SOUNDS FROM THE SOUTH

Thanks for your editorial, “It’s time to regroup on El Toro airport

plan,” March 9.

I agree with your statement: “Newport Beach leaders need to strike a deal

with their South County enemies: If you help us freeze John Wayne in its

current state, we’ll stop our push for an airport at El Toro.”

As a South County resident, I am concerned about the quality of life in

Orange County, not just in South County, but in Newport Beach as well.

I love the beauty of the Newport Beach area. I hope to enjoy bike riding

along the Back Bay, walks along the Balboa Peninsula and weekends at the

beach without the distraction of airplane noise.

I would be very supportive of restrictions on John Wayne Airport. I’m

sure there are much better solutions than expanding an airport in our own

backyard. Let’s work together.

GARY CONKLIN

Irvine

The Pilot is to be congratulated for its truthful and complete reporting

of the passage of Measure F. This victory will assure all of Orange

County the quality of life that we all want for our future -- especially

Newport-Mesa. Measure F will insure that John Wayne Airport.

BENJAMIN BRAUN

Laguna Niguel

Measure F represents popular county policy. The voter turnout was very

large, the result was overwhelming and even cities such as Anaheim, Buena

Park and Orange were more than 60% in favor.

Down here in South Orange County, we still want to work with Newport

Beach residents to prevent more struggles and more wasted public money

over El Toro, and to prevent expansion of John Wayne Airport.

There is no business case for a new airport or an expanded John Wayne. We

are convinced Orange County does not need a new airport or more flights

out of John Wayne. Orange County air passenger growth will not exceed

5-million additional passengers over the next 20 years: Let’s get

together and agree to send them to Ontario International Airport (where

they desperately need the business and the jobs).

Now is the time for a few good people from both sides to sit down and

begin the discussions.

MICHAEL E. SMITH

Mission Viejo

The county needs to wake up to the fact that the people have spoken and

they are unhappy with the county’s planning process for the reuse of El

Toro.

The county’s plan to continue with the planning for an airport in the

face of the incredible election results on Measure F only confirms that

our county is not representing the interests of the majority of the

people in Orange County.

It’s clearly time for the Department of Defense to allow local

communities to be involved in the former El Toro base reuse planning

process.

MIKE BARON

Aliso Viejo