El Toro proposal draws opinions from both sides

I agree that officials should move ahead with the online auction.

From what I understand, the Irvine Co. is not bidding on the parcels

of the Great Park. I am certainly looking forward to the Great Park.

I want to be there when they jackhammer that runway out of there. And

they are going to reuse the whole thing to make streets. So, it’s

going to be an amazing thing and a crown jewel for Orange County.

LINDA FEFFER

Costa Mesa

I think there should be an airport at El Toro. I think they should

hold off on the auction. With all the building going on, we need an

airport terminal. I have been against the Great Park since the

conception of the idea from Irvine.

JANET GODDICKSEN

Costa Mesa

I feel that Orange County has outgrown its airport. I support Los

Angeles Mayor James Hahn 100%.

The El Toro property is the only large piece of land left. We need

a larger airport. Los Angeles International Airport also needs

relief. I hope this will do some good.

FRANCES STAWICKI

Costa Mesa

I disagree with the Transportation Department’s and Pentagon’s

premise that the reuse of our military bases should be decided on a

local basis.

Federal taxpayers paid for the base, and federal reuse is the only

proper reuse. Our military families desperately need affordable base

housing. El Toro housing rightly belongs to the military.

I’m wondering where Rep. Chris Cox’s voice was in their plight for

affordable base housing.

ANNE WATT

Newport Beach

I wish to express my strong support for Mayor James Hahn’s

suggestion that an extension of the Los Angeles International Airport

might be extended to Orange County and the El Toro air station. I

feel Hahn’s proposal deserves much more of a review.

JEROME TOBIS

Corona del Mar

I am very irate about the selling of the El Toro Marine Corps Air

Station. We had three elections; in the first two, the people wanted

to have an airport. Then, Irvine lied to people and promised they

would have this big park.

Now, they are going to sell it off, and we’re just going to have

more houses and business there. Irvine will make a lot of money, and

I think that’s terrible.

I’m ashamed of Rep. Chris Cox not standing up for his community as

the bulk of constituents.

I hope there’s something they can do at the last minute.

BARBARA BIRNIE

Balboa Island

I support Mayor James Hahn’s proposal of leasing El Toro for an

international airport operated by Los Angeles.

I’m appalled at our local politicians rejecting such an offer,

when we are in so much need of additional air transportation -- not

only now but in the county’s future.

ED GAZSI

Newport Beach

I’m one of the few who feel we should have an airport on the El

Toro land.

At one time, it was supposed to be general aviation and the

military.

And they have had similar airports across the United States that

were very successful.

There’s no reason why they shouldn’t have an airport there.

If we go ahead with a park, everybody who didn’t vote for it will

be charged taxes for it.

ROBERT ROBINSON

Costa Mesa

Absolutely not.

It should be used for air purposes. You should get rid of that

unsafe, scary John Wayne Airport. It’s a joke. Those airplanes fly

far too low.

The take-offs are dangerous. The landings are dangerous. Its

planes fly over some of the nicest bays and environmental areas on

the western seaboard.

The airport around El Toro is incredibly spacious and open. You

arrive on the Corona del Mar Freeway and see no property is going to

be impacted by this, essentially. And it could be used as an

international airport. The governor should be part of this.

Everybody should be involved in this.

I understand the NIMBY-ism that occurs, but that is really where

we are at.

CHRISTOPHER DUMA

Newport Beach