El Toro, Cont’d
It is this subcontractor’s opinion that Project Labor Agreements are a direct attack on the economic growth of Orange County’s labor force. Presently we are being faced with these agreements as they relate to the El Toro Airport, the demolition and re-building of schools and 85% of future county public works, all slated to be constructed by unions.
The supervisors are out of touch with the people they represent and made a PLA deal with the union for a political gain that will cost this county for years to come.
Let’s review facts:
n The county staff did little research on this PLA proposal and rushed it to the board.
n The county staff did not reach out to the construction businesses in Orange County.
n The PLA eliminates competitive bidding for county projects.
n 80% of Orange County’s labor force is non-union.
As a non-union subcontractor, I can tell you first hand about the tactics of the union and how they have threatened my clients and harassed my family and employees in an attempt to strong-arm my company. It is obvious that they are attempting to get a foothold in Southern California. If we are to continue to pursue the American dream and free enterprise as it was meant to be pursued, we must stop the PLAs and all they stand for.
Paul C. Bissin
President
Covi Concrete Construction Inc.
Huntington Beach
As a six year member of the Restoration Advisory Board El Toro (base cleanup), I found your April 24 pro-airport spin article (“El Toro Airport a Goner? Bull, Say Airport Diehards”) lacking, but interesting. Members of the RAB are charged with bringing the information back to the community. However, neither the board of supervisors nor the Citizens Advisory Commission have wanted to hear the bad news. It seems now that if pollution can be used to push an airport, suddenly these bureaucrats are environmentalists.
Wayne Lee from the Navy came to CAC and county meetings and claimed that pollution was not a problem, and that the federal government was not only responsible for the clean-up, but would stand by that pledge.
Know two things: the County of Orange should not accept this land until it is clean. And the pollution is drifting toward the Newport Back Bay. Welcome to the dirty little club.
Gail Reavis
Mission Viejo
Like a majority of Orange County voters with an informed opinion on the subject, I am against a commercial airport at El Toro and any expansion or increased flights out of John Wayne. Worsening JWA’s air traffic would negatively impact the airspace over numerous Orange County communities. Fortunately, Measure F provides safeguards against that possibility.
The truth is nobody desires to live under the flight path of a large commercial airport, which is one of the reasons why George Argyros and his super-rich Newport Beach neighbors have invested millions of dollars promoting an El Toro airport. They know very well an El Toro airport would lead to the closure of John Wayne and do not want to lose this “once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
The caps and restrictions on JWA will be lifted in 2005. Unless their motivation for wanting an El Toro Airport is to be rid of John Wayne altogether, those honestly wishing to prevent its possible expansion should accept in good faith South County’s frequently offered “olive branch” and support former Newport Beach Mayor Tom Edwards’ proposal before it is too late.
Too much time and money has been wasted on an unworkable and unwanted airport at El Toro. Only by working together can we preserve our quality of life and protect our communities from becoming “LAX South”!
Sergio Prince
Laguna Hills
