Jenifer Ragland
NEWPORT BEACH -- One of the city's original airport warriors has come up
with his own blueprint for a deal between Newport Beach and South County
that would both kill plans for an airport at El Toro and prevent an
expansion at John Wayne Airport.
Former Mayor Tom Edwards, who helped author the 1985 John Wayne Airport
settlement agreement, said it is time to "call either the bluff or the
commitment" of South County anti-airport leaders.
The move is the first time anyone high in the pro-airport ranks has
expressed interest in South County's frequently offered "olive branch" in
the war over a proposed international airport at the closed El Toro
Marine Corps base.
"As the El Toro scenario becomes more and more difficult, there comes a
point where you say, 'Let's go to Plan B,' " Edwards said.
The heart of his proposal -- if both sides agree to talk -- is the
creation of what's called a mutual defense agreement. It would legally
bind South County cities and those surrounding John Wayne Airport to
spend public money defending any action to create an airport at El Toro
or expand John Wayne beyond the terms of the 1985 settlement agreement.
Bruce Nestande, president of Citizens for Jobs & the Economy, which was
founded by Newport Beach businessman George Argyros, was quick to dismiss
the idea.
"Anyone who believes we are going to keep John Wayne at this size without
a second airport is absolutely naive and wrong," Nestande said. "To
surrender the El Toro option would be catastrophic to Newport Beach in
particular and Orange County in general."
Still, Leonard Kranser, chairman of a coalition of anti-airport groups,
liked Edwards' suggestions.
"It's very encouraging to see a proposal from someone with Tom Edwards'
experience that incorporates no John Wayne expansion and no El Toro
airport in one proposal," he said. "I'm looking forward to pursuing these
ideas and working out technical steps for implementation."
Kranser said he believes the steps Edwards outlined are very possible and
that it would be less expensive than what both sides are spending now to
fight each other.
"It's cheaper to defend peace than to wage war," he said.
Edwards' proposal comes in the jet wash of Measure F, approved in a
landslide victory in the March 7 primary election.
The measure requires a two-thirds majority vote to approve any new
airport, jail or landfill in residential areas. It passed with nearly 70%
of the county vote.
"I am not willing to concede that Measure F, a cleverly drafted
