LETTERS
Letters to the Editor
The Northern Sphere
“The first essential in determining how to deal with the great industrial corporations is knowledge of the facts,publicity.”
, Theodore Roosevelt.
I would like to clarify points made in your March 25 article, “Former Irvine Mayor Criticizes Successor, Irvine Co. Project.”
The city of Irvine faces a massive development project unprecedented in recent years. We spent millions of dollars fighting a massive airport plan at El Toro to ensure the character of our masterplanned community. The Irvine Company, the city’s largest landowner, refused to support our public efforts.
Now we face the Northern Sphere project, which will create as much traffic as the county airport plan, closer to the homes of our residents. In 2000, the City Council voted to move to annex our Northern Sphere as a protection against the airport proposal to protect the perimeter of the base bordering our community. The City Council did not vote for a masterplan of this site or even a detailed conceptual plan, as implied by an Irvine Co. spokesperson. Only now is the Irvine Co. forwarding a detailed plan to the city commissions and City Council for their review and eventual vote. This plan, as being proposed, creates unacceptable traffic and density levels that should not be supported by our city officials.
In a recent OC Weekly article, reference was made to the fact Mayor Larry Agran had little or no ties to the development community, and, in fact, that is not accurate. Historically, he has supported and voted for large development projects in our community.
In August 2001, the Irvine Co. sent out fundraising letters on its official letterhead inviting small and large business owners from Newport Beach and other communities to support Larry for his past council position and current mayoral position, raising approximately $37,000.
Historically, the company policy under the direction of VP Gary Hunt allowed individuals in the company to donate to local candidates. However the company remained neutral with endorsements and financial support. This policy was fair and reasonable. This most recent fundraising effort by the company was a complete reversal from previous policy and contrary to the statement provided by the Irvine Co. spokesperson in the March 25 article. These VPs did not just pass out a few invitations that had been forwarded to them.
Why are these issues a concern to me and our Irvine residents? As a community we fought for more than 10 years to defeat an environmental disaster that bordered our community. Now under the leadership of our current mayor, we are facing a comparable development nightmare, in which the Irvine Co. will be the financial benefactor. This appears to contradict the past effort by the mayor to protect our environmental quality of life.
In the Business Journal’s article, Mayor Agran’s response to the Irvine Co.’s efforts to raise a hefty $37,000 for his mayoral seat was simply, “hardly noteworthy.”
Hardly noteworthy to who?
Christina Shea
Irvine
El Toro, Cont’d
After nine years of fighting, four public votes, two environmental studies, innumerable court cases, one attention-grabbing flight demonstration, and lengthy public debate, Orange County voters have finally reached what appears to be a conclusion: 68% have rejected the county plan to build an airport, and 58% have accepted the alternative of building a Great Park. Both plans were predicated upon the Navy transferring the land at no expense to the County.
The very next day Rep. Chris Cox and the Navy announced that what they really have in mind is to sell the land to the highest bidder. Why would land developers want to buy potentially polluted land that, even after extensive cleanup, could only be used for parkland?
There’s not a hidden agenda here, is there Chris? “Park” and “park compatible” do not equate to “urban sprawl.”
Michael Smith
Mission Viejo
Orange County’s competitive advantage is our quality of life. Will an international airport help Allergan develop new medicines? Will it put more high technology products through Ingram Micro’s distribution network? Will it increase consumer demand for Broadcom chipsets? Will it help Pacific Life sell more insurance policies? Of course not.
I’m overjoyed that 58% of our citizens were able to see this. March 5, 2002 is the day that Orange County grew up.
Jaysen Gillespie
Irvine
Rick, I always enjoyed your predicament on “Real Orange,” where they matched you against a non-airport opponent and you had to constantly take the barbs, with very little ammo to fight back. I always assumed you were an intelligent man, willing to take one for the team as every debate needs a pro and con.
After those ranting March 11 editorials (you called them “venting”), one would have to conclude that you actually believe that pile of crap that the county and the AWG has been dishing out. Too bad, all one has is his credibility, and yours certainly has taken a direct hit. You could be spending your time making sure that after the Navy hijacks El Toro, there is a park left in the Great Park. But that probably wouldn’t sit too well with Nestande et al., would it, Rick?
Steve Bayless
Laguna Hills
When it became plain that Measure W would pass, I was depressed. “There goes Orange County’s once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to meet its air transportation needs. The people have spoken. We have to move on,” I said to myself. But then, when the analyses of voting results began to appear, I had something of an epiphany: Voters in 21 of Orange County’s 34 cities, representing two-thirds of county population, had turned down Measure W. But many north county residents saw the March 5 election as just another primary and didn’t bother to vote. That made the election another example of the South County tail trying to wag the Orange County dog.
Norm Ewers
Irvine
Laguna Autobahn
I commend you for your Feb. 11 editorial suggestion of using the struggling 73 toll road as an autobahn on certain days of the week.
Here we have a road underused and struggling financially. On the other hand, we have Lamborghinis, Ferraris, Porsches, the new 115 hp Harleys and other vehicles built to go 150 mph-plus, and we have people racing on the streets or pushing the limit on the freeways. Why not use the road for racing?
It is a brilliant solution to a daunting problem and a great example of someone able to think outside the box. I have always admired your editorials and your clarity of thought, and the fact that I’m your golf buddy does not influence my feelings on this matter.
Bill Taylor
Co-owner
Orange County Harley-Davidson
Irvine
