Monday, December 25, 1995
Your Dec. 20 editorial on Moffett Field shows a lot of gall. The MercuryNews' brand of regionalism would subject 170,000 citizens in the most denselypopulated part of the valley (Mountain View and Sunnyvale) to noise thatis currently banned from San Jose International Airport.
In fact, the reason the mentioned carriers are interested in night cargoflights into Moffett is only because of the ban on same at SJC. Why doesthe Mercury News advocate that additional traffic and intolerable noisebe brought into the densely populated urban regions of the county?
Progressive metropolitan areas around the globe are all planning new majorairport facilities for relatively unpopulated areas such as we still havein south county. The valley is badly short of land for affordable housingand the ultimate reconversion of Moffett to help satisfy that basic needwould be of far greater value to the region.
I also resent the ''get used to it'' flavor of your editorial comments.The Navy long ago moved its jet aircraft wings out of Moffett, with veryminor exceptions, because of the increased urban population density by thelate 1950s.
We all know this is but the opening battle in the eventual disposition ofMoffett Field. The Mercury News should be advocating a truly win-win solutionthat benefits the entire region: (1) Outplace much commercial, cargo andcivil aviation to south county (maybe with a light rail extension for passengers);(2) develop eventual conversion plans for Moffett that will help permitour children to afford to live in the area, while maintaining our region'squality of life.
- Jeffrey M. Weiss
Sunnyvale
The voters of Sunnyvale were given an opportunity a few years ago to voteon whether they wanted to see Moffett Field used for commercial aircraftand the answer was an overwhelming No. Along comes the Mercury News andsays it is good for the Santa Clara Valley businesses to allow air freightcompanies to use Moffett Field during the late night and early morning hourswhen it is illegal to use San Jose Airport because of the impact on SanJose residents. Never mind what the effect is on the people of MountainView and Sunnyvale.
There are better ways to use Moffett Field.
- Werner A. Gans
Sunnyvale