[CPEO-MEF] L.A. Asks for Airport at El Toro

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California
L.A. TIMES
L.A. Asks for Airport at El Toro
A secret memo urges the U.S. to let the city run a commercial operation
at the former base. Strong Orange County opposition is expected.
By Jennifer Oldham and Jean O. Pasco
June 6, 2003

The city of Los Angeles has secretly asked the federal government to
allow it to run a commercial airport at Orange County's former El Toro
Marine air base — a move almost certain to spark intense opposition.

Even without the specter of Los Angeles' becoming involved, proposals to
open an airport at El Toro have polarized politics in Orange County,
where the ideas have been under debate since 1994.

A year ago, many Orange County voters believed that they had ended the
debate by approving a ballot measure calling for the El Toro property to
be rezoned as parkland. The park initiative was supported by ratios of
more than 3 to 1 in southern Orange County cities nearest the old base.

But the Southland's urgent need for more airport space should override
the wishes of Orange County residents to devote the property to parkland
and other uses, according to the Los Angeles Airport Commission
president, Ted Stein, and Deputy Mayor Troy Edwards.

"It would simply be a modern tragedy if El Toro — an invaluable aviation
asset in Southern California — is converted to parkland, rather than to
a commercial airport that could eventually carry nearly 30 million
passengers annually," the two said in a memo to federal officials.

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