CLARENCE TURNER -- Community Commentary

As a one-time activist in Orange County’s airport wars I have more

than a passing interest in former Mayor Tom Edwards’ recent proposal

regarding the future of John Wayne Airport.

First, I commend the former mayor for a creative, and I believe

workable solution. If it is tried it will call the “bluff” of those who

proclaim that they want to curtail the growth of John Wayne while at the

same time they profess to want to solve the county’s air transportation

problems. Yes, it is a gutsy call. It is not without risk.

However, I challenge the naysayers to come up with a better

suggestion. And I might add that those who are in apparent opposition to

the former mayor’s proposal are the same people who frittered away the

pro El Toro support and then led us down the road to defeat.

Secondly, Edwards needs to put some meat on the bones of his proposal.

His idea for a joint powers agreement is no doubt a good one. However, in

that agreement should go some very restrictive language regarding land

use around John Wayne, the general plans as they affect John Wayne from

each participant and a realistic commitment to solve the county’s air

transportation needs. The hammer to keep all of the parties honest should

be the continued threat of an airport at El Toro. That may come about if

the courts over turn Measure F, as I hope that they will. Measure F is a

draconian law that will ultimately hurt everyone. To put it another way,

no more Blue Ribbon Committees such as the county created in 1981 as a

sop to Newport Beach. The committee, sponsored by the Board of

Supervisors, went out, spent some taxpayer dollars and wrote a report.

And then the Supervisors shelved their work, never mentioning it again.

Shame on them.

Thirdly, Edwards’ joint powers agreement might cause the county of

Orange to loosen its grip on the El Toro process. The triumph of Measure

F is as much the fault of the county as anyone else. The county seemed to

plan in a vacuum, where suggestions were apparently unsought or ignored

and the decisions of three people were left to carry the day. How about

expanding the membership of the Local Reuse Agency; sharing the revenues

from any use of El Toro with all cities and school districts in the

county; sharing the planning responsibilities and sharing the operation

of the base?

Then maybe, just maybe, the public will be better served.

In the heat of battle, it may be time to listen to the objective

observation of the former mayor.

* CLARENCE J. TURNER is a longtime Newport Beach resident, airport

activist and former mayor.