Attacks could drive rethinking of El Toro

NEWPORT BEACH -- The city’s once unshakable support for an airport at

the closed El Toro Marine base could be called into question after last

week’s terrorist attacks in New York City and near Washington, D.C.

Councilman John Heffernan said he plans to bring up the topic at next

Tuesday’s council meeting. At issue, he said, is whether stepped-up

national defense and talk of war should change the city’s position on El

Toro.

“This is no longer business as usual,” Heffernan said. “I don’t know

whether the rules have changed or not. This brings up a lot of

questions.”

A longtime supporter of an airport at the closed Marine base, the city

of Newport Beach has spent millions of dollars to lobby for and raise

public support for the proposed airport. Passenger flights at El Toro

could absorb traffic increases projected for John Wayne Airport, which

otherwise would continue over Santa Ana Heights and parts of the city.

A representative of the Department of Defense said there has been no

indication that the federal government is reconsidering base closures

nationwide.

Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach) concurred.

“It’s unrealistic to think that El Toro might become a military base

again,” Rohrabacher said.

But city officials nonetheless want to consider all the local

repercussions of the East Coast tragedies.

“Should we step back and look at it again in light of this tragedy? I

think that’s a good idea,” Councilman Dennis O’Neil said. “We don’t play

a major role in these things, and it would be a little presumptuous for

us as a city to think we have much influence over federal government

decisions in a time like this, but I think it’s worthwhile to bring up to

discuss what we should do.”

Heffernan said the city, which historically has focused on local

aspects of El Toro, now has a greater obligation.

“We’ve got to do our part too,” he said. “So we should ask: Does this

change things? Are we having a parochial and narrow view just for our own

safety and comfort here? I’m just questioning.”

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