airport at El Toro. The poll shows that voters remain split over whether an airport is the best use for the 4,700-acre base after the Marines leave in July. Support for the airport countywide was 43%, with 44% opposed, an outcome essentially unchanged from surveys in 1997 and 1998... In other Times poll results, a bare majority of North County residents--51%--said they favor the airport. In South County, a lopsided three-quarters of residents oppose it. Fewer than one in 10 said they were undecided on the issue.”

“South County airport foes said they'll begin gathering signatures soon. County attorneys last week finished preparing a ballot title and summary.”   Editor:-  To volunteer for signature gathering, call Jim Davy at 949-498-0833.

"El Toro airport proponents suffered a loss with the sudden resignation of Clarence Turner from the grass-roots Airport Working Group. Turner has been involved in airport issues for more than 20 years and played a role in drafting flight restrictions at John Wayne Airport. 'He's the backbone of the entire issue, and people look up to him,' said former Mayor Tom Edwards. 'He will be sorely missed.'" 

"Later this month, the EPA will release a report predicting that pollution from aircraft will rise 50 percent in the next decade. While cars and trucks have been lowering emissions, planes haven't, despite advances in jet engine design that cut pollutants in European fleets. NPR's Allison Aubrey reports that the EPA expects planes to become the leading producer of smog in    Boston and a serious problem in numerous other cities." 

"United Parcel Service unveiled its plans to build a $7 million new mail sorting facility and aircraft ramp on the southeast side of Long Beach Airport.  The project, which covers 8.2 acres of property... had stiff competition form other airports for the UPS facilty, including Los Angeles International Airport, Burbank Airport and John Wayne and El Toro Airports in Orange County."

A UPS spokesman said, "Long Beach won out because of the city's accessibility to major freeways." 

“NEWPORT BEACH -- The City Council tonight will consider doling out dollars to pro-airport groups as part of its new strategy for trying to win a commercial airport at the El Toro Marine base.”

“A council subcommittee this week recommended the city give the Orange County Airport Alliance $173,000, and $50,000 each to the Airport Working Group and Citizens for Jobs and the Economy...  As part of the alliance proposal, Hill & Knowlton will get $168,000 to continue marshaling support for the airport throughout the north and central county, and for public outreach and education. The Orange County Business Council will get $90,000 for two economy-related studies, and $2,500 per month is allocated for meeting and travel for board members. The remaining budget will be made up of a $100,000 grant by Anaheim business groups.”

 “Both the Airport Working Group and Citizens for Jobs and the Economy initially requested more than $500,000 for their efforts. The subcommittee recommended the $50,000 each for specific duties and asked that a more detailed plan be brought back.” 

“For the elderly residents of Leisure World, gaining cityhood means getting a louder voice — especially when it comes to a new airport to be built nearby. Seniors in the gated California community voted this week to turn Leisure World into a city of its own. Laguna Woods, as it will now be called, numbers nearly 19,000.”

“Why the push to turn this serene integrated community into a new government entity? The seniors say they want a louder voice in local politics, especially in the debate over the proposed air field. The seniors' neighborhood is located ‘practically at the end of the runway,’ says Leslie Keane, the interim city clerk for Laguna Woods. Should it be built, residents will suffer from increased noise, traffic and pollution, she says.” 

The Safe and Healthy Communities Initiative would impose planning restrictions on expansion of John Wayne airport and construction of El Toro airport.

A glossy Irvine Ranch sales brochure distributed with today’s LA Times goes a step further and omits both airports from the map of residential developments offered in Irvine, Orange, Tustin and Newport Coast. The  “not to scale” map  shows present and planned freeways and toll roads serving the area.  Apparently, convenient nearby airports are not considered a sales plus. 

Website Direct, March 5, 1999
John Wayne Seat Allocations for 1999-2000 Revealed

The John Wayne Airport Director has requested authorization to allow air carriers to fly 13,287,721 seats in and out of the airport in the coming airport plan year.  However, the number of passengers that can be served is limited to 8,400,000 under an agreement between the county and Newport Beach.  Therefore, nearly 4 out of 10 seats must remain empty and unsold in order to meet the terms of the agreement.  If airlines sell too many seats, part of their allocation for the balance of the year will be withdrawn. For more on this arrangement click here.

Daily Pilot, March 2, 1999
"Airport alliance OKs action plan, budget"

The new  Orange County Airport Alliance met Monday and signed off on a preliminary budget and action plan," aiming at "bringing previously untapped groups such as labor, minorities and Democrats into the debate." "The alliance board agreed to fund studies by the Orange County Business Council...to examine the airport's effects on property values and the kind of ...jobs created by an airport." "Anaheim business leaders already have committed $100,000" towards the $275,000 budget.

The pro-El Toro airport alliance is made up of a board of directors composed of...representatives from the cities of Anaheim, Newport beach and Los Alamitos, the Airport Working Group and the Orange County Business Council." "Newport Beach council voted last week not to renew the contract of former Supervisor Don Saltarelli." These moves are all part of the city's new strategy, to get people to view the proposed airport as a regional issue, not "just Newport Beach vs. South County. 

"Orange County could face major problems raising money for an El Toro airport", if a bill proposed by Assemblywoman Pat Bates, R-Laguna Niguel, passes. AB1248 would "require Orange County voter approval before airport revenue bonds could be issued."

In 1986, "Orange County got a special exemption" to a 1957 law requiring that "counties not governed by a charter must submit revenue bonds for voter approval." This exemption allowed the county "to finance the expansion of John Wayne Airport," without voter approval,  $203 million are still owed on those bonds.

Editor:- Bates sighted her commitment to the people of Orange County to support fiscal responsibility and accountability to the voters on the part of government as the driving force behind the bill.

"The people should be allowed to vote after they know how and when any airport funds will be repaid, and before selling billions of dollars of government-issued securities," said Bates

The 1957 Revenue Bond Act required a vote of the people prior to any large bonds for airports and airport expansions. In 1986, the County of Orange received an exemption from the legislature allowing the county to issue bonds for the expansion of John Wayne Airport without a public vote. According to Bates, "At the time the Revenue Bond Act was amended, an airport at El Toro was not contemplated. The intention of the legislation was never to allow the county to obtain significant indebtedness without the approval of the people. My legislation will help restore good government and return to the people of Orange County their right to vote on significant bond issues."

Los Angeles Times, February 25, 1999
"County Proposes Added Mitigation for El Toro"

Attempting to meet legal requirements imposed by Superior Court Judge Judith McConnell, who had rejected key portions of the county environmental impact report for El Toro, the county "proposed additional ways to lessen the negative impacts" on "habitat for peregrine falcons and Swanson hawks", on "lost agricultural land", and on other issues.  However, "County planners concluded that increased traffic and local air pollution were significant but 'unavoidable'".

An attorney for ETRPA, the cities group which had filed a lawsuit in cooperation with Taxpayers for Responsible Planning, said, "' Just on a quick run through, I don't think it complies with [the] judge's order.'" 

The Board votes, at their March 2 meeting, on whether to televise their meetings. Here is a chance, for an annual cost to the county of only $36,000, to see how $4 BILLION gets spent. Send e-mails, faxes and phone calls asking them to vote for open government.  Please be positive and factual in your messages. 

Website direct, February 24, 1999
ETRPA Explains Safe and Healthy Communities to all OC Cities

In a letter to all Orange County Mayors, City Councils, City Managers, Planning Directors and Police Chiefs (as appropriate), the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority set out the reasoning behind the initiative that a citizens group will be taking to the voters in the March 7, 2000 general election.

Paul Eckles, Executive Director of ETRPA, wrote, "Measure A, the ballot box planning measure that began the El Toro airport controversy, is a good example of how not to plan an important county infrastructure project. This ill-conceived measure locked an airport into the County General Plan before a planning process was completed." 

"An attorney for the anti-airport El Toro Reuse Planning Authority told the City Council... that the county will fail in its efforts to establish interim cargo flights at the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station.  'We could have a Simon and Garfunkel concert out there July 2 and we could all join in The Sounds of Silence.' said attorney Richard Jacobs." 

OC Register, Opinion, February 23, 1999
"Airport red herring"

Commenting on the just released Safe and Healthy Communities initiative, the editorial writer states that, "We agree that by using such a wide brush, anti-airport forces have come up with a clever political approach.   Indeed their initial poll results show about 70 percent support for the  initiative."

However the new sheriff says that the measure would "hamstring his ability to find new jail sites" and that he might push forward with "expansion of Musik jail from 1,100 beds to as many as 7,500."   The Register questions why anti-airport groups added jails to their ballot measure which seeks to correct the way that the county plans major "noxious" projects.

Editor:- The massive Musik jail expansion, located close to residential neighborhoods, is a good example of the kind of county project that the Safe and Healthy Communities initiative seeks to put within the control of voters - rather than leaving the choice of location to political leaders.  The  initiative requires that construction or expansion of airports, jails near residential communities, and toxic landfills must be submitted to a vote of the people for approval. 

CNN.com February 22, 1999
“Build it and they will come?”
“Airlines, passengers lacking at $330-million MidAmerica airport”

“MASCOUTAH, Illinois (AP) -- It has all the trappings of a major airport -- baggage carousels, ticket counters and televisions broadcasting CNN headlines over and over. What's missing are airlines -- and passengers.”

“Nearly a year after opening, the $330-million taxpayer-funded MidAmerica Airport is used only by planes flying into the Air Force base that shares its runways. The airport's boosters had predicted that it would be bustling with commercial airline service by now, ... But the airlines cited by airport officials as their best prospects -- American, Delta and Southwest -- say they have no plans to fly here.”

“Airlines know customers want the convenience of frequent flights and a wide range of destinations -- something they can't afford to do by spreading operations across two airports, [airline analyst Robert] Mann said.”

“Three years after St. Clair County adopted the project, construction began with officials confidently predicting that service could start as soon as 1996. After a series of delays, the airport officially opened its runway in March.”  “County officials have said they expected to lose money on the airport for at least five years. But some suspect it will be much longer.”

“Meanwhile, the airport stays open at least 12 hours a day, staffed by 27 workers -- including a full fire crew and maintenance staff. Last year, the county approved requesting $2.5 million for improvements that include higher runway lights and a fence to keep deer away.”  Editor:- Will Orange County's second airport face a similar situation? See Two-Airports

The Safe and Healthy Communities initiative requires 2/3 approval from voters before a large jail can be built within 1/2 mile of residential neighborhoods.

“During his fall campaign, [Sheriff Mike Corona] took a tough stance against expansion plans for the James A. Musick jail, which would transform an honor farm with 1,200 beds to a maximum-security facility with 7,500.”

“Most south-county officials said they expect the sheriff to continue searching for other jail sites to house inmates.  ‘I would hope that Mike Carona would sit down with the people who worked on his campaign, helped him get elected,’ said Susan Miller, president of the Serrano Park Community Association, which represents owners of 593 houses that are 700 to 2,000 feet from jail property."

“Marcel Fernandez, who lives in the neighborhood near the jail and is chairman of Jail Alternatives to Musick, said...  'I can find you any number of sites that are three miles away (from homes).’”

“Irvine and Lake Forest residents, who in polls have overwhelmingly opposed the jail expansion, showed confidence in Carona last year at the polls.  According to county registrar of voters records, Irvine residents cast 11,036 ballots for Carona and 8,981 for opponent Paul Walters. In Lake Forest, Carona won out 6,156 to 4,284.” 

“As part of their new strategy to blend into the pro-El Toro battle rather than stand on the front lines, city leaders next week will consider letting go their team of high-paid airport consultants....  ‘The whole concept and philosophy behind this new direction is to take us out of being so visible,’ [Newport Beach Mayor Dennis] O'Neil said.”

" Irvine City Councilman Dave Christensen, who belongs to the [ETRPA] coalition of seven anti-airport cities, said he does not believe Newport Beach ever can take itself out of the spotlight. ‘They can wrap it up in any package, but the bottom line is that they favor El Toro because they want to get rid of John Wayne Airport,’ he said.” 

“Orange County Sheriff Mike Carona said Thursday that a proposed initiative aimed mainly at killing the planned airport at El Toro is forcing him to step up plans to enlarge a county jail facility in Lake Forest. Carona said he has no choice but to move ahead on a project to expand the James A. Musick Branch Jail from 1,100 beds to 7,584 beds because passage of the initiative would make approving any new jail sites practically impossible. ‘They may have pushed me into building Musick, and we'll have to do it now,’ ... ‘I can't take a chance that I won't have a place to build a jail.’"

However, leaders of Lake Forest and Irvine are confident that they can work with Corona on settling this issue and that other jail sites exist away from residential areas.  All 31 Orange county cities in the California League of Cities have adopted a resolution opposing maximum security jails in residential neighborhoods.

“Supervisor Todd Spitzer said he'll support the initiative because it would stop planning for the El Toro airport. ‘And I'm for voters having another say,’ he said.”

"‘I'm against the initiative, and I think it's wrong," board [of supervisors] Chairman Charles V. Smith said. "This would not only affect El Toro, but it would prevent us from building a new jail in Orange County [and] the expansion of Musick."

A first look at dirty tricks that will be used against the Safe and Healthy Communities Initiative came when “Political consultant Frank Caterinicchio of Newport Beach said he has been approached by airport backers willing to fund an unusual campaign. They want to persuade voters who sign the measure to remove their names, he said.” 

Website direct, February 18, 1999
Safe and Healthy Communities Initiative Moves Forward

The El Toro Reuse Planning Authority board of directors today unanimously approved the final draft of the Safe and Healthy Communities Initiative. ETRPA voted to submit it to the county Board of Supervisors with a recommendation that the supervisors place it on a county-wide ballot. Supervisor Tom Wilson was the first county official to "applaud" the initiative for"bringing concensu back into the planning process".  Click for full text of the measure.

Immediately following the ETRPA meeting, the grass roots Citizens for Safe and Healthy Communities organization filed notice with the County Registrar of their intent to circulate petitions.  Jeff Metzger, chairman of the group said that, "We hope that the Board of Supervisors will place the measure on the ballot but we have decided not to allow any delay if they don't."

The Safe and Healthy Communities initiative requires county planners to complete  environmental impact reports, and hold public hearings, before asking voters to approve new or expanded airports, hazardous landfills, or large jails near residential neighborhoods.  These projects must then receive two-thirds voter approval.

The measure will protect north county residents against any civilian airport at Los Alamitos, central county residents against  expansion of John Wayne, and south country residents against a 24-hour a day passenger and cargo airport at El Toro.  The El Toro airport project has lost support since it was accepted by a one percent margin in 1994 and is not likely to survive another vote as required by this initiative.

The initiative does not prohibit jails from being built or expanded outside of residential areas. It allows local law enforcement lock up facilities which currently exist within most communities.  Jails larger than 1000 beds, that are closer than one-half mile from residential neighborhoods, would however require comprehensive planning, consensus building and a 2/3 vote.

The requirement for voter approval of toxic landfills does not  restrict normal, household trash disposal facilities.

Click here for frequently asked questions and answers about the initiative.

“‘Why are people four to six miles from the airport complaining about noise that the county says shouldn't bother them? For good reason’, said Len Kranser”, editor of this website. “In fact, nearly all of the complaints last year came from areas deemed quiet by county planners, according to a Times review of noise reports at John Wayne Airport.”

“‘Single-event noise levels are high, and that's what people react to, not an average of noise’, said Kranser, who also analyzed John Wayne noise complaints.  ‘When the phone rings in the middle of the night, its no less annoying.’”

Website direct, February 16, 1999
ETRPA to Finalize Initiative at Public Meeting Thursday

The El Toro Reuse Planning Authority, ETRPA, will receive and vote on approval of the final wording of the Safe and Healthy Communities initiative at a public meeting on Thursday, February 18 at 10:00 AM.  The meeting will be held at Irvine City Hall which is off Harvard Avenue just north of Alton Parkway.  The public is welcome.  After approval, the initiative will be submitted to the Board of Supervisors with a request that they put it on a ballot for voter approval.

The initiative requires that plans for El Toro Airport  be submitted to the public, along with environmental impact information, and would have to then be approved by the voters.  Failure of the airport plan to receive voter approval, once its impacts, costs, and alternatives are understood, would lead to eventual implementation of a non-aviation reuse for the base.

For more information on the initiative, including its full text when available Thursday, go to the website Ballot Box section.

“NEWPORT BEACH -- The board of directors for the new Orange County Airport Alliance will meet today... The five member board consists of Newport Beach Mayor Dennis O'Neil, Anaheim Mayor Tom Daly, Los Alamitos Mayor Ron Bates, Airport Working Group member Bing Girling and Orange County Business Council President Tom Merric.”

“Meanwhile, a subcommittee made up of Newport Beach City Council members has been meeting to hash out some of the staffing issues the new alliance has brought into play. Because the alliance is intended to be a broad-based group both in participation and in funding, Newport Beach cannot provide all of the staff and consultant support as it has in the past.”

“For the past year, the city has been footing the bill for the El Toro Task Force -- Deputy City Manager Peggy Ducey, former Orange County Supervisor Don Saltarelli and public relations consultant Barbara Foster. The city's airport budget this year is about $860,000. Last fall, the city retained Los Angeles public relations firms Hill & Knowlton and Fleishman-Hillard to help in the effort for another $100,000.” 

The cartoon is on the Register website.  Click here.
Those who send letters, newspaper articles, and cartoons to Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy William Cassidy, Jr. are advised that he has a new fax number. Thanks to alert viewers who pointed this out.  Messages sent to the old number were forwarded but please note that the updated fax address is 703-588-0104. 

“The Marines, in an about-face, now say they endorse Orange County's plans for El Toro air-cargo service and a commercial flight demonstration. Maj. Gen. Robert Magnus, commander of the Marines Corps' Western area, also said both projects should be able to proceed with just a simple environmental assessment rather than the major study El Toro airport opponents say is necessary.”

“The Marines previously balked at county plans to begin air-cargo service as soon as the base closes July 3... Without the Marines' agreement, the county can't use the base until the property officially is transferred sometime next year.”

“El Toro airport opponents, however, vowed to fight any civilian flights at the base.”  ETRPA asked  “that the military delay any action until a full environmental impact statement is completed. The letter cited previous cases in which federal courts required detailed environmental reports at the earliest stages of planning.”  In addition, Supervisor Tom Wilson wrote to the Navy, pointing out that the Board has yet to make a final decision on plans that must be developed by staff.

“Airport opponents Monday successfully delayed action by the state Lands Commission on a federal request to transfer legal jurisdiction over the base to the state."  See February 9 news brief below. 

Columnist Jonathan Lansner asks the publicly neutral Irvine Company to take a position, one way or the other, on El Toro. 

OC Register, February 9, 1999
“Jurisdiction issue slows interim uses for El Toro”
“South-county challenge delays transfer that is usually a formality.”

“County efforts to launch air cargo and other interim uses at El Toro suffered a setback Monday when an obscure state commission threw a wrench into the process.  The state Lands Commission delayed action on a request by the federal government to transfer legal jurisdiction over the base to the state.”

“Granting the transfer of jurisdiction usually is a formality. It allows crimes to be prosecuted under state law instead of federal law... State legal jurisdiction is needed for the county to be able to sign a master lease and other agreements with the Marines” that are necessary before interim cargo flights can begin.

“But El Toro airport opponents challenged the transfer, which forced at least a two-month postponement on the matter. They say an environmental impact report is required first.  If the Lands Commission agrees, it could put off action until at least August, when the county is scheduled to finish its draft report.”  Legal challenges to that EIR could cause longer delays.

An ETRPA spokesperson said, “This is a tremendous victory for anti-airport forces as it will undoubtedly prevent any interim use at El Toro before the base closes.”

“The delay came as a county delegation prepared to leave today for Washington, D.C., where they will ask the Navy secretary to intercede in a dispute with the Marines over timing of the master lease and other agreements.” 

Airport proponents’ campaign to win support for El Toro in central county depends upon approval of takeoffs that go straight north over the mountains rather than northwest over Tustin and Orange.  But a recent letter from the FAA to the El Toro Airport Website confirms that county planners never did “forward a recommendation for a straight-out departure to the FAA for their consideration." as Courtney Wiercioch wrote and promised to do last April.

County publicity, and the proposed flight demo, are going ahead without seeking approval, despite major safety objections to takeoffs into the mountains north of the base, from the 50,000 member Air Line Pilots Association.  But possibly fearing that the FAA might give the negative answer that airport proponents don’t want to hear, county staff is playing “Don’t ask; don’t tell.” Reversing their earlier pronouncements, they have chosen not to send the FAA a recommendation, or ask for consideration of the potentially risky takeoffs, until after the Board of Supervisors approves the airport plan.

For a summary of the flight path issue, with county and FAA correspondence, click here. 

Orlando Sentinel, February 5, website posted February 7, 1999
“Residents Told Jets Are Not Too Noisy”

“Jets flying over neighborhoods on their way to and from Orlando Sanford Airport are noisy. Residents ... have complained for years about the roar of aircraft. But according to recent tests and federal standards, they're not too noisy.”

“Noise monitors recently measured how noise from jets grows as they flew over different neighborhoods. In a 20-second period, an aircraft landing from the west measured 80 decibels over Heathrow, 83 over Lake Mary, then rose to 88, 91 and 97 decibels over Sanford. Eighty decibels is equivalent to rolling thunder; 97 decibels sounds like sharp, cracking thunder.”

“That's from a single flyover. According to Federal Aviation Administration standards, noise isn't considered excessive unless it averages 65 decibels over a 24-hour period. ‘While we verified that residents do have a complaint and they do hear noise, based on the 24-hour average by the FAA, they do not have a noise problem,’ consultant Jimmy Goff recently told the Sanford Airport Authority. ‘Unfortunately, a single event doesn't qualify for federal regulations. If the noise levels had been calculated using a 24-hour average, the average noise level would be way below the 65-decibel level’"

Editor:-  Sounds like Orange County consultants, trying to convince El Toro neighbors that they won't hear average (CNEL) noise.  But interestingly, noise abatement procedures around John Wayne Airport are based on controlling single event noise and not on 24-hour averages.

“Property owners in Anaheim... are seeking to replace hundreds of low-income rental units — and relocate as many as 4,000 people — to make way for a massive hotel and tourism development.” Those to be pushed out are “mostly Spanish-speaking, low-income residents, many of whom walk to low-wage service jobs in the adjacent resort and convention district.”

"‘One of the major barriers to Orange County's future growth is a lack of affordable housing for workers,’ said Stan Oftelie, chief executive of the Orange County Business Council. ‘And as we force more workers to outlying areas, the traffic here only gets worse. We already have to import workers.[from Riverside County]’"  “Orange County produced 42,300 jobs last year, driving the unemployment rate down to 2.4 percent, and creating strong demand for jobs and housing.”

Editor:-  Nevertheless, the Orange County Business Council continues to promote an airport at El Toro, which will produce more low paying service jobs and a need for nearby low cost housing which is not available.

OC Register, February 4, 1999
“County airport mailer en route”
“Project foes call it tax-funded propaganda.”

The county is mailing a new full color brochure promoting El Toro Airport.  “Titled ‘Ticket to Tomorrow,’ the brochure is going to the 21,400 people who signed up for county El Toro mailings. Another 99,000 are targeted to frequent fliers whose addresses were obtained from a mailing list the county acquired.”

“Ellen Cox Call, county El Toro spokeswoman, said the $75,000 mailing is part of an effort to educate the public about the proposed airport.”

“Airport opponents called it taxpayer-supported propaganda. They cited flight paths presented as fact even though they have been challenged as unsafe by the commercial-pilots unions.”

The OC Weekly comments on the county's latest newspaper ads for the El Toro Airport in "Mythic Propaganda".

LA Times, February 3, 1999
Tustin City Council votes to join OCRAA

"By a 3-2 vote, the City Council joined  the Orange County Regional Airport Authority.  The majority said the decision to join was based more on information gathering reasons than to show support for the [El Toro] airport.  Council members Tracy Wills Worley and Jim Potts, both El Toro opponents, cast the dissenting votes.  Councilman Jeff Thomas, who personally opposes the proposed international airport, vowed to stick with his constituents, who in 1994 and 1996 favored the airport via ballot measures.

Mayor Tom Salterelli voted to join the organization and said, "If El Toro is halted, there is a strong chance that John Wayne Airport will be expanded.  Tustin's west side is under that airport's flight path."

Editor:- Salterelli's brother, former supervisor Don Salterelli, is a $180,000 a year consultant for the City of Newport Beach, hired to promote the El Toro airport.  Click here to see why Tustin may also be under the takeoff path from El Toro.

On January 15, Jim Silva, Chuck Smith, Jan Mittermeir and Courtney Wiercioch met with Marine General Bob Magnus.  “They were there to plead the case for expediting the turnover of the [El Toro] base to the county.”

“The meeting did not go well... Magnus indicated that it was unlikely cargo flights would be able to commence at the base in July.”  “Observers described county officials as ‘livid’ following the session.... the overall tenor of the meeting demonstrates what El Toro observers say is a deteriorating relationship between the Marines and the county.”

“One theory that is given a lot of currency is that the Marines fear getting tied up in litigation by airport opponents if they turn the base over to the county for interim uses [such as cargo flights].   Related to this theory is that the Marines are loathe to generate negative publicity and that means avoiding the wrath of South County residents.”

County officials plan to meet next week, in Washington,  with Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy William Cassidy, and “‘We’ll go to his boss if we have to’, said Silva.”

Please send carefully written, respectful letters to Mr. Cassidy, describing how the county has ignored  residents’ interests in the reuse planning process, taking repeated 3-2 votes that over ride the concerns of those who live nearest to the base.

Mr. William J. Cassidy, Jr.
Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Navy
1000 Navy Pentagon
Washington, DC 20350
FAX (703) 693-1165

---

“Few in Indianapolis dispute that FedEx and its huge air-cargo hub have given the Midwest metropolis a powerful economic boost ... But that boost came at a high price for some communities near the 12-year-old FedEx complex.”

At a recent meeting to discuss economic gains from the project, “Nothing was said about the cost to nearby Indiana residents who have lost sleep, night after night, to the predawn shriek and thunder of jet engines. Nor about the threat of lower property values for suburban Indianapolis home owners in FedEx's flight path. Nor about the destruction of entire neighborhoods and the troubling repercussions that has had for schools and local government.”

“Up to 78 cargo planes -- the majority belonging to FedEx -- descend on Indianapolis International late at night. Their cargo is unloaded, sorted then reloaded on predawn flights to the proper city for delivery. The noise of incoming planes isn't that bad. But the take-offs several hours later split the early-morning calm as huge jets ascend and begin banking toward their destinations, say residents in the flight path.”

“Indy's airport has tried to make things right: Since 1987, it has paid out $80.8 million in 912 transactions, most of which involved buying and demolishing suburban homes affected by airport noise. Meanwhile, Indianapolis International continues to raze houses in areas where noise problems are too severe.”

“The accumulated loss of hundreds of houses has caused problems for local government, particularly schools, dependent on property-tax revenue to provide services. When a house is sold to the tax-exempt airport and demolished, it goes off the tax rolls.”

“The experience at Indianapolis International suggests that the problem of early-morning jet noise is a moving target... Indianapolis official Rosebrough says his airport has grappled with the problem three times, beginning when FedEx started operations there in the late 1980s. Each review, done at five-year intervals, identified noise problems at more houses farther from the airport.”

Editor:  FedEx has expressed interest in flying cargo from El Toro.  County and Newport Beach officials are pressing the air carriers to move to El Toro, using  threats that their current leases at John Wayne Airport will not be renewed.

LA Times, February 1, 1999
“Airport Foes Drafting New Ballot Appeal”
“Proposal would require two-thirds approval of ‘noxious uses’.  Success may hinge on lessons from past initiatives.”

Opponents of an airport at El Toro are preparing a ballot measure to come before the voters in March 2000 that would cripple the airport project.  It would force officials to complete the airport environmental impact and cost studies and them resubmit the project to a vote of the people.

“Their success may depend as much on the lessons learned from past initiatives as on the issue itself.  Among those lessons, initiative experts say:

* Simplicity is best.  Craft an initiative that is straightforward and easy to understand.
* Money talks.  Prepare to spend at least $500,000 to get your message across - and double that against an organized opposition.
* Don’t be overconfident.”

“While most anti-airport activists are coming on board to support the new [‘noxious uses’] strategy, some don’t.”  Irvine Mayor Christina Shea is still undecided over whether its preferable to focus on promoting the non-aviation Millennium Plan as a ballot measure.  However, airport opponents would first have to undo the 1994 Measure A - which mandated an airport - before they can install the  Millennium Plan.  “But undoing the 1994 vote in a single step ‘can’t be done , as a practical matter, both legally as well as politically’ said ... Larry Agran.  That’s why the new strategy was proposed.”

JANUARY
OC Register, January 29, 1999
“Toxin discovered beneath El Toro base “
“Officials say the chemical is contained, but a panel wonders about other unknowns.”

“A new toxic contaminant has been found in shallow ground water at the El Toro Marine base, the residue of decades of explosions at a training site.”

“The discovery of the chemical, called perchlorate, has raised anxiety on a citizens base-cleanup panel about what other, as yet unknown chemicals might be found after the base closes in July, and whether they could disrupt future development plans. ‘Whole projects can be killed by things like this,’ said Greg Hurley, an environmental attorney and chairman of the [Restoration Advisory Board] panel.”

“Base officials say the military will still be responsible for cleaning up any leftover waste after the base closes.” but lack of funding could delay the work, some fear. 

Boston Herald, January 28,  website posted January 29, 1999
“Neighboring Suburbs Join Fight Vs. Logan Air Traffic”

“As Logan Airport officials prepare to revive a new runway plan they first pitched nearly 30 years ago, Boston suburbs as distant as Melrose and Quincy are joining a battle once waged only by Logan's immediate neighbors...  Massport's claims about noise are based on computer modeling about runway use...  ‘Maybe that [new runway and flight paths are] going to result in something good for Winthrop, but we just don't believe it,’ said Winthrop selectman Bob Driscoll, Jr.”

Editor:- This is a message for communities that  presently are not opposing El Toro Airport because they do not expect to be impacted by the county's current airport  plans.  Airports grow. 

Mission Viejo Mayor Susan Withrow was elected to chair the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority, succeeding ETRPA's outgoing chairman Richard Dixon.  They are both dedicated supporters of a non-aviation reuse for the base.

The Newport Beach City Council may act Saturday on the proposed Orange County Airport Alliance (see story immediately below) and decide on "a $350,000 grant to make up the group's budget for the first six months."

The LA Times issued a correction to its January 27 story on the Board of Supervisors vote for interim cargo flights.  On Wednesday, the Times' full version of the story incorrectly reported that the supervisors wanted limits on the hours of flight operations.  Today, the Times corrected by noting that, "The supervisors did not impose curfews on the flights." 

A Newport/Costa Mesa Daily Pilot article of January 23, states that the “Orange County Airport Alliance is the newest player in the battle to convert El Toro Marine base into a commercial airport.” In fact, the Alliance is the oldest player, disguised in new clothes.

Newport Beach staffer Peggy Ducey is the driving force behind this latest move.  It is part of a desperate effort to repackage public perception of  that city’s costly push to move jets from John Wayne to El Toro.

As Newport Beach Assistant City Manager, Ducey is paid to work full time on this effort. The city also pays her to act as Executive Director of the Orange County Regional Airport Authority, OCRAA.  OCRAA is a Newport Beach-funded group, working to get other cities to join its letterhead, at little or no cost, and then publishing pro-El Toro Airport propaganda.

Consultant, and former county supervisor,  Don Salterelli gets $180,000 a year from Newport Beach to lobby for OCRAA and in favor of El Toro Airport.

The transparency of Newport Beach’s attempt to hide behind shell organizations received a blow today.  The LA Times reported that the city’s former mayor, Tom Edwards, had "coerced" cargo carriers to express interest in El Toro by threatening to cancel their current rights to use John Wayne.  See news brief below. 

"Despite complaints about early morning and late night noise, county supervisors approved a plan Tuesday to allow cargo flights... after the Marines leave the base in July.  The board voted 3-2, its typical split on El Toro issues."  "The one hitch is that no one knows yet when the flights could begin.  The county is still at an impasse with the Department of Navy over agreements that would let the county operate the base and lease its facilities between July and the time the federal government turns over the property."

"South County airport opponents said that the cargo operators were coerced into asking to use El Toro."  Former Newport Beach mayor Thomas Edwards had written to the carriers that his city "would no longer allow cargo flights at John Wayne Airport once the El Toro site can be used."  Under an amendment to the 1985 agreement between Newport Beach and the county, Newport Beach agreed to cargo flights at JWA.  The  amendment requires that city's approval again in 2000.

Editor:- County staff also coerced the carriers into considering El Toro by writing to them that, "The existing limited cargo operations at JWA would be phased out at the earliest reasonable time."  See news brief below about declining utilization of John Wayne.  Also click here for a report from the Supervisors meeting by a website viewer who attended.

Website direct, January 26, 1999
John Wayne Airport Utilization Declines

The county released statistics showing that the number of passengers carried at JWA decreased by 3.4% for 1998, compared to the prior year. A total of 7,459,598 passengers were served.  The airport is limited to carrying 8,400,000 passengers under a 1985 agreeement between the county and Newport Beach.  The number of air carrier flights also decreased.

Air cargo tonnage decreased by 11.4% from the prior year, as of the November statistics. Click for full report. 

“Seven anti-El Toro airport south Orange County cities moved forward Monday with a measure aimed at the March 2000 primary ballot. The cities directed staff to finalize a countywide measure to stop the proposed El Toro airport and other so-called noxious uses.”

“The measure would require a countywide vote on airports, landfills, jails and other public projects that might be considered noxious... Sponsors hope that by refocusing the issue on noxious uses ... it will attract support from voters not directly affected by the proposed El Toro airport.” “Laguna Hills Councilman Allan Songstad said there is a broader concern [than just enacting the Millennium Plan]. ‘Our feeling is that no community should suffer or be disenfranchised like south county has been (on the El Toro airport issue),’ Songstad said.”

“The cities will ask the county Board of Supervisors to place the noxious-uses measure on the March 2000 ballot. If the board, which has a 3-2 pro-El Toro airport majority, declines to act on the measure, airport opponents say they are ready to launch their own $1.5 million initiative campaign.”

See first hand story below. 

The Board of Directors of the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority voted unanimously tonight to move forward with final drafting of a proposed Safe and Healthy Communities measure.  The decision was supported from the floor by representatives of all of the major anti-airport citizens’ groups.

The measure would require that the county complete its cost estimates and environmental impact report before any airport, jail or toxic dump is presented to the public for approval. “It would fix the planning process in Orange County.”and reverse the way El Toro Airport was handled.  The 1994 Measure A asked voters to approve an airport before they had any idea as to its consequences.

The new measure will be finalized and presented for public input prior to being submitted to the Board of Supervisors.  The Board will be requested to place it on the ballot for voter approval.  If the Supervisors reject the idea, the grass roots groups have said they will take the matter to the voters themselves, probably in the next general election in March of 2000.

Outgoing ETRPA Chairman Richard Dixon debunked the “impression of disarray” in the anti-airport camp, created by the press - referring to, but not naming the LA Times. “Nothing could be further from the truth.”, he said.  Executive Director Paul Eckles decried news stories this week, “with a lot of misinformation”.  Other speakers also scolded the newspaper for “the terrible week” that it had hatched.

Eckles explained at length why it was not legally feasible to merely place the Millennium Plan, with its variety of land uses, on the ballot.  “To craft an initiative that would enact the Millennium Plan into law and supersede Measure A is enormously complicated”  and would require a document of over 100 pages to be presented to the petition signers and voters.  Irvine Councilman Larry Agran hailed the Safe and Healthy Communities Act as the first blow in a “one-two punch” with legislative enactment of the Millennium Plan to follow.

Both Agran, who is Honorary Chairman of Project 99, and Bert Hack, Director of Taxpayers for Responsible Planning, urged that the finalizing of the proposal be expedited so as to take advantage of anti-airport momentum.

Responding to questions regarding the legality of a two-thirds vote to approve “noxious” projects, Eckles pointed out that Proposition 13 requires a two-thirds vote for certain approvals.

Several speakers noted that an election in March of 2000 made good sense in terms of avoiding the cost of a special election, in cutting in half the number of signatures to be gathered, and in allowing voters to get a better look at the county’s airport plan - which won’t be completed and sent to the FAA for approval before the end of 1999.  Members of the anti-airport coalition had decided months ago to shoot for 2000, but had not revealed their strategy to the press or opponents for tactical reasons.

Stay tuned for more... 

Associated Press, Website posted January 24, 1999
"Opponent of Narita Airport Dies"

"TOKYO (AP) - Toichi Shito, the farmer who for more than 30 years stood in the way of plans to expand Japan's main
international airport, died Thursday of heart failure. He was 84. Shito, who owned land that the government wants to turn into a second runway for the busy Narita airport outside Tokyo, lived on the site with his wife. He was one of the most stubborn of a handful of farmers who for decades blocked the airport expansion plan."

"The showdown turned violent during the 1970s when the farmers used pointed sticks and crude barriers to defend themselves
against the bulldozers and riot police sent to evict them."

"Their struggle struck a nerve in Japan at a time when people were growing weary of heavy-handed bureaucrats and the
government was forced to back down." 

“The El Toro Reuse Planning Authority will vote Monday on... preparing a county initiative that would make approval of "noxious" projects like the proposed El Toro airport more difficult.  Supervisor Tom Wilson proposed a similar ballot measure to the Board of Supervisors two weeks ago requiring two-thirds' approval by county voters for projects such as airports, jails and landfills.”

The proposed measure would require that El Toro Airport go back to the voters for approval after its costs, flight paths and environmental impact are more accurately determined - a step that the public has said it wants.

“Because the supervisors are not likely to put such an initiative on the ballot ... airport opponents are moving forward with plans for an initiative that would do the same thing.”

“Airport opponents had intended to fight the El Toro airport with an initiative this year that would have replaced the county's airport plan with the non-aviation Millennium Plan.  Last fall, however, leaders of the four main organizations opposed to the airport shifted their focus from that initiative to the one to be considered by ETRPA on Monday.”

“The groups decided then to drop plans for an initiative this year because qualifying for a special election would have required twice as many valid signatures — about 200,000 instead of 100,000 — said Meg Waters, consultant to the groups. Airport foes also decided that the new proposal — called the Safe and Healthy Communities initiative — would have broader appeal to county residents.” [and would fare well in a county-wide general election].

Editor:- The Register article accurately portrays the agreement that has existed between airport opposition groups, on both the nature of a ballot measure and its optimum timing.  The LA Times - which yesterday ran sensationalized headlines and seriously exaggerating  the strategic debate leading up to the anti-airport coalition’s decisions - softened its tone somewhat today.

LA Times, January 22, 1999
“Anti-Airport Initiative Comes to Crashing Halt”
“South County coalition, lacking consensus on strategy, abandons vow to force special election this year.”

“Foes of the proposed international airport at El Toro have abandoned efforts to kill the project through a ballot initiative this year,” opting instead to shoot for a general election in 2000.

“The coalition will try to develop a broader initiative to put on the ballot next year. The ... measure would call for a two-thirds vote of the public for new or expanded airports, landfills and jails anywhere in the county... [ETRPA’s] Eckles said considerable thought and research went into deciding how best to proceed and how to encourage support not only in South County but the rest of Orange County. "We want this to be a groundswell issue," said Bill Kogerman, head of Taxpayers for Responsible Planning, a citizen group that has fought airport plans for three years.”

“Eckles said his group will decide at its Monday meeting [on] drafting an official "Safe and Healthy Communities" initiative that would be delivered to the Board of Supervisors to put on the ballot. If the board declines to put it on a ballot--and a majority already has indicated it won't--South County residents said they are prepared to gather the signatures themselves to place the measure on the March or November ballot in 2000. They would need about 100,000 valid signatures to qualify.”

Editor:- One reason for targeting a general election in 2000 is that state law requires collecting twice as many signatures for a special election in 1999.

“Political consultants estimated this week that it would take $500,000 to qualify the new initiative for the ballot and an additional $1 million by each side to promote their campaigns before voters... Kogerman said lawyers working with the various anti-airport groups are in the process of writing the best initiative possible. A version should be ready for public unveiling in the next two weeks.” 

OC Register, January 21, 1999
“Cargo plan reflects rifts over El Toro”
“Backers see it as a test, airport opponents see it as a threat.”

“A county plan for interim air-cargo service at El Toro touched off a new war of words and heightened tensions about reuse of the closing Marine base.”

“Supervisor Tom Wilson, an airport opponent, called the plan a rush to judgment with little supporting evidence.  He also said plans for flights as early as 4 a.m. represent a betrayal of implied promises that the county would do what it could to reduce noise intrusion. ‘All the inferences have been that they would definitely try to mitigate noise — talking about curfews, talking about other restrictions — that just went out the window,’ Wilson said.”

Editor:- Wilson requested supporting documentation from county planners, and a delay of Board action, until an evening meeting could be held with public participation.  Board Chairman and airport advocate Charles Smith denied the request.  To e-mail supervisors click here:

“The cargo carriers were trying to stay out of the cross-fire.”

“UPS Spokesman Bruce MacRae said his company is perfectly happy with its one daily flight out of John Wayne Airport, but felt it had to submit an El Toro proposal in case its two-year contract at JWA is terminated.”

“Federal Express submitted a proposal because the county requested it, said spokesman Jess Bunn.”  Airborne Express was the third company to submit a proposal.  To write to the three carriers, click here.

Website direct, January 20, 1999
Supervisors to look at interim aviation use.

The Board of Supervisors today agendized, for its January 26 meeting, a staff proposal to study interim aviation use at El Toro.  Supervisor Tom Wilson promptly asked staff to provide more details for study and requested a continuance from Board Chairman Smith to February 9.

The staff study seeks to advance plans for cargo jet, helicopter and general aviation flights at El Toro, commencing in July.  County staff notes that  the Marines will complete operational closure in July, an environmental impact report is scheduled to be complete by December and the Marine Corp is not expected to complete a Record of Decision regarding transfer of the property until February 2000.  Airport proponents hope to begin flights on an interim basis before then, as a foot in the door for a full blown airport.

Staff claims that three all-cargo operators have expressed some interest in El Toro operations:- Airborne Express, FedEx, and UPS.  The staff report indicates that, “Each air carrier would schedule one early morning arrival.  One carrier proposed that its aircraft would arrive ‘between 0400 and 0430’ while a second carrier submitted a proposed schedule with an arrival of 0448 hours.”  The earliest scheduled departure would be between 6:00 and 6:30 a.m. and the latest proposed departure would be at 11:30 p.m.

The El Toro Reuse Planning Authority blasted the county for breaking faith after having "always promised south county cities that any airport at El Toro would provide the same curfews and restrictions residents surrounding John Wayne."

The sheriff’s department has proposed to move two helicopters, making between 6-7 operations a day from John Wayne, to El Toro.  Staff is also looking at general aviation interim uses.

Before any plan can be implemented, the report notes that the county must complete an environmental study, overcome “a significant hurdle” in negotiations with the Marines, and face “threatened litigation against any initiation of cargo operations” by airport opponents. 

The California High Speed Rail Authority moves forward today on planning a "$20 billion-plus technologically advanced train network linking the state's major cities".  By 2015, "a 200 mile-per-hour railroad could whisk passengers between San Francisco and Los Angeles in less than three hours."  It could be linked to a network of 100 mph trains serving urban and suburban corridors.  The rail authority director said the system could reduce pressure on, "intrastate passenger air routes and crowded international and domestic airports."   The plan could be placed before the state's voters next year. 

Website direct, January 20, 1999
“City Councils reflect split over El Toro”

The divisiveness of the El Toro debate was apparent in the mixed bag of actions taken by the city councils of Fullerton, Yorba Linda, San Juan Capistrano and Tustin last night.

Fullerton’s council split 3-2 in favor of joining the Orange County Regional Airport Authority.  OCRAA is a Newport Beach lead group that favors an airport at El Toro.  Yorba Linda ‘s council  voted 2-2-1, with the abstention counted as a vote in favor of joining OCRAA.

San Juan Capistrano’s council voted unanimously to adopt a resolution opposing interim cargo flights from El Toro.

Tustin’s council held a contentious meeting on the subject of whether to join OCRAA and put off action for two weeks.  Employing a much used scare tactic, proponents of a new airport argued that failure to build El Toro would result in increased air traffic overflying Tustin on approach to John Wayne.  The fact that north takeoffs from El Toro would impact Tustin residents was downplayed. 

LA Times, Orange County Voices, January 17, 1999
"Airport Wars Need Regional Peacemaker"

Irvine City Councilmember and El Toro Airport opponent Larry Agran writes an op-ed piece suggesting that Governor Gray Davis call a "summit of Southland government leaders" to discuss regional airport needs.  The article points out that while cities around El Toro and John Wayne are opposed to airport construction, there are several outlying communities that are seeking airport development.  Unless this conflict can be resolved, he notes that, "we simply can return to our respective communities, ready to fight the airport wars for the next 50 years." 

OC Register, January 14, 1999
“El Toro contract appears far off”
 “The county wants to begin cargo flights when the base closes in July, but the Marines don't expect agreements until next year.”

“A rift between the Marines and the county threatens to sidetrack plans for air-cargo and other interim uses after the El Toro Marine base closes in July.  Orange County had hoped to sign a master lease and cooperative agreement” with the Marines by then. “Both documents are needed for the county to take over the base, but the two sides are at loggerheads over those agreements and the timing of the takeover.”

Interim air cargo flights, sought by airport proponents, will be unable to start. “If the Marines follow their schedule, negotiations and contract approval won't be completed until January 2000, months after the base closes.”

“Gary Simon, who was hired by the county to manage the base property, [said], ‘We are just miles apart fundamentally from what we want to achieve at the base.’... The ill will between the county and Marines was further exacerbated when the county learned ... that the Marines are preparing to hire their own caretaker to oversee the base after it closes. The county just hired CABACO Inc. for $1.83 million to manage the base after closure. If the caretaker hiring report is true, it's a clear indication that the military has no intention of reaching agreement with the county on either a master lease or cooperative agreement before or concurrent with the base's closure.” 

Stirling Company press release, January 13,  Website posted January 14, 1999
Southern California International Airport Authority Contract Approved for 4,000-acre Southern California International Airport at Victorville
Construction Will Commence in Spring to Improve SCIA's Infrastructure

A master development agreement was approved last night for Southern California International Airport (SCIA), formerly George Air Force Base in Victorville.

SCIA is particularly attractive to business because of a number of pro-business development programs which provide a variety of special tax credits to businesses relocating to the former Air Force base.  The project will also benefit from the development of an 1,800-acre Foreign Trade Zone at SCIA.

Well positioned to serve as the second international gateway for Southern California, SCIA will support increasing international air cargo operations. Currently, SCIA has two runways that benefit from 360 days of good flying weather and 2,800 acres of land designated for facilities development. It can serve 747-400 aircraft. At completion, SCIA has a projected capability to handle more than 4 million tons of air cargo per year, a major portion of the Southern California region's forecasted growth.

Editor:-  One more reason to not need an airport at El Toro.

“Orange County supervisors Tuesday approved a $3-million test of commercial jet flights at the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, even though county planners say the test is nonscientific and useless in any official evaluation of noise levels for the planned international airport there. The two-day demonstration... was approved by the usual 3-2 majority.”

“However, they could not complete their test plans, including scheduling the flights, mainly because military officials still must approve the demonstration and could require time-consuming environmental studies first.”  County planners have another 60 days to work on details of the behind schedule, over-budget tests.

“Tuesday's meeting was filled with South County residents opposed to the airport... Seven South County cities officially oppose the airport. The City Council in Irvine, one of the seven, voted Tuesday to spend $2 million of a budget surplus to fight the county's plans and promote an alternative non-aviation business and residential proposal. Supervisors Todd Spitzer and Tom Wilson, who represent South County constituents, voted against the test flights, saying they amount to no more than an expensive public relations gimmick.”

 “Separately, a county official told supervisors Tuesday that county and Navy negotiators are ‘at a logjam’ over fundamental issues in a required master lease agreement that would govern management of the base from the time the Marines leave in July until the county is deeded the property, a process that could take a year or more.” 

OC Register, January 12, 1999
“Measure could aid foes of airport”
“El Toro reuse and other 'noxious' projects would require a countywide two-thirds vote for approval.”

"Noxious county projects such as the proposed El Toro airport could not go forward without a countywide vote under a ballot measure Supervisor Tom Wilson will propose to the Board of Supervisors today. Wilson's proposal would require that any countywide project that could be harmful to health, or destructive to the community, be approved by a two-thirds vote of the electorate....He said the two-thirds vote requirement is a way to ensure countywide consensus on big projects before they go forward.”

“The proposal could open a new front in the airport battle by wooing voters who don't care about El Toro but may want to stop other county projects near their homes.” The measure would categorize the expansion of John Wayne Airport, and the creation of jails and landfills as noxious uses that would require a two-thirds vote.

“El Toro airport opponents will craft a similar measure to qualify for the ballot if the board does not act, Wilson said.”

Lake Forest Councilman Richard Dixon, head of a group of seven south-county cities fighting the El Toro airport, said people should have a say in what happens in their communities. He said the recent south-county incorporation efforts reflect that desire for people to control their own communities. ‘People should decide for themselves what uses they want in their back yards,’ Dixon said.” 

“Bruce Nestande, George Argyros’ lobbyist, is reacting coolly to an effort by Newport Beach officials to organize all of the pro-airport groups into a formal coalition. Nestande said he wishes the effort well but sees no reason to bring his Citizens for Jobs and the Economy into it.  What the airport effort really needs is more action, not more organizations he said.”

In a separate article, the OCBJ reports, “Newport Beach Likely to Drop PR Firm”.  “Newport Beach appears to have cooled on the idea of spending more money on two high-powered PR firms to promote the city’s position in favor of an El Toro commercial airport.”

The cover story in this issue of the OCBJ highlights the individuals on “Opposing Teams - Here’s Your ‘99 El Toro Scorecard.”  Len Kranser makes the list as editor of this, “the most spirited “ of the El Toro related websites.

Lastly, the OCBJ published a letter from Kranser that clarifies South County leadership’s position which is to oppose both the physical  expansion of John Wayne Airport and the construction of El Toro.  “We intend to do unto others as we would have them do unto us.” 

LA Times Editorial, January 10, 1999
"The Politics of the Gavel"
Airport Politics Decides Selection of Board Chairman

The Times scolds the 3-2, pro-airport, majority on the Board for the selection of Chuck Smith as chairman over Tom Wilson.
"If the position a supervisor holds on one public policy issue is to be the standard for selection of future board chairmen, then a new era of mischief has ben inaugurated.... In a sense, a vote against Wilson is a vote against all the supervisors and their ability to act independently and courageously. That judgment came not from the public but from the board majority itself."  Click for the full text.

“Cal State Fullerton wants 242 acres of El Toro Marine Corp Air Station to build a 15,000-student campus.  The Irvine Unified School district [which formally opposes an airport at El Toro] wants to keep its three schools, including Irvine High School, on the property it leases from the base.”

These comments were some of those received during the Notice of Preparation phase of the county’s new environmental impact report for the base.  There is no lack of ideas as to what to do with the property but first it must be determined whether it will be used for an airport.

“Many writers asked county planners to study the non-aviation Millennium Plan proposed by a coalition of South County cities to the same level of detail as that for the international airport.” This position was taken by the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority and the Irvine Company among others.  The county is resisting the proposal.

Editor:- The county will study airport Option B to the same level of detail as the purportedly preferred two-airport Option C.  Many parties familiar with the airport situation regard Option C as a political facade and believe that Option B, which shrinks John Wayne and builds a bigger El Toro, is the true plan.

"The south Orange County cities' war chest to fight an El Toro airport will double next week when Irvine is expected to add $2 million to the cause." In its Tuesday meeting, Irvine city council is expected to approve the funds, from the city's $17 million surplus, "for a four-pronged attack on the county's proposed airport." In addition to either annex or buy the property, the funds will be used to "file lawsuits challenging everything from the county's authority to decide El Toro's reuse to the use of John Wayne Airport funds for El Toro airport planning." In addition, funds will also go "toward a countywide campaign to promote the cities' alternative Millennium Plan"

“Leisure World’s governing board voted Tuesday to endorse cityhood, a question that will be put to voters March 2.”  Proponents say cityhood will mean ... greater clout in the fight to stop a commercial airport proposed for the closing El Toro Marine Corp Air Station.  Arriving jets would fly directly over the community of 18,000 creating unwanted noise pollution.  ‘Stopping the airport at El Toro is the single most important issue facing Leisure World’ said board member Burt Hack.”

The pro-airport majority on the Board of Supervisors elected one of their own, Charles Smith, as Chairman, passing over Tom Wilson for the job.  Wilson will remain as Vice-Chairman.  He wanted the top job,  had seniority, and was next in line but he lost out, 3-2, because of the El Toro controversy. County government and the divided Board of Supervisors no longer seem to be able to accomodate even-handed administration in which both sides have a fair voice. Wilson commented, "It is a sad day for all of Orange County.  The El Toro virus has infected internal board politics."

In a related matter, the LA Times quotes the chief and senior economists of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation as writing that, "The debate over the reuse of the Marine Corps Air Station at El Toro is growing more acrimonious.  This situation could really poison relationships in the county's business community for a long time to come."

“The Irvine Company has stepped into the El Toro battle by asking the Orange County government to conduct a full environmental review of a non-aviation plan being promoted by airport opponents.”

“The Irvine Company... is officially neutral about whether an airport should open.  [However, they] want the county’s upcoming environmental impact report to completely evaluate the Millennium Plan... on an equal level with two airport proposals.”  The important Building Industry Association has made a similar request.

The “support for a more detailed study ‘is huge’ said Meg Waters, a spokeswoman for the anti-airport El Toro Reuse Planning Authority... ‘it would give it more status’ among the courts and the military... and make the non-aviation plan ‘shelf ready’ to replace the airport plan.”

Editor:- Our litmus test, of whether anything is good or bad news for the airport, is staunchly 100% pro-airport Supervisor Chuck Smith’s reaction.  Smith is against the Irvine Co.’s request, so it must be bad  for the airport.  It is this writer’s opinion that the Irvine Company management is  too professional and too smart to fall for the ill-conceived airport plan being pushed by the County - and unwilling to see airplanes taking off over Irvine which is the way prevailing winds will cause the pilots to fly.

Website Direct, January 3, 1999
“Environmental Impacts of America’s Airports” study added to Website’s Issues Section
"Flying Off Course"

The Natural Resources Defense Council, Inc. study is now accessible via this website.  “This online report examines the noise, ground-level air quality, water pollution, global warming, and energy efficiency issues associated with America's airports. The information is excerpted from NRDC's print publication, Flying Off Course, published in October 1996.”

Several recommendations in the study relate to Orange County:

“The FAA should use 55 dB CNEL, rather than 65 dB DNL, as the threshold for planning and funding decisions."

"Single event noise must be taken into account when assessing the impacts of aircraft noise. Single events interrupt school lectures, wake people up, and interfere with speech intelligibility. The single exposure level (SEL), which measures the intensity of sound during a single noise event, should be used in conjunction with CNEL.” 

DECEMBER

Website E-Mail, December 31, 1998
The Year in Review

The following message was sent to everyone on the website's e-mail subscriber list.

Happy New Year from the El Toro Airport website team.

In 1998, the County plans for El Toro began to crumble.  In 1999, the airport project will collapse under the weight of public opinion. Here is a quick review of the past year:

March 1998.  Residents in the Tustin, Orange, Villa Park, Yorba Linda area start to realize that they will be blasted by El Toro jet noise. To try to win voter support in Central County, county planners concoct a scheme to redirect planes straight north - into the mountains - on takeoff.   The FAA has never approved this plan!

April 1998.  The supervisors vote for a grandiose “Gateway to the 21st Century” plan for the airport,  with an International Trade Center, Global Village, etc.  An expensive publicity campaign touts the plan.

July 1998.  The Air Line Pilots Association attacks the straight north, into the mountains, scheme because of safety concerns. “We know of no other airport in the country where such a significant terrain mass is overflown within three (3) miles of takeoff by commercial aircraft.” See http://www.eltoroairport.org/issues/alpa798.html

For photos of the mountains and aircraft crash site at the end of the runways click http://www.eltoroairport.org/issues/north.html

September 1998.  The supervisors abandon their “Gateway to the 21st Century” and scrap $4 million of plans.  Instead, they vote, (3-2),  for a two-airport system consisting of an airport-in-a-park at El Toro connected by a people mover to John Wayne.

October 1998.  The Air Transport Association, representing the airline industry, blasts the two-airport system and the people mover idea as impractical.  See http://www.eltoroairport.org/issues/ata.html

November 1998.  The UCI annual public opinion poll of Orange County residents shows a majority opposed to an airport at El Toro.  In the website news, scroll down to the November 17 story.

December 1998.  The supervisors stall on spending almost $3 million for a flight demo because William Steiner calls it a waste of money.  They hope his successor, Cynthia Coad will go along with the show.  The Board will take up the idea again on January 15.

The new year will bring this all into focus.  To keep informed, check the El Toro Airport Info Site regularly.

If we work at it, El Toro Airport is not a done deal... its a dead duck 

. Click here for previous news stories