TRP NEWS, February 1998, Edited for web site publication

Lies, Lies and More Lies in Pro-Airport Mailer

The pro-airport forces have rolled out their major propaganda efforts with a series of mailers. So far, there have been three mailers – two versions of the "Orange County Report" and a small mailing to the areas around John Wayne Airport.

The primary piece is the so-called "Orange County Report". Paid for by Citizens for Jobs and the Economy, the George Argyros front group that wrote Measure A, this $100,000 mailer was sent to over one-half of the voters in the County. Two versions were created one for the north and one for the south.

The reaction to this slick piece has been overwhelming and negative. The TRP office was deluged by phone calls from outraged citizens over the material and the L.A. Times recently described the mailer in an article titled, "Truth Crash-Lands in El Toro Airport Fliers."

"What do you expect from George and his cronies except this kind of garbage," said TRP Executive Director Bill Kogerman. "It takes a lot of work just to find anything true in the whole piece."

Some of the more egregious lies and the facts are:

Lie: "We lose 4.9 billion dollars in (air cargo) revenue every year."

Fact: The number is phony. No one knows where it comes from. Airport supporters credit Chapman University President Jim Doti with the estimate, but Mr. Doti denies it came from him.

Lie: "You're getting a 10 billion dollar gift."

Fact: MCAS El Toro is approximately 4700 acres. If the $10 billion figure were anywhere close to being correct, then the base would be worth over $2,000,000 per acre. That's more than most ocean front property.

Lie: "Aircraft will take off and land within the no home zone in order to protect surrounding residents from noise."

Fact: The FAA has approved no flight patterns. The no-home zone will not prevent residents from hearing 24-hour jets on any flight pattern. A recent flight over Leisure World recorded noise in excess of 90 dB over their homes. That's equivalent to the noise level from a pneumatic jackhammer.

Lie: "This is Orange County, not Los Angeles, and we plan things better here."

Fact: This is the home of the largest municipal bankruptcy in US history, the El Toro "Y" and the "Orange Crush." This is Orange County, noted for developer controlled planning by the Board of Supervisors.

"I know that our supporters are upset over these mailings. They need to turn that anger into positive action. Write to the newspapers with your feeling and write to Federal Express to tell them what you think. In addition, our members should know that TRP is planning a formal response to this attempt to fool the public," said Kogerman.

El Toro Airport – Not a "Done Deal"

Many people still believe that the battle over the reuse of MCAS El Toro is a lost cause, that the mega- airport is a done deal. Below is a list of the top ten reasons why this is not the case. The voters will determine the future of El Toro.

10. The airport is being planned by the "experts" who gave us the Orange County bankruptcy.

9. The two U.S. airline pilots' unions have said that they will not support the County's current plan for primary departures.

8. No airline has expressed interest in a second Orange County airport; John Wayne Airport can handle over twice as many passengers.

7. A Superior Court judge ruled that the County environmental study is "unrealistic" and must be redone.

6. The County must complete at least two additional environmental studies and then pass all legal challenges.

5. The true cost of creating an airport at El Toro has not yet been studied.

4. The current Orange County Board of Supervisors supports the airport at El Toro by a thin 3-2 margin.

3. Orange County support for an airport continues to drop – 57% now oppose it.

2. The FAA has not approved of any airport plan for El Toro.

1. TRP and it 20,000-plus members will stop the County plans.

February 28
Laguna Hills No Jets! Fundraiser and Tour

A gala dinner, with optional tour of the El Toro Marine Base is scheduled for Saturday, February 28th. The event will be held at the Laguna Hills Holiday Inn, with dinner scheduled to begin at 7 PM. The bus tour of El Toro will leave the Holiday Inn at 4:45 PM.

The program will be hosted by Jess Marlow and will include presentations by Supervisors Tom Wilson and Todd Spitzer. Tickets are $1000 for a table of eight or $125 each. Call 493-5557 to order tickets.

March 23
General Meeting at Irvine Med Center

The March TRP general membership meeting is scheduled for Monday night, March 23th at the conference room of the Irvine Medical Center. The Medical Center is located at Sand Canyon and Alton Parkway, just off the San Diego Freeway. The meeting will begin at 7 PM.

Seating is limited to 129 members, so call Sergio Prince at 472-5414 and reserve your place for this meeting.

March 14
Coto de Caza Rally for Non-Aviation Uses

An informational meeting and rally on potential El Toro reuse options is scheduled for Saturday, March 14th at the Coto de Caza County Club. The purpose of this fundraising event is to present the latest information on non-aviation planning for El Toro.

The rally will include multiple informational displays detailing the plans by the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority (ETRPA) for viable, sensible, non-aviation reuses for this site. Many elected officials and land use experts will be in attendance to explain the details of these plans.

The rally will be held from 4 to 6 PM. The admission charge is $125 per person and includes appetizers and hors d'oeuvres. All proceeds from this event will go to TRP, Inc. and will be designated for use in education and for legal expenses. Please call John Zarian at 459-5530 for tickets or additional information.

April 20
Aliso Viejo Community Forum on El Toro

A community forum on the reuse options for MCAS El Toro will be held at the Aliso Viejo Elementary School on Monday, April 20. The meeting will include a discussion by real estate and reuse experts on the impact of the various proposed reuses on housing values and the Aliso Viejo community.

The tentative program includes: Supervisor Tom Wilson will discuss the current airport plans; Dr. Eric Walther will discuss the environmental impacts of an airport; Randy Bell will speak about the impact of an airport on property values; and Capistrano Valley School Board Member Kristle Kockendorfer will consider the effect on school children.

Next month's newsletter will have a map showing the location of the Aliso Viejo Elementary School and more details on the program.

June 6
TRP Buffet/Party at El Toro Officer's Club

It's time to renew acquaintances with your fellow TRP members and to learn more about the latest development in the El Toro saga. TRP, Inc. has scheduled an event for Saturday night, June 6th at the MCAS El Toro Officer's Club.

This will be a wonderful opportunity to just have some fun with like-minded people. Mark your calendars; there will be more information on the details of this event in the upcoming newsletters.

Non Aviation
'Urban Village' Proposed for El Toro

The El Toro Reuse Planning Authority (ETRPA), the agency developing the non-aviation reuse of El Toro, has selected a plan. The 'Urban Village Plan' designates approximate one-half of the acreage as open space and urban parkland. The remaining land is used primarily as a research and development center. Additional uses will include museums, university and entertainment centers.

This plan has been developed with the active help of many TRP members and will be detailed in future newsletters.

Legal
County Ordered to Disclose Dealings

On February 6, Superior Court Judge H. Warren Siegel ordered Orange County's airport planners to open their records to the public. This suit, brought by ETRPA, will force the County to disclose the true nature of their planning. These records will be examined to see if the County intends to realign the existing El Toro runways create new take-off and landing patterns. The County position has been to keep the public in the dark about many of the El Toro issues.

Media
TRP Is on the Air

Each Thursday night at 6:30 PM, TRP Executive Director Bill Kogerman joins KUCI (FM 88.9) radio host "RJ" in a lively presentation on the El Toro commercial airport debate. A 45 minute program is planned for April.

Schools
Irvine School District Opposes Airport

On January 20, the Irvine Unified School District's Board of Education unanimously voted to confirm their strong opposition to the location of a commercial and/or cargo airport at El Toro. The Board urged the adoption of reuse options that will not impact the health and learning of students.

The Irvine action joins similar resolution by the school boards in Capistrano Valley and Saddleback Valley.

Internet
eltoroairport.org – Still #1

Whenever there is any discussion of where to find airport information in cyberspace, there is only one answer – http://www.eltoroairport.org. This is, by far, the best of any of the web sites. When Orange County was soliciting bids from companies to do propaganda for the airport, they emphasized their need to "counteract" this site. The irony is that this site presents the facts in an up-to-date and objective manner. The County simply does not understand that their enemy is the facts. Visit this site to learn the latest information and visit the TRP page.

Display
No Jets Window Signs Available

Window signs with the message "No Jets" at El Toro are available from the TRP office for $7 or two for $10. Orders can be mailed to PO Box 943, Lake Forest, CA 92630.

Fed Ex

Last December, the Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to pursue cargo flights out of El Toro in 1998. TRP opposes this "joint use" concept as unsafe, unnecessary and unlawful.

Currently, Federal Express is the only major air cargo carrier supporting flights out of El Toro. Write or call Fed Ex and tell them that as long as they support joint use, you will take the appropriate action to express your outrage.

Local Newspapers

Readers of the local newspaper have noted an onslaught of letters from Newport Beach promoting the airport at El Toro. If these letters all seem similar, there is a good reason – many are written by the same hand. A public relations firm was hired to draft these letters and find citizens to sign them.

TRP does not have to resort to hiring fancy firms. Each of our members should take a few minutes to jot down their thoughts and send them to the papers. The Letters to the Editor is the most read section in any newspaper.

L.A. Times:

O.C. Register

Don't Get Mad, Get Even

Many TRP members have been angered by the blatantly false mailings recently put out by the pro- airport forces. Turn that anger in a positive action by:

WRITE TO TRP

P.O. Box 943, El Toro, CA 92630
(714) 770-4014


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