Air travel bill worries Newport officials

June Casagrande

NEWPORT BEACH -- State legislation designed to relieve some of the

burden from Los Angeles International Airport has drawn opposition from

city leaders, who fear it could fuel expansion at John Wayne Airport.

Assembly Bill 2333, introduced by Assemblyman George Nakano

(D-Torrance), would require the Southern California Assn. of Governments

to ensure its transportation plan “provides a fair share distribution of

the burdens and benefits among specified urban counties in Southern

California” for the anticipated increases in air travel demand. This, in

turn, would become a criteria for receiving federal transportation

dollars.

“What we’re trying to do with this legislation is protect Assemblyman

Nakano’s constituents from having to bear entire growth and demand for

the entire area,” said Becki Ames, Nakano’s chief of staff.

Nakano’s district includes El Segundo and other South Bay cities

affected by LAX. The legislation holds out hope that a commercial airport

at the closed El Toro Marine Air base could help bear the burden of

ever-increasing demand for flights.

Though some say the El Toro airport idea died when voters in March

approved Measure W to use the land for open space, some, including Nakano

staffers, say El Toro is far from over.

“There are many, many other steps that have to be taken before El Toro

can be ruled out,” Ames said. “We’re very hopeful that El Toro is still

an option.”

But the city has taken a different approach, backing off its hopes for

El Toro to focus its efforts on renewing the settlement agreement that

limits John Wayne Airport expansion. And Nakano’s legislation, city

officials believe, could pose a threat to keeping JWA growth in check.

“We’re afraid the bill takes the wrong approach to looking at air

service needs in California,” City Manager Homer Bludau said. “It tries

to make it a county-by-county issue, and we feel it’s a regional issue.”

The city’s lobbyist in Sacramento is actively opposing the bill.

Ames said Nakano strongly agrees with the need for a regional

solution, but said the bill’s emphasis on individual counties is designed

to protect some cities and especially some low-income areas of Los

Angeles from the problems that would come if LAX expanded to absorb more

than its fair share of anticipated air traffic from surrounding counties.

The Assembly Appropriations Committee approved the bill Wednesday,

which will next be heard in the Assembly.

* June Casagrande covers Newport Beach. She may be reached at (949)

574-4232 or by e-mail at o7 june.casagrande@latimes.comf7 .