Project '99 Newsletter, September 1997
A Note from Larry Agran Chair of Project ’99
Dear Neighbor,
Oops! In last month’s newsletter we reported that after hearing from outraged citizens, the Orange County Board of Supervisors “shelved” their $800,000 “public relations” campaign to promote El Toro International Airport.
Well, not quite. At their August 11th meeting, the Supervisors quietly took the PR proposal off the shelf, trimmed costs a tiny bit, and then shamelessly voted 3 to 2 to give hundreds of thousands of dollars to Nelson Communications — the high-priced political consultants who will be carrying out the taxpayer-funded, pro-airport propaganda campaign.
Except for Supervisors Tom Wilson and Todd Spitzer, who both voted “no,” we can’t seem to count on County officials for anything — except to do the wrong thing. For example, at that same August 11th meeting the Board of Supervisors broke a promise — a promise dating back to last December. That’s when the Supervisors gave the go-ahead to El Toro International Airport, but at the same time promised to support development of a non-aviation reuse plan for El Toro. When Project ’99 joined with leaders from Orange County cities in an offer to prepare a non-aviation reuse plan, the County rejected the offer. Bottom line: County officials fear a non-aviation reuse plan, especially if hundreds of citizens across the County are helping to put the plan together.
There’s a lesson here. The Board majority sees citizens as obstacles, as a problem to be overcome with propaganda and political consultants. At Project ’99, we see people as the solution. We see citizens as partners — partners in defeating El Toro International Airport by creating an obviously superior non-aviation reuse plan. Together, we can — and we will — create a real choice for a better future.
Creating a Real Choice for a Better Future
Project ’99 Calls Upon Citizens to Help Create a Non-Aviation Reuse Plan for El Toro
“Imagine the Possibilities!”… “Project ’99 Supporters Say ‘Yes!’ to the Future”… these were the headlines last Spring when Project ’99 surveyed thousands of supporters about a possible non-aviation reuse plan for El Toro. The response was overwhelming. Citizens seemed to understand that Project ’99’s survey could contribute to the ultimate defeat of the County’s proposed El Toro International Airport. How? By setting the stage for a better plan — a practical and exciting plan for the non-aviation reuse of the El Toro Marine Corps Base.
Now it’s time to move beyond surveys. It’s time for Orange County activists to actually create a mixed-use, non-aviation plan — and then make that plan a reality once the Marine Corps leaves El Toro, in 1999.
According to Karen Byers, Project ’99’s Director of Communications, “Right now, we’re organizing a countywide citizens’ task force. We’re enlisting hundreds of Orange County residents to help produce a Project ’99 planning document titled, A Real Choice For A Better Future: A Citizen Task Force Report on the Non-Aviation Reuse of the Marine Corps Base at El Toro.” Byers noted that Project ’99’s staff is already working on a preliminary draft which will soon be available to citizens — by mail and at workshops — for review, comment and criticism. In fact, Project ’99 is scheduling a number of planning workshops this Fall.
Byers said, “We’re inviting citizens to get involved in a hands-on process. Citizen involvement — that’s the only way to develop a legitimate non-aviation reuse plan for El Toro.”
Project ’99’s Spring survey, conducted last April and May, shows that thousands of Orange County citizens are ready to give their time, talent and ideas to plan a non-aviation future for the vast 4700-acre El Toro Marine Corps Base.
El Toro’s non-aviation future could include an array of attractive mixed uses, for example: public and private colleges and specialized learning centers; an arts and entertainment center, possibly built around a major motion picture studio; sports and recreation facilities; high-tech research and development firms which employ tens of thousands of people; a “pedestrian-friendly” downtown next to a 1000-acre Orange County Central Park with a major library, museums, and cultural attractions — all connected by a modern monorail system.
Communications Director Karen Byers noted the growing unity of anti-airport groups. In fact, ETRPA — the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority, comprised of anti-airport South County and Central County cities — has asked Project ’99 to help organize and produce a non-aviation reuse plan for El Toro. “That’s exactly what we intend to do,” said Byers. “Unlike the County’s ridiculous airport proposal, our non-aviation reuse plan will be environmentally and economically sound.”
Byers concluded, “Our plan will be superior in every respect. It will incorporate the ideas and the wisdom of countless citizens. And our non-aviation reuse plan will do just what Project ’99 is pledged to do — provide everyone in Orange County with A Real Choice For A Better Future.”
Project ’99 Compact Disc Now Available to Supporters
It hasn’t yet rocketed to the “Top 40” on the charts, but hundreds of Orange County citizens are already proclaiming Project ’99’s compact disc a loud hit. Entitled Under the Flight Path: A Preview of El Toro International Airport, the 72-minute CD features the actual sounds of commercial airliners taking off and landing at John Wayne Airport and LAX.
Have you ever wondered what it’s like to live and work under the flight path — with 747’s, 757’s, DC9’s and L1011’s overhead? Project ’99’s new CD now lets you answer this question by conducting your own noise test.
The CD was the brainchild of Dave Kirkey, a County resident who co-founded Eagle Canyon Music with his wife, Adrienne. In a recent interview, Kirkey said, “On this CD, you’ll hear it all. For three days in July, I stood near the flight path at LAX and John Wayne Airport. With professional-quality digital technology, I recorded the actual sounds of aircraft taking off and landing, along with background sounds — cars, trucks, and even birds singing.” He explained, “On the CD itself, we spaced the overflights at roughly 2-minute intervals — that’s what the County has proposed for El Toro International Airport.”
Kirkey said, “A lot of us are tired of relying on the County’s so-called ‘experts’. They’re too eager to convince us that we’ll barely notice any noise from El Toro International Airport. Well, now you can use this new CD to conduct your own in-home noise tests.”
Kirkey continued, “Just load the compact disc into your CD player. Listen to Adrienne’s narrative introduction. Turn the volume up or down to suit your own noise-test needs. Go about your normal activities at home and let the CD play to the end. Then, you decide what level of intermittent aircraft noise is acceptable to you.”
An ardent Project ’99 supporter recently thanked us for the CD. “It’s wonderful! Send me more,” she said. Then, she added, jokingly, “I’ll pass them around to neighbors who want to lose a good night’s sleep and to co-workers who want to lose their concentration.” Under the Flight Path is available to Project ’99 supporters upon request.
The Bulletin Board
Litigation Update: On June 30th, the Fourth District Court of Appeal in San Diego upheld Measure A — the 1994 countywide ballot initiative which authorized an international airport at the El Toro Marine Corps Base. Responding to the adverse decision, the Orange County cities which comprise ETRPA (El Toro Reuse Planning Authority) recently filed an appeal with the State Supreme Court. The same ETRPA cities, in a separate suit (Irvine, Lake Forest, et al. vs. County of Orange) challenging the adequacy and legality of the County’s environmental impact report, are preparing for opening arguments when that case goes to trial in early October. Judge Judith McConnell set the case for trial after denying the County’s motion to dismiss the suit.
Project ’99 Briefing: Project ’99’s regular monthly briefing will be held at 10 a.m. on Friday, September 26th, at the University Club on the UCI campus (Berkeley Road at Los Trancos). Throughout the year, Project ’99 has presented a continuing series of briefings designed to educate the press and the community about critical issues concerning the conversion of the El Toro Marine Corps Base. The September 26th briefing, which is open to the public, will focus on the multi-billion-dollar public and private costs of El Toro International Airport. A buffet luncheon ($10 per person) follows the briefing and provides an opportunity for Project ’99 friends and supporters to informally exchange information and perspectives. Please call us at 559-5423 if you are interested in attending the September briefing — space is limited.
The El Toro Website: If you haven’t checked out the El Toro Website recently, just point your internet browser to http://www.eltoroairport.org and you’ll find the latest information concerning the proposed El Toro International Airport. The website, which is managed and edited by Leonard Kranser, includes updates about Project ’99 and other groups dedicated to ensuring that the El Toro Marine Corps Base is converted to constructive non-aviation uses.
Project ’99 is a special project of the Tides Center, a duly registered public charity. Donations to Project ’99/Tides Center are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.
Project ’99 Newsletter Director of Communications, Karen Byers Director of Media, Alan Ellstrand
Project ’99 • PO Box 252 • Irvine CA 92650 • Phone (714) 559-5423