It appears that the proponents of Proposition A would sacrifice the cornerstone of the southwestern integrated defense training complex, which is MCAS Miramar, so that San Diego can have an LAX-style airport with two runways longer than any of the airports cited in the now infamous airport authority mailer. 
It’s particularly disturbing that the Marines continue to be lambasted for supposedly not discussing a solution with the airport authority. Here are the facts. On Nov. 26, 2002 in a senior Navy Official requested an Ex-officio seat on the board of the regional airport authority to “ensure compatibility between military air operations and civilian aviation activities,” stating “we appreciate the opportunity to contribute to this important regional endeavor.” That request for an Ex-officio seat on the board was ignored by the regional airport authority. The Navy/Marines have been represented on community boards and planning committees for decades, including 20 years on the San Diego Association of Governments Board.
Why was the military kept at arm’s length this time?
It’s not clear what “660 acres” has to do with a well-run airport. LaGuardia has two runways on 680 acres and manages to serve 24 million passengers a year. The aerial photo of Lindbergh Field shows some pretty large expanses available for improvements.
If capacity enhancements at Lindbergh Field were not feasible, then why did the airport authority consultants include so many Lindbergh options in their decision report? Part of the rationale for ignoring Lindbergh was that MCRD was federal property and not available. Yet this rationale doesn’t seem to have been applied to Miramar. Why not?
The federal government is charged with the defense of our country. We Californians elected our federal representatives and senators to be our voices in that endeavor. They understand that Miramar is an essential component of our national defense, and they are all against Proposition A. In fact, they passed a law prohibiting dual use at Miramar!