A YES vote on Measure W will enhance our quality of life by designating the former El Toro Marine base for use as a nature preserve, a central park and for cultural, sports and educational uses.

We must not allow the Orange County Board of Supervisors to diminish our quality of life by allowing a huge, costly, and unnecessary international airport to be built at El Toro.

It will preserve prime land in the center of Orange County for universities, schools, museums, libraries, sports parks, botanical gardens, and a vast Central Park similar to San Diego’s Balboa Park. A 1,000 acre undeveloped nature preserve running through the park will complete a vast open space network and wildlife habitat stretching from the Pacific Ocean to the Cleveland National Forest.

Please read the Initiative carefully. Section Two, Paragraph D says "No New Taxes. This Initiative does not raise taxes." Interim revenues from the existing 1,000 houses, the three million square feet of commercial buildings, and the agricultural land will more than pay for maintenance and upkeep of the property. Excess interim revenues, private donations, state park bond revenues, and federal park allocations will fund park development on a pay as you go basis. Local taxpayers face absolutely no risk by voting YES on Measure W.

The alternative, an international airport at El Toro would create more traffic, increase air pollution, reduce property values, and drive businesses away from Orange County.

Measure W is about the future, about hope, about our quality of life, and about the legacy we will leave to our children. Vote YES on Measure W.

Signed,
Patricia Bates, Assembly member, 73rd District
Debbie Cook, Mayor, Huntington Beach
Bill Kogerman, OC Taxpayers for Good Government
Chris Norby, Councilman, Fullerton
Allan Songstad, Chairman, El Toro Reuse Planning Authority