El Toro, Con’t.
In spite of the plethora of letters pro and con, there probably will be no Great Airport or Great Park at El Toro in our lifetimes. That brings me to a modest proposal for the utilitarian usage of the 4,700 acres when we’re all “six feet under.”
How about a Great Cemetery?
It would meet the needs of everyone in our diverse population,residents of both North and South County, mayors, supervisors, representatives, builders, developers, gardeners, religious leaders, environmentalists, surfers. Who could complain?
If we took the 4,700 acres and divided it into standard plots measuring 3 feet 4 inches by 8 feet (with essentially zero lot lines so the OC occupants feel right at home) this would amount to 7,685,135 gravesites. This would be enough for every current OC resident, and several more generations to boot. Or, we could allow shipments from the rest of the region, thus compensating with cemetery space for our failure to bear our “fair share” of the aviation traffic.
Lets look at the benefits:
n Planes can’t depart from or land on gravestones.
n The noise level would approach zero decibels.
n There would be minimal pollution.
n Trees, flowers, shrubs and green grass would abound.
n We could save on toxic cleanup because who’d be harmed?
n Dead men can’t jump, sue or mail flyers.
We could turn our swords into shovels. Peace and harmony would return to heaven and earth.
Michael Arnold Glueck
Newport Beach
No one can argue the need for a new airport in this region. The argument should focus on placing the facility in the most proactive location. I submit that the current and projected growth patterns of the Inland Empire mandate placement of the airport at March, Norton or George air fields for two significant reasons.
Growth: Not only is the region currently in line for a new congressional district, but its continued population growth could well mean two more members of the House in the next decade.
Terrain: With plenty of open land, access to water and good access from all points, the areas with pre-existing airports are well suited to civilian conversion. Furthermore, there have been fewer environmental remediation concerns with all three bases.
Rather than bicker about yes or no on an OC airport, it is better to look ahead and plan for the future of the entire region’s needs. As San Diego is now shopping for a larger piece of land for its Lindbergh Field, so too, will we be faced with a dilemma of our own making.
RJ Mallory
Yorba Linda
I just love the county’s “Just the Facts” effort! Now it’s emphasizing the “El Toro airport park.”
Acres of green rolling meadows and playfields, replete with children frolicking in joyful abandon,with 747s thundering 100 feet overhead every three to five minutes! A pristine nature preserve,with thousands of sound-deaf wildlife bumbling dazedly around. Thousands of acres of strawberry fields,saut & #233;ed in hot aviation fuel, with a dash of toxic exhaust. The sounds and images of thousands of airport travelers, locked in deadly combat on the roads in all directions. And, lest we forget, the sounds of home prices and school scores plummeting down, down, down.
Michael Smith
Mission Viejo
El Toro airport promoters argue that every county should build its own airport. But what is so special about counties? Why should arbitrary political boundaries on a map determine where airports are located?
Outlying airports, with good ground connections, are the way of the future. The Orange County Central Park and Nature Preserve Initiative, heading for the March 2002 ballot, will convert El Toro into parks, schools, healthcare facilities, cultural and recreational attractions. It also allows space for a transportation center where Orange County residents can leave their cars, check their bags and take express busses to area airports. No one suggests putting a landing strip in New York’s big Central Park and we don’t want one in the heart of Orange County’s Central Park either.
Leonard Kranser
Editor
El Toro Airport Web site
Dana Point
Lawyers, Con’t.
The deaths of 190 motorists have brought the true motives of personal injury lawyers out of the woodwork. As reported in the New York Times, the lawyers admitted they hid information about defective Firestone tires from government investigators because it could have decreased their take from contingency fees.
Shame on those particular lawyers who have manipulated and deceived consumers in order to line their pockets.
Maryann Maloney
Executive Director
Citizens Against Lawsuit Abuse
Santa Ana
OC Pride
The following paragraph is a direct quote from a recent story at CNN.com:
“Ashcroft is in Southern California in the midst of a weeklong West Coast swing The Justice Department gave no advance notice of his decision to visit and speak at the famous glass-covered mega-church in Orange County, which is part of greater Los Angeles.”
I don’t know about you, but I am sick and tired of Orange County being called “part of greater Los Angeles.” I’m not part of LA and don’t want to be! I pay my taxes in Orange County.
Orange County is never listed in city or areas menus by MSN, CNN, Fox or any other major national Web site. It’s about time we get the recognition we deserve.
Barry M. Gold
Irvine (and proud of it!)
