Website Report, January 31, 2002
Key Tustin meeting Monday, February 4

OC Register, January 31, 2002
"El Toro adviser resigns over payment"

Daily Pilot, January 30, 2002
"Pro-airport forces trailing in money battle"

Website Report, January 29, 2002
Congressman Issa on El Toro and John Wayne

January 29, 2002, Website Report - updated
Defective Voters Pamphlets in the mail

January 29, 2002, Long Beach Press Telegram
"JetBlue gets challenger"

Website Direct, January 28, 2002
Voter information

LA Times Commentary, January 27, 2002
"Pollution becomes an El Toro Issue"

Yahoo.com January 25, 2002 - posted January 26
"San Diego airport studies to continue along two tracks"

Daily Pilot, January 26, 2002
"Silva comments worry El Toro supporters"
"Newport-Mesa's supervisor this week said he would support the Great Park initiative if it passes."

Daily Pilot, January 26, 2002
"Airport group wants to keep money"
"Leader of pro-El Toro organization says grant money from Newport Beach, which can't be used during an election, should be
saved for future work."

Website Direct, January 25, 2002
Injunction against pro-airport spending holds up under challenge

LA Times, January 25, 2002 - updated
"O.C. Officials Go to Washington to Push for Airport "

OC Register, January 25, 2002
"Candidate aids anti-airport cause "

Daily Pilot, January 25, 2002
"Councilman: Newport should get unused El Toro money"
"Heffernan says the Airport Working Group should return remaining grant funds that can't be used to fight South County ballot measure."

OC Register, January 24, 2002
"Pro-airport PR campaign halted"

Daily Pilot, January 24, 2002
"Newport gets support for JWA extension plan Cities under the airport's flight path are jumping on board
plan for only small increases in flights."

LA Times, January 24, 2002
"'Anti-Crime' Coad vs. Anti-Airport Norby"

OC Register, Business, January 23, 2002
"John Wayne Airport reports 5.8% drop in traffic last year"

OC Register, January 22, 2002
"El Toro campaign tab will run into millions"
"Though airport foes are ahead $500,000 in fund-raising, each side expects to spend $1.5 million."

Fundraiser in Mission Viejo, January 30th
Money needed for the "Yes on W" campaign

OC Register editorial, January 20, 2002
"The race in the 4th"
"El Toro battle is a minor issue in campaign that pits incumbent Coad against challenger Norby"

Daily Pilot, January 19, 2002
"Defeat of Great Park will have great price tag"
"Pro-El Toro forces plan to raise $2 million in campaign against South County ballot measure."

Website Report, January 17, 2002
Supervisors Smith, Silva and Coad sign controversial political letter

LA Times local news, January 17, 2002
HUNTINGTON BEACH - Briefly in the news

LA Times, January 17, 2002
"Contaminated Soil at El Toro Is Cited in Anti-Park Report"

Website Direct, January 16, 2002
Pro-airport push stalls in Fullerton

LA Times, January 15, 2002
"Poll Finds Terror Attacks Eroded Airport Support"
"In all, 56% support Measure W's call for park zoning, according to a Chapman University survey."

Website Direct, January 14, 2002
Pro-airport Supervisors will push partisan environmental report

Website Direct, January 13, 2002
Park vs. Airport rematch Thursday

Daily Pilot, January 12, 2002
[OCBC] "Poll finds waning support for Great Park"

OC Register, January 12, 2002
"$750,000 raised for park initiative last year"
[Norby is race with Coad]

LA Times, January 12, 2002
"Airlines Want End to Noise Limits "
"Restrictions at John Wayne, including nighttime flight curfews, should end in 2005, trade group says. City, county seek extension to 2015."

LA Times, January 11, 2002
"El Toro Airport Foes Raise $750,200"
" Measure W supporters say funds will be used for media blitz. Opponents say they are just organizing."

Website Direct, January 10, 2002
Fullerton City Council being asked to oppose W on Tuesday

Website Direct, January 10, 2002 - corrected
County PR vendors want to be paid

Daily Pilot, January 10, 2002
"Airlines pose problem to JWA settlement extension"
"Influential group questions legality of such a future agreement and also contends that a noise report is needed."

LA Times, January 10, 2002
"Flight to Vancouver Planned From OC"
" Alaska Airlines will launch the first international nonstop air travel from John Wayne Airport in April."

Daily Pilot, January 9, 2002
"JWA flights continue holding pattern"

Website Direct, January 8, 2002
Coad retains BOS Chair, Wilson is Vice-Chair

LA Times, January 8, 2002
Poll: Voters Against Airport, Unsure of Park

USA Today, website posted January 7, 2002
"Airports struggle to pay bills"
"Drop in plane travel has facilities across the nation cutting costs"

Website Direct, January 7, 2002
Measure W needs grass-roots financial support

LA Times, January 6, 2002
"After 7 Years, El Toro's Future Is Still in Doubt"
"No one can say with certainty what will happen if voters approve a ballot initiative to abandon airport planning and create a large park instead."

LA Times, January 6, 2002
"State Sets Aside $200,000 So Irvine Can Lay Groundwork for 'Great Park'"
"Recreation: The city stands to get the money if March 5 initiative passes."

OC Register, January 5, 2002
"Overturning of Measure F upheld"
"But even airport proponents say the next measure, W, is on stronger ground."

Website Direct, January 4, 2002
Measure F ruling unchanged at Appeals Court

LA Times, January 4, 2002
"Airport Mailer by County Sent After Court Ban"
"Law: Postcards went out a day after a judge blocked official El Toro advocacy on a March initiative. Who knew what, and when, is disputed."

OC Register, January 3, 2002
"El Toro airport mailers still irritating foes"

Website Direct, January 2, 2002
Measure W Voter Pamphlet flap settled

OC Register, January 1, 2002
"Arguments set in airport suit"

Click for earlier news briefs

Anti-airport citizens are urged to attend the Tustin City Council meeting on Monday night, February 4 at 7:00 PM.  The divided city council will vote on whether to support or oppose Measure W.  Tustin previously voted to withdraw from OCRAA but this is a new issue with a vote on the park measure. The pro-airport side is expected to turn out with their bogus "tax" arguments.

Directions, and more information from our Tustin activists, can be found on the message board.

"The co-chairman of [the Restoration Advisory Board], a citizen's panel tracking cleanup of the former El Toro Marine base resigned from the post Wednesday, saying controversy over his decision to accept money from [the Airport Working Group], a pro-airport group was interfering with the panel's business."

"Greg Hurley, an attorney who had served as the board's co-chairman for five years, was heavily criticized by other members of the panel", for taking a partisan position on the base reuse.

"That, said Marcia Rudolph, a member of the citizen's panel, compromised the impartiality that the … RAB, had maintained for years. 'I think he has violated the trust of the RAB by taking funds to take a position on re-use (of the base),' said Rudolph, who is also a city councilwoman in Lake Forest."

Website Editor: Jerry Werner, a Leisure World resident and founding member of the RAB was selected as the new citizen co-chairman. The other board co-chairman is Navy representative Dean Gould. The RAB is intended to monitor base cleanup without taking a position for or against any eventual reuse.

"Airport backers have put their fund-raising effort in gear but still trail supporters of a March anti-El Toro ballot measure by a wide margin."

"With little more than a month left before the March 5 election, the Airport Working Group's political action committee has raised $42,219 this year, county records show. The 'No on W' committee, led by three Orange County supervisors, has not raised $1,000."

"For all of 2001, the working group raised $46,084 and spent $21,990."

"The working group's fund-raising efforts compare with the approximately $280,000 raised by two groups working to pass Measure W."

"The wide fund-raising gap has raised consternation among some airport supporters, including Costa Mesa Councilman Chris Steel. 'The whole airport is in a little bit of trouble politically and certainly financially,' Steel said. 'We don't have the money, and if we can't get the money privately we can't really put on a campaign. And if we had a vote today, the Great Park initiative would pass, probably substantially.'"

Website Editor: The "No" campaign has relied on funding from the City of Newport Beach and the County of Orange.  Both sources of taxpayer money have been cut off by lawsuits filed by ETRPA.

In past elections, the pro-airport side has depended on last minute loans of a million dollars or more from George Argyros, that appear on final financial reports after the election.  Whether Argyros will step in this time is uncertain.  The pro-airport side has been unable to build the broad organization and public support that is the backbone of the anti-El Toro effort.

On January 28, the OC Register printed the following sentence under a listing of Congressman Darrell Issa's goals for 2002. "El Toro: Keep federal officials from making El Toro a commercial airport until and unless John Wayne Airport is closed."

The statement created a stir on the message boards by some who misread it.  Therefore, we wrote to his Chief of Staff and received the following clarification by e-mail:

"Congressman Issa always made it a point to say there was no way John Wayne could continue to operate if El Toro was built -- which, as you know is something the County folks have never wanted to admit to.  But our position on El Toro hasn't changed: no commercial airport."

"The Register article wasn't quoting Congressman Issa, rather they were trying to characterize what he said in a 5 minute conversation about El Toro in a single sentence… Here's what he said:

1.  The FAA report makes it clear you'd have to close John Wayne before you could operate an airport at El Toro in any feasible manner.

2. He will continue to oppose the development of a commercial airport at El Toro."

Website Editor: When Florida Congressman John Mica bottled up the adverse FAA report on El Toro airspace - prior to the Board of Supervisors meeting to approve the EIR - Congressman Darrell Issa persisted and played a major role in breaking it loose. 

Alert website viewers picked up the fact that some of the Voters Pamphlets that are just arriving do not contain the Auditor-Controller's independent analysis of Measure W.  Other, non-Measure W material is also missing.

The missing analysis states that "The scope of the development resulting from the measure, and the resulting development costs to be borne by the County, while unknown, are likely to be minimal and could be absorbed within existing budgetary resources "

The Public Information Officer at the Registrar's Office originally stated that the problem was confined to a small number of Republican voter pamphlets sent to Aliso Viejo and part of Mission Viejo.  By the end of the business day, the geographical area included Rancho Santa Margarita and the estimate was increased to 48,000 pamphlets that will be reprinted and remailed.

Thanks to posts on our message board, we were able to notify our attorneys, who contacted County Counsel.  There appears to be early agreement that the pamphlets will have to be remailed. 

"American Airlines this summer will add twice-daily nonstop flights from Ontario International Airport to New York City, company officials said Monday. The flights will use 145-passenger Boeing 757 jets… JetBlue operates one flight a day from Ontario to New York" and between Long Beach and JFK.

"Competition between American and JetBlue likely will benefit passengers, JetBlue spokeswoman Fiona Morrison said.  'Obviously for Ontario this is great,' she said. 'You get more seats and low fares, which is great. Competition is good.'"

"Airport and city officials have lobbied airlines to add East Coast service to Ontario, saying business people and politicians would benefit from flights to New York, Boston and Washington, D.C."

Website Editor: From John Wayne Airport, Continental offers 2 daily nonstops to New York's Newark airport. American offers one- stop service to Boston and several airlines provide one-stop service to Washington. The service is on 757's and other aircraft types.

The deadline for registering new voters is February 18.  You must reregister if you changed your address within the county.

BE SURE THAT YOUR NEW NEIGHBORS AND OLDER TEENS, WHO HAVE NOT PREVIOUSLY VOTED, ARE REGISTERED.  Registration forms are available at your library, post office and city hall, or the Committee for Safe and Healthy Communities office at 949-768-4583.

If you may be away on March 5, be sure to obtain an ABSENTEE BALLOT from the Registrar of Voters by calling 714-567-7600.

Click here to visit the Registrar's website.

For your local voting location and a list of all of the candidates and issues on your personal ballot, visit the League of Woman Voters Smart Voter site and enter your address.

For information on the Orange County Central Park and Nature Preserve initiative - Yes on W, click here.

The pro-airport Airport Working Group brought pollution in the soil at El Toro into the limelight when they hired an environmental attorney to write a scare report on the subject.  In today's LA Times, several members of the public, including Assemblywoman Pat Bates, the webmaster of the Chronicles board and the editor of this website set the record straight. The only counter arguments come from Newport Beach and Costa Mesa.

The following summary emerges. See the complete commentary, from both sides,  in the website's Early Bird thread.

"Backers of an airport at El Toro--struggling to salvage their unpopular project--have turned pollution into a political issue. Because there are pockets of hazardous material in the soil at El Toro, they propose that we make matters worse and build an airport. If the land is dirty, they would leave it dirty--and add airport pollution on top of what already exists."

"The worst risk that we face at El Toro will come from poisoned air if we allow an airport. Airports sicken people who don't even use them."

"The proposed 840 flights a day will provide an additional 96,000 pounds of air pollutants for us to absorb."

"Does jet exhaust have some cleansing effect that I don't know about?"

"The county's plan will tear up all existing runways and excavate to a depth of 50 feet, making the plan the largest earth-moving project in county history. This enormous excavation will distribute the contaminants to the lungs of Orange County residents."

"The park, on the other hand, can be developed piecemeal, using the more than 4,000 acres of clean land at El Toro and completely avoiding contaminated areas."

"Studies to determine San Diego airport's final destination will continue along two tracks -- relocation or expansion -- for some time to come."

Lindbergh Field Manager Thella Bowens … said moving the airport would take an enormous act of political will. Even if a decision were made tomorrow to relocate Lindbergh, it would take 15 years, assuming there was no opposition nor environmental problems, she said.  So … improvements must continue to be made to an airport that is close to capacity already.

If the airport stays put, "Bowen said San Diego will need a second runway in about a decade."

"Imperial County has a lot of land that could be used for an airport to service the region. That, however, would require a high speed rail system that would go right through the mountains."

"Steven Erie, University of California, San Diego director of Studies & Planning, says … that something has to be done about the thousands, if not millions, of tons of cargo trucked from San Diego to Los Angeles before being sent to the rest of the world. Now that Brown Field has, in Erie's words, 'been taken off the table,' he said it is time to look at alternatives such as March Air Force Base or Imperial County."

"NEWPORT BEACH -- An announcement by Supervisor Jim Silva that he would comply with the central park initiative if it passes caused a stir here Friday, the county's hotbed of support for a proposed El Toro airport.  If Silva, who represents Newport Beach and Costa Mesa, abandons the airport project, it would die on the vine, Councilwoman Norma Glover said."

"'If Silva is not supporting the airport, then that probably means there won't be an El Toro airport,' Glover said. 'If Measure W passes, that's the law of the land.'"

Website Editor: What's so bad about a supervisor upholding the will of the voters and the law of the land?

"Instead of handing back unused grant money given by the city for a public information campaign about airport issues… Bruce Nestande, who heads the group Citizens for Jobs and the Economy, said the money should be used on a public campaign after the March 5 election on the Great Park measure."

"An avid airport booster, Nestande said he is confident the initiative, known as Measure W, will fail at the polls. Under that scenario, Nestande said the money could be used to inform the public about the county's effort to plan an airport for the closed El Toro Marine Corps Air Station."

"'Nestande sounds like the orchestral leader on the Titanic trying to cheer everyone up as the ship goes down,' said Measure W spokesman Len Kranser. 'The central park initiative seems to be ahead about 2 to 1.'"

"Newport Beach Councilman John Heffernan has said the unspent grant money, which could amount to several hundred thousand dollars, should be returned."

AWG Attorney Barbara Lichman failed in an effort to modify the court injunction against county political spending. Last month, Judge Charles R. Hayes had granted an injunction shutting off County and OCRAA spending against Measure W.  It set the stage for this week's end to Newport Beach use of public funds to advocate for El Toro airport.

Lichman, who recently boasted that her side wins all the lawsuits, sought to have the injunction modified.  The court ruled today that "the Statutes relied upon by the Defendants do not authorize the expenditure of public funds to support or oppose a political campaign or initiative."

ETPRA negotiatied a settlement that allows Amies Communications, a county supplier, to be paid for work previously done, while blocking any further work on behalf of the pro-airport campaign.

"Orange County officials used a visit to the nation's capital Thursday to push ahead with plans to build an El Toro airport, even as polls indicate that a majority of county voters have soured on the project."

"'We're excited and encouraged that our federal colleagues are on schedule,' he [Supervisor Charles Smith] said, referring to the expected completion of an environmental review in February by the Navy and the FAA. He said officials encouraged them to begin seeking funding for the airport."

"Anti-airport spokeswoman Meg Waters called it a waste of money to send a contingent to Washington to promote an airport voters will kill in March. 'Talking about the terminal design at El Toro is about as useful as rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic,' said Waters."

"Supervisors Silva and Smith said they still strongly favor an airport at El Toro. But Silva repeated earlier statements that he would probably stop pushing for the airport if Measure W passed."

Associated Press reports that, "Orange County supervisor would drop El Toro airport support if voters approve anti-airport plan. A key backer of building a commercial airport at the shuttered El Toro Marine Corps base said he would abandon his support if Orange County voters approve an anti-airport initiative in March."

"Facing an uncertain future and with no proposed opening date for the facility, airport authority executive director Gary Simon sought to assure reporters at a Washington briefing that the project would move ahead. 'We're sort of in a very important transitional phase,' Simon said."

"Simon said several budget airlines that he would not identify already have asked about operating flights out of El Toro. The airport, envisioned as an international facility, would initially serve only U.S. cities, Simon said."

Supervisor Cynthia Coad earlier stated that if Measure W passes, "she will abide by it".

"A candidate for county assessor said that if an El Toro commercial airport is built, nearby property values could be $3.5 billion less than if the airport isn't built."

"Larry Bales, at a Wednesday night meeting of [ETRPA] an anti-airport coalition, said that property-value decline could cost local governments $35 million annually."

"His findings conflict with a 2000 report by the [pro-airport] Orange County Business Council that determined property values wouldn't be lower if the airport rises up from the closed U.S. Marine Corps base -- and might even increase."

Website Editor: Bales' study is available on this website. His determination, that the airport would cost local property owners $3.5 billion in lost equity, would essentially double the cost of the project. An annual loss of $35 million to the County General Fund, O.C. cities and local school districts would be hard to replace and could require "a reduction in public services".

"NEWPORT BEACH -- As city leaders nail down a deal with South County to ban the use of public dollars in the Measure W battle, one councilman is calling for the return of an unspent pot of grant money.  City Councilman John Heffernan says he'd like to see the city get the unused portion of the council's March 13 grant of $3.67 million to the Airport Working Group for a public-information campaign on airport issues."

"The money could be returned under the provisions of the grant and in line with the agreement approved by the council and South County cities."

"Grant recipients weren't quick to offer promises that they would send back what could amount to several hundred thousand dollars… Bruce Nestande… said he planned to spend the money after the election. 'After Measure W passes, we will return to public outreach,' Nestande said. 'They haven't asked for the money back yet.'"

"[Political consultant Dave] Ellis cited a confidentiality clause of the settlement, saying he could not reveal precisely how much grant money has been spent so far."  See news item below.

"Newport Beach and [the Airport Working Group] a citizens group have agreed to halt a $3.7 million public-relations campaign for an El Toro airport," to settle a lawsuit brought by ETRPA.

"The south-county group is suing the county for a similar $8 million PR campaign for the airport, saying it's an improper public expense."

"Newport Beach had given the citizens group a $3.7 million grant for an 'educational' campaign meant to show county residents why a commercial airport made sense at the closed base."

"David Ellis, a consultant for the Airport Working Group, declined to reveal how much of the $3.7 million was left."

"Public agencies cannot bankroll political campaigns. However, they can spend money on 'educational' materials that provide information about public concerns."  Website editor: The anti-park mailings by the so called El Toro Educational Alliance, comprised of the AWG and the Bruce Nestande led Citizens for Jobs and the Economy are considered by many to be well over the line.

"Also, the south-county coalition has agreed to let Amies Communications receive the $952,000 it is owed by the county for its work so far on the halted 'Just the Facts' publicity campaign. The agreement is temporary, and Amies might have to return the money depending on the outcome of the lawsuit."

From this point the Yes on W and No on W campaigns must be funded entirely by private contributions.

Click to post reactions to this settlement.

"The city councils in Orange and Tustin have thrown their support behind Newport Beach's plan for allowing only slight increases in flights at John Wayne Airport. The two panels approved resolutions Tuesday saying they support a plan that would, if approved by Orange County supervisors, lead to a minor expansion of the airport when its flight restrictions are extended after 2005."

Newport Beach "City leaders have been promoting a plan that would lead to a mild expansion at the airport. It would allow the county to add four more flight gates, 1.4 million additional passengers per year and 12 more of the noisiest flights per day."

"Newport Beach leaders are working to nail down an extension of the restrictions prior to the March 5 vote on the Great Park [Measure W] initiative. County supervisors are expected to pick one of three possible scenarios for extending the restrictions on Feb. 26." 

"In one of the first face-to-face debates of the campaign, Supervisor Cynthia P. Coad described herself Wednesday as a crime-fighter cleaning up drug-infested areas, while her rival, Fullerton Councilman Chris Norby, said Coad's pro-airport stand 'has poisoned politics' and divided the county."

"The incumbent board chairwoman said she has worked to make the county 'family-friendly'."

"Julia Emerson, who attended the Fullerton Republican Women's debate at a Fullerton restaurant, challenged Coad during a question-and-answer period. 'You say you want to make the county 'family-friendly,' Emerson said. 'But how do you justify that by supporting an airport for El Toro that will force families to deal with jet exhaust and noise?'"

"Norby favors Measure W and has received the bulk of his campaign contributions from residents in South County."

"Coad told the women's group that she favors an airport because she doesn't want to "cripple our economic engine." She added that Measure W doesn't guarantee a park, but if it passes, she will abide by it."

"Until now, Coad has said she wanted only to keep the county's 'option open for an airport.'" 

"John Wayne Airport reports 5.8% drop in traffic last year.  The economy, the Sept. 11 attacks and pricey fares took their toll on John Wayne Airport traffic."

"Total annual passenger traffic was 7.3 million last year, down 5.8 percent from 2000. Cargo operations were down 10.9 percent for the year."

"Both sides say they expect to raise and spend about $1.5 million by the time voters cast ballots on Measure W on March 5."

"'In past countywide elections, to make yourself competitive, they've been in the $1 million to $1.5 million range, and that's our goal this time,' said Bruce Nestande, head of Citizens for Jobs and Economy, which is raising money to oppose Measure W."

"In the previous three ballot measures on El Toro, airport backers have leaned heavily - almost exclusively, in some cases - on the checkbook of developer George Argyros. For Measure F, in 2000, Argyros and his company provided $1.2 million. In the previous two El Toro votes, he kicked in about $2 million…  Nestande … said Argyros could still provide financial support - though he declined to say whether he was expected to do so. 'He can contribute,' Nestande said. 'I'm just not going to get into what his participation might be.'"

"For now, in addition to phone calls to supporters, the campaign against the park measure is pointing toward a Feb. 5 fund-raiser … airport backers were urged to buy $500 tickets or $5,000 for tables for 10… The event is sponsored by the three pro-airport county supervisors."

Len Kranser, a spokesman for the Measure W campaign, said 'Fund-raising is a challenge when you have to depend on thousands of small contributors…'It's been a lot of mailings, and a lot of neighbors talking to neighbors. And some small fund-raising events, dinner gatherings and functions at people's homes."

"Both Kranser and Nestande said their campaigns will likely focus on direct mail, and both said fund-raising will make up the bulk of the campaign efforts in the next few weeks."

"'People are now just starting to recognize that the primary is March, not June, so it's going to put a lot of pressure on to raise money rapidly in a short period of time,' Nestande said."

"Kranser said his side will likely save its money until the latter weeks of the campaign. 'Not having the sort of [county and Newport Beach] money that the other side has had available to them, we sort of have to hold fire until we see the whites of their eyeballs,' he said."  Click here to contribute by credit card on-line.

"The debate over the reuse of the closed El Toro Marine Corps Air Station has so distorted the political debate in Orange County that virtually every issue that comes before the county Board of Supervisors is viewed in the light of the airport fracas. Given that backdrop, it's almost hard to fathom why a contested primary for the 4th supervisorial district - a race that could change the balance of power on the airport issue - has not become another airport grudge match."

"The airport grudge match is not developing, for a simple reason. Although the primary battle is in March, the new term of office doesn't begin until January 2003. So, if Norby wins, it will be after the Navy releases its Record of Decision on April 15, 2002, so the airport would move forward unless W passes."

"The big money is funneled into the battle over the park initiative, which both sides contend is the airport race of do-or-die proportions."

Steve Greenhut's full text analysis of the two candidates is in the website's Early Bird section.  He concludes, "At least there's a clear choice for any 4th District voter not obsessed by the airport issue."

"NEWPORT BEACH -- It will take $2 million in private money to defeat Measure W, the South County-backed initiative that would halt plans by county planners to build an airport at the closed El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, airport supporters say."

"And many of those dollars will be raised here, the center of almost a decade of staunch support for a proposed El Toro airport."

"'The troops are fanning out through the community to do what's necessary to defeat [the initiative],' said Dave Ellis, the spokesman of the Airport Working Group."

"Supervisors Cynthia Coad, Chuck Smith and Jim Silva, who represents Newport-Mesa, have all joined the 'No on W' campaign."

"For initiative organizers, the campaign is well underway. Members of the Committee for Safe and Healthy Communities have already raised $750,231. However, much of that sum has already been spent. The committee has $446,296 in cash on hand, but $182,816 in outstanding debts."

"'We're hoping to raise another $1 million for the campaign,' committee spokesman Len Kranser said. 'We're going to raise our money the hard way, with thousands of small checks. I would hope the 'No on W' folks do it the same way, rather than with a small number of high rollers.'"

"The measure would change the zoning at the base to allow the [O.C. Central] park, invalidating [the airport designation of] Measure A. 'This whole thing is about whether we want to scale back or close John Wayne Airport and transfer the jets to an El Toro airport,' Kranser said. 'That's what's it has always been about.'"

A fundraising solicitation, dated January 10, and signed by just three people, Supervisors Charles Smith, Jim Silva and Cynthia Coad is stirring controversy The letter invites recipients to a $500 a head dinner organized to oppose anti-airport Measure W in the March election.

The letter contains several blatant exaggerations of fact and seeks to turn county residents against each other for political purposes.

The main theme of the letter says, "When voters are made aware that a property tax increase would be necessary to finance the Great Park, the initiative fails.  With your financial help we can get this message out."

This misleading statement, by three county supervisors, is directly contradictory to the findings of a $187,000 study commissioned by the county and supervised by the County Auditor-Controller.  That study concludes that passage of Measure W creates "no new or increased taxes."  Furthermore, Supervisors Smith, Silva and Coad must be aware that under California law - specifically Proposition 13 - there can be no property tax increase for the park without specific approval by two-thirds of the voters.  Their effort to deceive the public on this matter is reprehensible.

The three supervisors go on to state that, "If Measure W passes in March… the base could be shut down and padlocked… the weeds will take over.  El Toro will become a blighted 4.700 acres with severe land use problems.  This is exactly what the City of Irvine desires, but is it what the taxpayers want?"

This is an outrageous statement from three politicians responsible to the public for stewardship of our assets, and charged by the federal government with implementing a base reuse plan for El Toro. It suggests that they have already decided to ignore the will of the public if the Central Park initiative passes.

Throughout the letter, there are similar charged words intended to turn North County residents against their neighbors in South County and particularly against the City of Irvine.  Shame on the supposed leaders of the county for stooping to such inflammatory rhetoric!

"A trio of activists [one from the city] took to the Huntington Beach City Council podium to urge residents here to turn back the so-called 'Great Park' initiative that would force county officials to abandon plans to convert the closed El Toro Marine base into an airport."

"But far from getting a sympathetic ear, the pro-airport activists were countered by Mayor Debbie Cook, herself a proponent of Measure W, the Orange County Central Park and Nature Preserve Initiative."

"'El Toro is not the answer to the transportation problems in Orange County,' Cook said. 'Orange County is far behind Northern California in setting aside open space. This is a regional issue that we have to look at into the future and revert back to why we came to Orange County in the first place.'"

"'Our belief is this will be the largest tax increase ever to the residents of Orange County,' [pro-airport political consultant David] Ellis said."

"Under Proposition 13 and Proposition 218 there can be no tax increase unless two-thirds of the county vote in favor of it," said Leonard Kranser, a member of Yes on W and the [communications] director for Safe and Healthy Communities. 

"Developing a park at the El Toro Marine base is too risky because it would expose people to cancer-causing chemicals in the soil, the chairman of an environmental review board told supervisors Wednesday… Supervisors, who have promoted the airport for seven years by a one-vote margin, split 2-2 over whether to accept Hurley's report. Chairwoman Cynthia P. Coad, who backs an airport at the base, left before his presentation."

"Supervisors Todd Spitzer and Tom Wilson, who oppose the airport plan, said they couldn't endorse [Greg] Hurley's conclusions because they focused solely on the park. Any report acknowledged by the county should come from its own consultants and should evaluate both El Toro plans, they said."

"Spitzer said… that Hurley's analysis of El Toro was presented at a luncheon sponsored by two pro-airport groups. Hurley was paid by the groups to analyze the environmental issues surrounding the park plan."

"Given the level of possible contamination, 'Do we know enough to make a decision on whether or not to accept the base' from the Navy? Spitzer asked."

"'I don't think we know enough to start development of the base,' said Hurley… Hurley has argued that the Navy's cleanup plan for El Toro focused on written records of contamination at the base, listed as one of the most polluted sites in the country. Much of the contamination wasn't documented, he said. And without knowing for sure whether the soil was clean, the county likely will encounter problems after the base is handed over, he said."

"Federal law requires the Navy to clean up contamination at the base. But there is no deadline for cleanup, which could take decades."

Website Editor: The focus on pollution in the soil has taken some of the attention away from the more serious air pollution which will occur if El Toro becomes an airport.

A pro-El Toro airport effort to win a "No on Measure W" vote from the Fullerton City Council failed last night. Councilmember Jan Flory's asked that the anti-park resolution be shelved for lack of adequate, unbiased information. Council members Chris Norby and Mike Clesceri seconded her.

OCRAA's General Art Bloomer and Los Angeles resident Mike Stevens were there to promote El Toro airport.

"The September terrorist attacks slightly eroded support for building an airport… according to a Chapman University survey released Monday."

"Of the 1,092 people polled at the end of November, 13% said the attacks had influenced their position on El Toro.  Of those, a strong majority - 70% - said they were "less likely" to back an airport."

In all, 56% said they support Measure W, a ballot measure calling for a large park and other development rather than an airport, said Fred Smoller, Director of the Henley Social Sciences Research Laboratory at Chapman University…. About a quarter [26%] of those surveyed said they would oppose a huge park, but a significant portion - 18% - said they didn't know."

"It's one more nail in the coffin of El Toro' Smoller said. "[The attacks] only made things worse for the people who want an airport.'"

Website Editor: A smaller poll released by the pro-airport OCBC last week produce a different, anti-park spin.  In that poll - conducted by a firm used by Newport Beach political consultant Dave Ellis - respondents were coached before being questioned.

The pollster "reminded" respondents that the airport plan was approved by the Board of Supervisors, included substantial parkland and that the approved airport was only about twice the size of John Wayne. Respondents were also supplied undisclosed arguments against the park initiative. Then respondents were asked for their opinion. This type of slanting, sometimes called "push polling", apparently was used to create encouragement for airport supporters and those opposed to Measure W.

Click here for this and other El Toro polls.

Wednesday, at the Board of Supervisors' meeting, efforts will be made to portray the Central Park initiative as a pollution concern. Supervisor Charles Smith has agendized a partisan study of El Toro soil contamination prepared by Greg Hurley and paid for by the Airport Working Group.

Hurley has depicted the former Marine base as too polluted for a park and problematic for an airport.  Approximately 60 of the base's 4,700 acres are thought to be contaminated. The pro-airport majority prefers to focus on the pollution in the soil, which can be mitigated, rather than the unavoidable extensive air pollution that would be created by an airport.

Supervisors Smith, Silva and Coad recently voted not to have county consultants, Geo Syntec perform an impartial environmental site assessment for a non-aviation reuse.  Wilson and Spitzer favored conducting the independent study.

For those who missed the KOCE debate between four key pro- and anti-airport spokespeople, there will be another chance to see them live, on Thursday.  Charles Smith and Barbara Lichman will debate Larry Agran and Bill Kogerman on January 17 at 7:00 PM at Chapman University.

The Chapman Department of Political Science sponsors the forum. The public is invited.  Click here for details.

"Support for the El Toro airport alternative Great Park has fallen to 49%, according to the [pro-airport] Orange County Business Council.

"The council-funded poll showed that 49% of the 400 or so likely voters surveyed would support Measure W, the March 5 Great Park initiative. The council reported opposition at 40% of those surveyed. The poll was completed by New York-based GSG Consulting on Dec. 17 and 18."

"Respondents were read the language of the initiative that will appear on the ballot."

"When asked if they supported an airport at the closed El Toro Marine Corps Air Station, 41% said they would support that use and 54% said they would not."

"A third question in the poll was asked 'after respondents were exposed to arguments or factors that could influence their thinking.' Forty-one percent said they would support Measure W, while 50% said they would not."

Website Editor: When polls are conducted by advocacy groups - in this case the pro-airport OCBC using a firm that works for airport political consultant David Ellis - results are suspect.  Polls by the opposing sides are rarely leaked without a purpose. Was this poll constructed so as to encourage Newport Beach donors to have hope and contribute to the No on W campaign? Was it leaked to discourage park supporters or sway voters?  If it has any element of truth, it means that Measure W supporters need to raise more money to get their message to the public so as to counter the Airport Working Group's multi-million campaign.

"Backers of Measure W raised $750,231 last year to campaign for the initiative they hope will rezone most of El Toro for a park instead of an airport. 'We will have a multimillion-dollar campaign,' said Bill Kogerman, chairman of the initiative campaign. 'We've got about three-quarters of a million, and another million and a half or so to go.'"

[Time is running short, with absentee ballots starting to be cast in early February.]

"In the Fourth District supervisorial race, incumbent board Chairwoman Cynthia Coad is running against Fullerton Councilman Chris Norby, in an election that could shift the balance of power on El Toro. Coad favors the airport, Norby does not."

"Norby reported raising $121,375 last year, including $78,106 in the past three months. Coad reported raising $636,765 last year, including $55,079 in the past three months. Coad's reports show cash on hand of $58,677, compared with Norby's $56,280." 

"An attorney for the Air Transport Assn. warned county officials this week that airlines believe the constraints on hours of operation, jet noise and the number of passengers each year must end as scheduled Dec. 31, 2005."

"Michael Gatzke, who has represented the county on aviation issues for 30 years, said officials will defend their right to continue the curfew and other airport limits."

"The settlement also limits the airport to 8.4 million passengers a year through 2005. About 7.3 million passengers used the terminal last year. Under several expansion options being considered by city and county officials… the preferred option calls for no more than 10.8 million passengers a year."

"The showdown comes as voters prepare for Measure W, a March ballot initiative that calls for an urban park instead of a commercial airport at the closed El Toro Marine Corps Air Station. Newport Beach officials, pushing to prolong the controls, fear that pressure will grow to expand John Wayne if a new facility isn't built at El Toro." 

"With the primary election less than two months away, supporters of the ballot measure that would kill the county's controversial plan for an El Toro airport have raised more than $750,200 in campaign contributions. Organizers for the Yes on Measure W campaign raised $326,186 in the last three months of 2001, said Bill Kogerman, chairman of Citizens for Safe and Healthy Communities, which gathered signatures to place the anti-airport initiative on the ballot."

"Kogerman said the money will be used for television advertising, posters and a direct-mail campaign."  The Yes on W campaign relies entirely on private contributions from individual residents and local businesses.  The group estimates that it will need about $2 million to take its Stop the Airport message to the entire county.

"Surprisingly, the group leading the campaign in favor of the proposed airport did not raise enough money to trigger campaign filing requirements. Bruce Nestande, who chairs Citizens for Jobs and the Economy, which has promoted an airport at El Toro since 1994, said that anti-Measure W committee was recently formed but has not raised or spent $1,000, the reporting threshold."

"Nestande, a former state legislator and county supervisor [said], 'We have begun our solicitation but we have not raised money during the reporting period for this report.' The group will be called the No On the Great Tax--Measure W, he said."

Website Editor: The main pro-airport, anti-park campaign to date has been funded by money from the City of Newport Beach.  A lawsuit seeks to stop that spending because it violates the law against the use of taxpayer funds to advocate political issues.

The Fullerton City Council has been asked by pro-airport forces to oppose Measure W. A resolution to that effect is agendized for Tuesday, January 15 at a 7:30 PM meeting.  The location is the Main Library, Meeting Room B, 353 W. Commonwealth Avenue, Fullerton.  The public is urged to attend.

Councilman Don Bankhead placed the motion and hopes for support from pro-airport Councilman Richard Jones. Mike Clesceri and Councilman Chris Norby support Measure W.

Council member Jan Flory is the swing vote.  Flory voted in favor of Fullerton withdrawing from the pro-airport OCRAA.

Barbara Lichman appeared in court today supporting Amies Communications.  The public relations firm has a big outstanding bill with the County for work on the "Just the Facts" campaign - and wants to be paid.

Amies was named as a co-defendant in the ETRPA lawsuit against the County but kept working on the project.  They did a substantial amount of work, as requested by county officials, with the expectation of being compensated.

Judge Hayes, who stopped the County's $8 million pro-airport advocacy push, is expected to render a decision on January 25.

What's your opinion on paying the bill?  What is fair?

"An influential airline trade group has criticized plans to extend the airport's flight restrictions, potentially grounding Newport Beach efforts to limit the number of airplanes buzzing through its skies…  The Air Transport Assn. called the county's environmental analysis of proposals to extend the airport's flight restrictions 'fundamentally flawed.'"

"The city of Newport Beach had been working to nail down a deal before voters head to the polls March 5 to vote on Measure W, the Great Park initiative… Newport Beach Councilman Dennis O'Neil said. 'We believe it's important to have this done before the election because then you don't have to deal with the what-ifs that come out of' the initiative."

ATA "questioned whether the 1985 settlement agreement could be legally extended past 2005, when it expires… A 1990 federal law, known as the Airport Noise and Capacity Act, changed the way airports operate by prohibiting local entities from imposing nighttime curfews and other flight restrictions."

"Newport Beach is pitching a plan to moderately expand the airport by adding four flight gates, 12 additional flights in the noisiest category and another 1.4 million annual passengers."

Website Editor: Newport Beach groups opposed Measure F, which would have required two-thirds approval of voters before the airport could be expanded.  That protection was eliminated as a result of Newport litigation.

"Come April, Orange County will have an international airport--barely--when Alaska Airlines debuts a flight from John Wayne Airport to Vancouver, British Columbia. The new nonstop route was announced Wednesday by Seattle-based Alaska, which began service from Orange County in 1987. The new flight begins April 28."

"'It's kind of exciting for us,' airport spokeswoman Ann McCarly said. No decisions have been made about whether to change the airport's signs to include 'international.'

"Canadian travelers are attracted to Orange County by Disneyland and other tourist attractions, and Alaska Airlines is one of the largest sellers of vacation packages to Disneyland."

"'Newport Beach has wanted an international airport for years; now they have it,' said Meg Waters, spokeswoman for the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority, a coalition of South County cities fighting an airport at El Toro. 'We'll throw them a party at the park.'"

"Don't print the invitations just yet, countered David Ellis of the pro-El Toro Airport Working Group of Orange County." 

"Travelers continued returning to John Wayne Airport in December, helping the airport's ongoing recovery from the terrorist attacks on Sept. 11.  Passenger counts were down 5.7% when compared with December 2000, but that drop was far less compared with other recent months."

Website Editor: Based on this December data, the airport finished its 2001 calendar year serving approximately 7.3 million passengers.  That was about the same number as in 1996.

Pro-El Toro officials in the County and Newport Beach tend to overstate the need for airport capacity, and mischaracterize JWA use as getting "larger every year".

Just over a year ago, airport officials were predicting that they would hit the 8 million-passenger mark "early" in 2001. In fact, John Wayne passenger volume for 2001 was lagging behind 2000 through the end of August, before the terrorist attack made matters worse. 

At the Board of Supervisors this morning, Cynthia Coad was reelected as Chair and Tom Wilson was selected to be Vice-Chairman for the upcoming year, replacing Jim Silva.  Charles Smith will continue to drive the El Toro airport project.

"Orange County voters remain opposed to a commercial airport at the closed El Toro Marine base but aren't quite as sure about putting a park on the base, according to a poll by a pro-airport group."

"In the survey commissioned by the Orange County Business Council, about half the voters favored the park measure on the March ballot or were leaning that way. Four in 10 opposed it. The airport plan was opposed by 54% of those responding to the survey, conducted Dec. 17 and 18."

Editor:  We are searching for a source and details on this story.  The OCBC has been sponsoring polls, conducted by Cal State University Fullerton. The last one was in November.  A new CSUF/OCBC survey of public opinion is not scheduled until February.  The OCBC website gives no information about a December poll.

"With airlines losing billions of dollars, the nation's once-prosperous airports are sputtering, too. Airports are reducing staff, increasing fees on passengers and airlines, shelving construction projects and paring maintenance to make sure they can continue to pay their bills, especially the $58 billion in outstanding debt amassed as aviation has boomed."

'''This is probably the first time I know when airports are challenged by losing airline and passenger revenue simultaneously,'' says Stephen Martin of Leigh Fisher Associates, an airport consulting firm."

"Los Angeles International expects $450,000-a-day losses to drain $127 million out of its $300 million unrestricted cash fund by June. Minneapolis/St. Paul International is idling moving walkways at night, closing a few restrooms and taking other steps that it hopes will keep it barely in the black in 2002. Indianapolis International cited the drop in travel in asking the city to waive the reimbursement of $6.2 million that the airport owes the city for police and fire services. San Francisco International expects a $100 million bite out of a $650 million budget."

"Denver International has cut back on window washing. Southwest Florida International in Fort Myers has taken one of its two air-conditioning chillers out of service to save up to $5,800 a month… At Fort Lauderdale/Hollywood International, the airport didn't have holiday decorations this year."

"Standard & Poor's, a major credit rating agency, put all U.S. airports on its CreditWatch with an eye toward possible downgrades after Sept. 11. Fitch, another credit-rating agency, downgraded bonds from BB-plus to B to finance construction of a new midfield terminal at Bush Intercontinental Airport in Houston." 

The anti-airport Measure W campaign relies entirely on private contributions to fund its public information campaign.

On Friday, January 11, there will be a breakfast update and fundraising event at the El Niguel Country Club in Laguna Niguel.  Call 949-583-0224 for details or check the Meetings web page.

On Monday, January 14, several Peppino's restaurants will donate approximately 10 percent of your dining bill to the anti-airport cause. Click here for details.

Call the campaign office if you can organize a fundraising idea. 949-768-4583.  There are only afew weeks left to go.
Individual contributions can be made by credit card through this website.

"Even after spending seven years and $50 million, Orange County isn't close to settling the question of what to do with the closed El Toro Marine base. And a March ballot initiative asking voters to halt planning for an airport and create a large park and nature preserve instead may only muddy the issue further."

"Supervisor Jim Silva, one of the board's pro-airport majority, has warned that he's inclined to walk away from the base if the initiative passes."

"Government officials grapple with the prospect that seven years of airport planning could be overturned."

"'The Navy will quickly adjust if this initiative passes,' said Paul Eckles, executive director of the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority, a coalition of southern Orange County cities opposed to an airport. 'They will try to find the most direct path they can to unload the property with some legitimate entity.'"

"Irvine already has declared its desire to assume responsibility for El Toro. City officials, led by Mayor Larry Agran, drafted a development plan for the park that includes a central lake, museum, sports fields, a university campus and other development."

"Once the Navy declares the property surplus, negotiations begin for conveying the land. Under federal law, the Navy must pay for the cleanup, though the base can be handed over before that happens. Cleanup plans are based on how much money is authorized by Congress; there is no timetable for completion."

"Anti-airport forces acknowledge …hurdles, but say there is a precedent for switching uses midstream from an airport to a park: Homestead Air Force Base in Florida."

"The local redevelopment authority there worked for seven years planning commercial flights at the base, which sits between two national parks, including the Everglades. … President Clinton, as one of his final acts in office, grounded the airport plan and instructed that areas of the base be turned over with restrictions against using it for an airport."

Full article is in the Early Bird section.

"The Great Park initiative won't come before Orange County voters for another two months, but the state has already set aside a $200,000 grant to help Irvine with planning it. The money would come from the state's Natural Resources Infrastructure Fund… The state Department of Parks and Recreation, which would issue the grant."

Irvine Councilman Chris Mears said, "What it suggests is that Sacramento doesn't have to read tea leaves to figure out what's going to happen in March: Measure W will pass overwhelmingly; Irvine will press forward with our annexation of the property; and we will continue to push forward with planning and developing the park."

"Airport supporters, however, say they aren't worried. Bruce Nestande, chairman of the pro-airport Citizens for Jobs and the Economy, said he is disturbed that the state would set aside money for a park that hasn't even been approved yet."

"Irvine officials say the Great Park would be self-sufficient, with funding coming from state and federal grants and an estimated $25 million in annual revenue from existing housing, commercial and agricultural leases."

"Critics of the plan dispute that and point to a study suggesting that the county would probably spend about $1 million annually on property maintenance during the first 18 years."  Editor:  That’s about 33 cents per year for each of the county's approximately 3 million residents.

"A San Diego appeals court ruled Friday that a lower court was right to overturn Measure F, the anti-airport initiative backed by two- thirds of county voters in March 2000.  But backers of Measure F already were talking of an appeal to the California Supreme Court."

"The appeals court agreed Friday that Measure F was too vague to be legal and that it improperly interfered with various governmental functions. The court did not rule on whether the measure violated the single-subject rule."

"Measure W, set for the March 5 ballot, is both simpler and based on stronger legal ground. It would change the zoning of the former El Toro Marine base for use mostly as open space, and California courts long have recognized the right to use initiatives for such changes to general plans."

"Measure W seeks to do what Otero told backers of Measure F they should do if they wanted to block an El Toro airport - repeal Measure A, the 1994 initiative that passed by a 51 percent vote, zoning the base for a civilian airport."

"Even [airport supporter Bruce] Nestande said Measure W is on strong ground, saying, 'at this point in time, we don't feel that there are any legal problems with the initiative.'"

The Court of Appeals declined to overturn Judge S. James Otero's ruling against Measure F.  Measure F passed in March 5, 2000 with 67.3 percent of the vote. Supporters of the measure were understandably disappointed by the legal outcome.

However, the popular initiative helped to galvanize public opinion against the County's airport plan. The election and its result delayed the airport project.  It also changed opinions throughout Orange County, Sacramento and Washington. El Toro airport support dropped to about 35 percent and has remained there. In that sense, Measure F was a great political victory for the public against special interests.

Judge Otero indicated that the way to stop El Toro airport was with an initiative to overturn the 1994 Measure A.  That is exactly what Measure W will do two months from now.

Hundreds of "thousands of postcards paid for by Orange County to promote an airport at El Toro were shipped to the post office one day after a judge ordered officials not to advocate on a crucial March initiative to decide the future of the closed Marine base."

Dan Siwulec, owner of Service Mailers, the company hired to mail the postcards, said his firm trucked the pieces to post offices… on Dec. 21, the day of Hayes' ruling, and on Dec. 22. Siwulec said he was never told about the judge's order.  'Nobody told me about the injunction. Nobody said to hold [the mailers].'"

"The mailer was designed by the Sacramento firm of Townsend, Besler, Usher & Raimundo. Jeff Raimundo said the office was notified by the county by fax Dec. 23 about the injunction."

"County officials said 681,000 postcards were mailed at a cost of $154,000, including production. Except for the postage, none of the vendors has been paid for working on the postcard, said El Toro program manager Gary Simon." Editor:  Supervisors Coad, Smith and Silva authorized $2 million for campaign postage in a separate Board action in June.

"Supervisor Todd Spitzer, an El Toro airport opponent, called the county's failure to stop the Dec. 22 shipment to the post office 'a contempt of court.'  'The county had a responsibility to immediately notify all vendors, especially if they knew they had a postcard scheduled to go in the mail,' he said."

"Spitzer said Simon had assured him Dec. 21 that there were no mailers or newsletters 'in the pipeline.'"

"But other county officials apparently weren't as clear on the mailer's status. Michelle Emard, the county's spokeswoman on El Toro, initially said she had been told that the postcards were pulled before they were mailed… In an e-mail Wednesday to a staff member in Spitzer's office, Christina Hiatt, public affairs manager for the county agency in charge of redeveloping El Toro and an aide to Simon, assured him that the postcards were 'in the pipeline but never [were]released . . . due to the court hearing.'"

"Deputy County Counsel Don Rubin said he was 'told the mailer was sent out before the court's injunction was handed down.'"

"Simon said there was never an attempt to retrieve the postcards."

"Richard Jacobs, attorney for airport opponents, said he may pursue legal action against the county if a review shows that officials violated the court's order."

Click here for the entire article with more details on this mess, which should have been avoided since the judge indicated on December 7 that he was issuing an injunction.  More below.

"Mailers touting an El Toro airport have continued to appear in mailboxes across the county more than a week after a judge ordered the county to halt its $8 million El Toro public-relations campaign… Airport opponents argue the campaign is an illegal use of public money to oppose Measure W on the March 5 ballot, which would stop an airport by rezoning the former El Toro Marine base as a park."

"County officials say that is only by happenstance - the 681,000 fliers that cost $154,000 were handed over to the U.S. Postal Service by Dec. 20, the day before San Diego Superior Court Judge Charles Hayes shut down the county program."

"'This kind of thing clearly was prohibited by Judge Hayes' ruling,' said Richard Jacobs, an attorney for the anti-airport coalition of cities that sued the county."

"Supervisor Todd Spitzer, an airport foe, said he wants answers about 'whether or not trying to squeeze out this last piece of mail is a potential contempt of court.'"

Editor: The Judge announced that he was issuing the preliminary injunction on December 7th. County officials clearly did not heed that notice.

The County went into court today to state that a delay - while the parties litigate over each other's statements for the Voters Pamphlet - would create a large printing expense to the taxpayers. At the judge's suggestion, the Yes on W and No on W sides negotiated a compromise.  Each group's opening arguments would remain as is, but neither side's rebuttal arguments would appear in the voter material.

The judge did not rule on the validity of the charges and counter charges and accepted the settlement.

Airport opponents were disappointed that the pro-airport side got away with some of its outrageous claims about tax increases.  However, with litigation, it frequently makes sense to settle.

"El Toro airport backers headed back to court Monday, this time trying to force airport foes to rewrite part of their ballot argument filed for the anti-airport Measure W slated for the March ballot."

"A hearing was set in Superior Court for Jan. 11 to argue allegations that park backers are wrong on three points: the commitment of the federal government to clean up all toxic materials at El Toro no matter its ultimate use; an assertion that county tax dollars might be needed for the airport; and a charge that property values in some cities would drop if the airport were built."

"Airport opponents said the latest lawsuit has no merit, and said the accuracy of ballot arguments of airport backers opposing Measure W is open to questioning, too."

Editor:  The lawsuit by the Bruce Nestande group deals only with arguments in the Voters Pamphlet and has no ability to interfere with the Park initiative appearing on the March ballot.

The newspaper account gives only the pro-airport side's allegations. Airport opponents object to three areas of the statements against Measure W: 1. The Arguments and statements pertaining to the effects of Measure W on taxes are false and misleading.  2. Numerous statements and phrases within the Ballot Arguments falsely and misleadingly state or imply that Measure W is actually the City of Irvine's plan for a "Great Park.  3. The statement that the "'Great Park' would expose children to toxic waste" is false and misleading.

Click here for previous news stories