The airport threatens high-tech employment

May 27, 1997

Mr. Craig Reem Editor
O.C. Metro

Dear Mr. Reem:

In response to your article “Hi-Tech Giants” in the May 8th issue of O.C. Metro, I would like to point out one oversight. High-tech industries in the Spectrum are doing well and thriving. The obvious reason for growth is based upon the accelerated demand for technology.

In order to support this growth, employers in high-tech companies must continue to attract and recruit the highest possible caliber of information technology professionals to Orange County and the Irvine Spectrum. Knowledge workers, such as software and hardware engineers, require an environment that is conducive to creative thought and problem solving. Planes taking off or landing at 70-90 decibels every 90 seconds is not conducive to knowledge worker productivity. In your article, the implication that the proposed international airport at El Toro would have little impact on the workforce here is simply false.

Air pollution, high noise levels, longer commute times and general airport blight in the Spectrum will degrade the quality of life in the area, making it increasingly difficult to recruit and maintain quality employees who want to live and work in South Orange County. The adverse environmental conditions created by the proposed airport at El Toro will jeopardize the future economic growth of the Irvine Spectrum and surrounding areas.

The average time to fill a hire requisition for information technology professionals in Southern California has increased from 3 months to 6-9 months over the last 2 years. The demand for these skilled professionals now outstrips the available supply by 15-30%. If a large international airport becomes our neighbor, the number of professionals willing to work where there is both a high cost of living and a low quality of life will diminish. As a result, lead times to fill technology based jobs will increase and business opportunities will be missed.

This view is echoed by over 50 companies in the Spectrum including Rainbow Technologies. Western Digital, being the largest high-tech employer in the area, would also be greatly impacted. At a recent press briefing, Mike Cornelius, vice president for law and administration, stated that Western Digital’s planned 32-acre, $75 million campus style facility would be “...completely useless to us if the airport goes in.”

The average salaries for high-tech workers is $44,000-$82,000 per year. By contrast, the variety of jobs the airport would attract are in the $14,000-$45,000 range annually. What kind of jobs would you rather have in our community? Let’s not sacrifice a high-tech based economy and a high quality of life for a transportation, warehousing, cargo-based economy!

Sincerely,

Laurie W. Casey
Vice President of Strategic Marketing
Rainbow Technologies, Inc.
Co-chair, Orange County Business Coalition