El Toro Reuse Planning Authority ETRPA
A Joint Powers Authority of the Cities of Irvine, Lake Forest, Mission Viejo, Laguna Hills, Laguna Beach, Laguna Woods, Laguna Niguel, Dana Point, Rancho Santa Margarita and Aliso Viejo. Affiliate Cities: San Clemente and San Juan Capistrano

PRESS RELEASE

Contact: Meg Waters

Waters & Faubel, Inc. Phone 949-768-1600 Cell: 949-584-4977

Latest Poll Shows Opposition To Any El Toro Airport Stronger Than Ever ETRPA Asks Board of Supervisors to Unite Behind Voter-Approved Plan
 
  IRVINE, CA – April 12, 2002 -- Opposition to an airport at El Toro is at an all-time high, with 61 percent of respondents to a countywide poll commissioned by the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority (ETRPA) expressing opposition to aviation use at the former base and 33 percent favoring an airport. Four of the five county supervisorial districts are decidedly anti-airport, with the exception of the First District which is evenly split. The poll comes as the county board of supervisors is about to consider alternatives for implementing Measure W.

According to ETRPA Chairman Allan Songstad, "This debate over the future of El Toro has gone on long enough. We hope the county will support the will of the people as expressed in Measure W."

The ETRPA poll shows that anti-airport sentiment continues to grow. Before the Measure W campaign, a similar poll indicated 57 percent countywide were opposed to the airport plan. "A few die-hard airport supporters are floating alternative airport configurations in an effort to resurrect the airport concept. Our polling shows clearly that the issue is not what kind of airport people want – the people are opposed to any airport use of any kind at the former base," said Songstad.

Among the survey’s surprises were results from the Second Supervisorial District, which includes Newport Beach and Costa Mesa -- 51 percent are opposed to the airport while only 40 percent support it. In Congressional District 46, pro-airport representative Dana Rohrabacher’s constituents are 51 percent anti-airport to 42 percent pro-airport. The poll also looked at opinions of people living inside and outside the John Wayne flight path. In both cases, there is strong sentiment against an airport at El Toro – 55 percent of those living under the JWA flight path oppose El Toro while 63 percent outside the flight path oppose it.

ETRPA plans to provide copies of the entire poll, including cross-tabulations, to every city, federal and state elected official in Orange County. The poll was conducted between April 2 and April 9 by Decision Research, Inc., which has conducted 12 polls in Orange County on the El Toro issue since 1998. In total, 750 Orange County residents were contacted – 150 in each of the five county supervisorial districts. The poll has an error margin of +/- 3.6 percent. The first poll conducted in September 1998 showed 49 percent countywide favored an airport, with 44 percent opposed. Respondents were also asked about alternatives for air travel. Most preferred Long Beach, Ontairo and better utilization of John Wayne airport. The former March Air Force Base is also popular for cargo. Respondents do not view expansion of LAX as a good alternative to meeting Orange County’s future air travel demands, and many viewed a possible airport at Camp Pendleton as a much less effective alternative than other options.

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