Airport Plan Poor

Supporters of an international airport at El Toro reason that it might bring more jobs and help the economy. Newport Beach City Councilman Thomas C. Edwards was “not impressed” with the alternative uses presented by Project ‘99, labeling them as “inconsequential” (May 31).

Surely Edwards realizes that our quality of life has been the most important economic asset. After all, people moved here from big, congested cities with smokestack industries, and were followed by clean industries--high-tech, biotechnology and financial services. We need to preserve and protect our assets of clean and open surroundings, which would be destroyed by a commercial airport.

Further, the top-ranked educational campus is an employer, as is evident from the 10,000 employees of UCI. High-tech industries, another preferred choice, have been a major force in the economy and in jobs creation.

Movie and television studios ranked high too. Does Edwards realize that the entertainment industry has generated 50,000 jobs during the last two years? Does he realize that Steven Spielberg, of DreamWorks, is ready to invest $8 billion in a 1,000 acres at Playa Vista? How will our supervisors react if faced with such an offer, since the residents of Playa Vista do not want this project?

Last, as reported by the Orange County Business Coalition, jobs in high-tech industries, including computer animation, are paid three times as much as jobs associated with an airport.

It is time to take an honest look at all alternatives. Based on the number of jobs and economic assets, the airport should come dead last.

HANNA HILL

Irvine