Finding a Suitable Airport Location

I would like to commend the actions taken by Rep. C. Christopher Cox (R-Newport Beach).

With one sentence added to the 1990 defense spending plan he will have assured the residents surrounding the El Toro Marine Corps Air Station that this base will not become the future, much-sought International Airport for Orange County.

It is to be expected that the Airport Site Coalition, a group of predominantly Newport Beach citizens, would oppose the congressman’s actions. The coalition has been attempting to shove an airport into someone else’s back yard to alleviate the air traffic and congestion at John Wayne.

Now with El Toro all but eliminated, the focus will be on San Clemente and the surrounding areas.

No one wants an airport in their neighborhood. No one should be subjected to the possibility of an airport being built in an already populous area. I am in sympathy with the Newport residents. I can appreciate their plight trying to remove or down-scale an airport that preceded their arrival. However, the attempt to shove the airport into someone else’s neighborhood is pitting neighbor against neighbor and should not be tolerated.

The need for an airport is not an Orange County problem. It is a Southern California issue. Let us work together through our elected officials to devise a solution. To quote Cox: “That’s what elected officials are for.” Have our other south county officials forgotten that?

I suggest that Rep. Ron Packard (R-Carlsbad) convene with other surrounding area congressmen to select a site at least 15 to 20 miles from existing neighborhoods. If necessary, build freeway access to said location.

That is the procedure with other airports such as Dulles, Dallas, Kansas City and Phoenix. Let’s begin while we still have available, undeveloped space. Then if people choose to live next door, that’s their option.

DIANE L. HARKEY

Capistrano Beach