LA Times, May 30, 2001
"El Toro Petition Papers Will Be Reprinted"

OC Register editorial, May 29, 2001
"County Union Pact Costing Taxpayers"

Website Direct, May 28, 2001
Petition Drive in High Gear

LA Times, Newport Beach Metro section, May 27, 2001
"Another plan for El Toro"

Website Direct, May 24, 2001 - May 26 Update
County releases initiative for signature gathering.
Jim Davy issues call for volunteers.

Cable News Network May 25, 2001
FAA expects fewer flight delays this summer

LA Times, May 24, 2001
"Irvine to Open Negotiations Over Terminal Transportation"

JetBlue press release, website posted May 23, 2001
JetBlue Picks Long Beach as Second Focus City!
Twice Daily JFK Service Will Be First Of 27 Departures From New West Coast Base

Website Direct, May 22, 2001
Supervisors move forward with study of extending JWA caps
OC air traffic remains soft. "Crowd Free" slogan dropped.

LA Times, Newport Beach Metro, May 22, 2001
"Federal funds may improve John Wayne runways"
An $8.4-million grant would be used to create safer airport conditions, officials say."

LA Times, May 21, 2001
"Pro-Airport Cities Losing Faith in Plan"
"Fear that the county proposal is unsafe and rumors that the FAA would send flights over North County are taking their toll on 14-city coalition."

OC Register, Getting Away, May 20, 2001
"San Diego's Balboa Park is the City's Playground"

LA Times, May 19, 2001
"Navy Won't Use El Toro to House Camp's Marines"

Website Direct, May 18, 2001
Initiative volunteers and supporters rally

Leisure World News, May 17, web posted May 18, 2001
"Court rules [HOA] contribution to fight airport was legal"

Website Direct, May 17, 2001
ETRPA Sues County, OCRAA for Illegal Fund Diversion

Website Direct, May 17, 2001
Kickoff rally tomorrow, petitions will be available next week

Website Direct, May 16, 2001
Sacramento airport bill delayed

LA Times, May 16, 2001
"Deadline Is Issued on El Toro Ads"

LA Times, Newport Beach Metro, May 15, 2001
Newport Beach "Residents offer mixed reviews to new airport plans"
"Newport Beach council members helped broker deal that will increase departures to extend nighttime curfews."

Website Direct, May 14, 2001
Olympic Gold Medallist Kicks Off Initiative Drive for O.C. Central Park

LA Times editorial, May 13, 2001
"Taking Stock of the County"

OC Register Commentary, May 13, 2001
"Tunnel Vision"

OC Register, May 12, 2001
"Airport fight shifts to Capitol"
"Proposed legislation would add foes to base-reuse authority."

LA Times, May 12, 2001
"Airport Foes File Suit Over Study 'Errors' "

LA Times, May 11, 2001
"Support Grows for Irvine Air Terminal"
"Officials consider a facility that would link the region to airports by bus."

LA Times-OC Register, May 9, 2001
"Airport foes approve two suits"
"El Toro: Coalition takes issue with Newport over new ad campaign and SCAG over its endorsement."

LA Times, May 9, 2001
"A Larger John Wayne to Be Reviewed"
"Aviation: Supervisors vote to reevaluate limits. Newport officials fear the airport could grow unfettered if one isn't built at El Toro."

OC Register, May 8, 2001
"Supervisors may amend union-labor mandate"
"Executive order puts the county at risk of losing substantial federal grants"

OC Register, May 8, 2001
"Airport backers unveil anti-park campaign"
"The ads could herald the beginning of a showdown between El Toro airport advocates and opponents."

OC Register Editorial, May 6, 2001
“NIMBY Park”

LA Times, May 5, 2001
"Plan Would Raise Capacity at John Wayne"
"Supervisors will consider allowing the airport to serve 1.4 million more people a year by 2016."

OC Register, May 4, 2001
Yorba Linda to debate El Toro flight paths.

LA Times, May 4, 2001
"12 House Members Oppose Massive LAX Expansion"
"In a letter to U.S. Transportation Department, lawmakers urge regional
solution to air traffic burden."

Leisure World News, May 3, 2001
"Signature Drive For New Anti-airport Petition To Start"
"Leisure World lawsuit to be dismissed"

LA Times, May 3, 2001
"Many Airport Foes Rate O.C. Board Low"
"Poll shows 40% of opponents have very little or no confidence in county supervisors. Overall, few people hold it in high regard."

OC Register...LA Times, May 3, 2001
"Support Builds For El Toro Park"

LA Times (NPB Metro), May 2, 2001
"County planners release new airport review"

Orange County Register...LA Times, May 2, 2001
"El Toro foes pull plug on own ads"

Website Direct, May 1, 2001
The Orange County Central Park and Nature Preserve Initiative

OC Register...LA Times...Daily Pilot, May 1, 2001
"Park Pitched Over Planes"

Click for earlier news briefs

"A printing error has delayed … the distribution of additional petitions for an initiative to replace airport zoning at the closed El Toro Marine base with parkland and a nature preserve. Supporters had rushed printing the petition so signatures could be collected during the Memorial Day weekend" - and then quickly caught the printer's error, which occurred in the first batch only.

"'We think the signatures we've collected so far are good,' [Committee member Len] Kranser said, 'but given the nature of our opponents and how quickly they'd sue to overturn the will of the people, we'll get a quick reprinting and do it right.'"

Pro-airport consultant David Ellis signaled the likelihood of such a legal attack, saying, "backers must present a correct copy of the petition for voters to sign. 'There's no such thing as a 'printer error' in the elections code,' he said."

The most significant problem was the use of a standard typeface for the words "Ballot title" and "Ballot summary" where state law requires printing in bold.

New petitions will be ready by this weekend.  Contact your Area Captain for signing locations.

"Perhaps nothing can stop the board majority - Supervisors Cynthia Coad, Jim Silva, and Charles Smith – from going their merry way to promote an airport at the closed El Toro Marine Corps Station, but a recent study ought to make them take notice of this important fact:"

"Whatever the pros and cons of the airport, some of the policies they've pursued to promote it are questionable. In particular, their decision to grant labor unions a virtual monopoly over county public works projects as a way to win organized labor's help in securing the airport is not only undermining the rights of the workers and contractors, but may be escalating the costs of constructions throughout the county."

"The supervisors, critics said, would get little help in their increasingly unpopular airport proposal, but county taxpayers would pay higher costs due to decreased bid competition. Initial evidence suggests that critics were right."

"A study by the Associated Builders and Contractors in Anaheim compares a pavement repair and maintenance contract at John Wayne airport in 2000, the first year it was bid under a PLA, with the previous four years. The PLA 'appears to have discouraged competition … Whereas an average of 2.75 bids were submitted for the project from 1996 to 1999, only one bid was submitted in 2000 …The reduction in competition … also appears to have impacted the low bid on this project.' Typically, bids increased 12 percent each year, but went up nearly 30 percent from 1999 to 2000. Net cost to the county taxpayer: $400,000 on just one small project."

Anti-airport and anti-PLA Supervisor Tom Wilson, "argues that it cuts off competition, forces workers to join unions against their will and now could cost the county millions of federal dollars following President Bush's executive order limiting PLA's on federal projects."

Click here for another example of a cost increase attributed to this Smith-Silva-Coad pro-airport deal.

Thanks to careful advanced planning, petition forms were picked up from the printer Saturday and the signature drive took off in high gear that evening.  Sunday night, Jim Davy reported that the teams of volunteers already had hit their planned weekly target.

An Area Captain in Aliso Viejo e-mailed that his group had picked up 300 signatures at Von's but "the Ralph's table smoked us… Next week I want people at both doors."  Volunteers at Albertson's in Laguna Beach collected 600 signatures.

To sign a petition, or better yet, to help collect them, call your nearest Area Captain.

To help cover the cost of petition printing and the campaign, click here.

"Shunned by the political establishment, Newport Beach resident Charles Griffin … who has floated a proposal to realign the base's two runways from a cross to a 'V' shape, announced his intention to circulate a petition to place the concept on the county's March ballot."

"After analyzing the V-Plan, as it has become known, the county shelved it.  Newport Beach officials warned Griffin that his possible initiative could jeopardize the county's airport plan. Other objections have come from a pilots' group, who said the plan's tight departure slope and other elements gives it 'serious and specific limitation.'  Also, the Federal Aviation Administration has refused to consider it."

"South County spokesman Meg Waters summed it up when she said: 'It's got something for everybody to hate.'"

Editor: Some supporters of the OC Central Park and Nature Preserve Initiative are questioning whether the improbable Griffin plan is being advanced merely as 'a spoiler' -  to split off a piece of the huge support for their initiative. Post your comments here.

Petitions for the OC Central Park and Nature Preserve are being distributed today, Saturday.  Volunteers rushed the first batch off the press, from the printer to the Committee for Safe and Healthy Communities campaign office in Laguna Hills, where they can be picked up by Area Captains.

Call the office at 949-768-4583. It's at 25381 Alicia Parkway, Suite O, Laguna Hills 92653.  See map for directions.

The initiative was submitted to the County for a Title and Summary on May 1. The County Counsel's office took the legally allowed 15 days to complete this task.  When minor technical errors were discovered in the lengthy initiative document, leaders for the pro-initiative side elected to repair them.  Len Kranser, for the campaign committee, noted that, "We are dealing with opponents who will not hesitate to sue on a technicality to overturn the will of the people."

Late Thursday, May 24, the County authorized use of the original Title and Summary for the corrected document.

Jim Davy, Petition Drive Chairman for Measure F, and now for this campaign, has issued the following call for volunteers for this holiday weekend:

For the Flo Jo Running event in Laguna Hills, (Sunday and Monday) or working the Irvine Spectrum movie lines for Pearl Harbor, call Sergio Prince at 949-472-5414. Tables will be set up at the Laguna Hills Community Center on Alicia and Paseo de Valencia on Sunday and at the Flo Jo race registration area near Saddleback Hospital on Monday.
For the Pearl Harbor lines in Aliso Viejo, call Doug Brown at 949-360-6083 or John Berry at 949-588-2963.
At Ocean Ranch (Laguna Niguel), call Jack Lynch at 949-248-2662.
For Greenfield in Laguna Niguel, call Mike Whipple at 949-495-2606.
For Sunday petitioning at Costco (Tustin), call Bill Snyder 714-731-3005; for Costco (Irvine), call Lynne Abbott-949-454-9002; for Costco (San Juan), call Pat Fairbanks at 949-661-9999.
For others located in your area, click here and contact the nearest Area Captain.

Tell your friends.

"HERNDON, Virginia (CNN) -- FAA Administrator Jane Garvey says she antipates fewer airline delays this year as the busy summer travel season gets under way."

"'We are cautiously optimistic about this summer season,' she said at a news conference Thursday at the Federal Aviation Administration command center. 'We think we've taken a number of steps to help minimize the disruptions and minimize delays.'"

"Garvey said those steps helped bring 15 percent fewer delays in April, but that weather remains a wild card for the summer months."

"The city of Irvine will begin negotiating with Los Angeles International Airport and Ontario Airport officials to open a satellite airline terminal at the Irvine Transportation Center, a facility the city hopes will eliminate the need for a new airport at the closed El Toro Marine base."

"Area residents would be able to purchase airline tickets and check their luggage at the terminal and then board shuttles that would take them to LAX or Ontario, John Wayne or Long Beach airport. Irvine's transit center already is a major hub for Metrolink and Amtrak passengers."

See similar May 11 story below.

JetBlue Airways today announced that Long Beach Airport near Los Angeles, CA will be the airline's second base of operations, with 27 daily departures to as many as 15 cities to be scheduled over the next two years. JetBlue's first service from Long Beach will be two daily roundtrip flights to JFK commencing on August 29. The airline promises low fares.

Also, JetBlue is considering service to up to 14 additional cities from Long Beach including Boston, MA, Chicago, IL, Denver, CO, Dallas, TX, Fort Lauderdale, FL, Houston, TX, Las Vegas, NV, Oakland, CA, Portland, OR, Phoenix, AZ, Sacramento, CA, Salt Lake City, UT, Seattle, WA, and Washington, DC.

"The announcement that JetBlue will be flying out of the Long Beach Airport is great news for Long Beach," said Beverly O'Neill, Mayor of the City of Long Beach. "JetBlue is going to change the way people in Southern California fly," said Henry Toboada, Long Beach City Manager. "Area residents have always known that the Long Beach Airport was a jewel in the rough."

"I appreciate that JetBlue is sensitive to the surrounding neighborhoods and uses some of the world's quietest, most emission-friendly passenger jets," said Jackie Kell, Councilwoman, Fifth District. 

The Board of Supervisors voted, today, to move forward with an environmental impact study of the proposed increased use of John Wayne Airport. A Newport Beach proposal would increase the airport's passenger caps from 8.4 Million Annual Passengers (MAP) to 9.8 MAP.

Passenger utilization of the airport was 7.8 MAP last year. The 26 percent growth - from the current level to the new proposed 9.8 MAP cap - would exceed the 13-14 percent population growth rate projected for Orange County.

Extending the JWA caps would deprive El Toro proponents of one of their most-used propaganda tactics. The Airport Working Group, and airport advocates in the County, have been attempting to scare up support for El Toro amongst residents near JWA, publishing threats that it could double or triple if El Toro was not built.

Meanwhile, the County posted new JWA traffic figures for 2001. The data shows how claims of surging OC airport demand are unfounded.  For the four months through April, passenger use was down by 4.9 percent. All other statistics for cargo volume and number of flights are also down.

John Wayne advertisements have dropped the "CROWD FREE" slogan after repeated jabs from anti-El Toro forces.

"Airport officials hope to secure approval from the Orange County Board of Supervisors at today's meeting for an $8.4-million package of improvements for the airport's taxiways and roadways."

"The work would cover improvements to two taxiways, the airport's inner perimeter road and upgrades to the security system inside the Thomas F. Riley Terminal."  Editor: The improvements do not include extending the main runway, despite frequent references to its length.

"The taxiway would be shut down while the work is performed. Commercial flights would be sent to the south end of the 5,700-foot commercial runway for takeoff…  Construction would begin in October and wrap up by spring 2002."

"The airport would apply to the Federal Aviation Administration for a $6.77-million grant to pay for the bulk of the cost of the improvements. The supervisors must come up with $1.63 million to leverage the funding."

"In another matter, supervisors will consider launching the environmental review of Newport Beach's proposed extension of the 1985 settlement agreement. The city has proposed increasing the cap on annual passengers in exchange for continuation of a handful of flight restrictions."  Post your reactions to increasing the JWA passenger caps from 8.4 to 9.8 Million Annual Passengers.

"As forces opposed to another airport in Orange County coalesce for a final assault on the March 2002 ballot, [OCRAA]the coalition of North County cities that has stalwartly supported an airport at El Toro is faltering."

"Member cities of the Orange County Regional Airport Authority… found themselves arguing at length this month over as simple a matter as sending a support letter to the Federal Aviation Administration… Many who support an airport plan aren't sold on the county's version of it."

"Several North County officials worry that planes from El Toro could end up flying over their cities when the airport opens. It's a worry based on draft conclusions by the FAA's own airspace consultant that planes would have difficulty taking off due north, as the county intends, because the skies are too saturated with other aircraft."

"Rumors have persisted for months that departing planes could be ordered to make a left turn after takeoff. Such a turn could take planes over Anaheim Hills, Villa Park, Orange and Tustin."

"Orange City Councilman Dan Slater said it is the unanswered questions that are giving pause to officials in cities that have supported the proposed airport. Without those answers, he said, he doesn't have the 'comfort level' to fully back the county's effort."

"The group found itself with another challenge in recent weeks: County auditors have resisted release of funding for a [$5 million] public-education campaign approved in March by county supervisors. After OCRAA's first funding voucher was refused by county Internal Auditor Peter Hughes, El Toro Program Manager Gary Simon stepped in. Simon wrote OCRAA Executive Director Art Bloomer on May 4, giving the go-ahead for the first $100,000 of work… but the county must approve all hourly rates, compensation and reimbursements in advance, Simon said."

"Friday, the coalition of South County cities filed a lawsuit against the county, OCRAA and its consultants, contending that the county's transfer of money to OCRAA was an illegal use of the funds… Pro-airport attorneys said the county is spending the money lawfully and called the suit harassment." 

This Sunday, the newspapers carry numerous letters about El Toro, and an excellent opinion piece in the Register Commentary by Larry Agran, "I have great expectations for O.C. 'Central Park'".  (In this website's Early Bird edition.)

However, the story that may say the most about the debate is a travel section piece on Balboa Park. Read it here, and see how a great park grows slowly, over many years, to meet the needs of residents and visitors.

"The Navy has turned down Rep. Darrell E. Issa's (R-Vista) attempts to reopen military housing at the closed El Toro Marine base to help Camp Pendleton Marines and their families who need low-cost housing."

"'These houses simply are too far away from Camp Pendleton for them to be a viable source of military family housing,' said Robert B. Pirie Jr., acting secretary of the Navy in a May 4 letter to Issa."

"The Navy's rejection of the El Toro housing project also is a blow to county Supervisor Tom Wilson and his ongoing efforts to refurbish and use some of the 1,100 military residences for civilians… Wilson had proposed reopening the base's locked and abandoned residences and reopening the commissary if enough people moved to the base."

"According to housing advocates, the base presents golden opportunities for housing in a county in which two-bedroom apartments rent for about $1,200 and the vacancy rate is lower than 2%."

A large crowd of volunteers and supporters of the OC Central Park and Nature Preserve Initiative held a kickoff rally today at Flo Joyner Park in Mission Viejo.  Proponents of the initiative who were there, amidst the signs, flags and banners, were Assemblyman Bill Campbell (R-Villa Park) and Assemblywoman Pat Bates (R-Laguna Niguel).

Olympic gold medal winner Joy Fawcett, there with her two young daughters, said "I drive past San Diego's Balboa Park a couple of times a week and it lifts my heart to see all those families together out there.  This is a one-time opportunity for us to build our park. We're fighting for our kids and grandchildren."

Supervisor Tom Wilson said, "The judge says 'overturn Measure A' and we will do just that.  We know what's compatible with airports and its not pretty."

Supervisor Todd Spitzer, urged the volunteers, "Measure F was our proving ground. Now, we will deliver the knockout punch.  All the good people of Orange County are relying on us."  Pointing to a statue of Olympian Flo Joiner he urged everyone to fight to win.  "We will leave them in the dust."  The volunteers, who will carry the campaign, cheered.

Signature gathering is planned to begin next week.  Just over 71,000 valid signatures are required by the end of August.  Click to help.

"A recent Orange County Superior Court decision has been hailed as a 'total vindication' of Leisure World's boards in the … lawsuit, which alleged the boards illegally contributed to an anti-airport organization."

"The lawsuit was filed in 1996. Warren Finley, trustee for … resident Sylvia Henderson, [mother-in-law of George Argyros] and … resident Donald Rez sued the boards and the individual directors for approving a contribution of $542,000 to Taxpayers for Responsible Planning (TRP).

"The trustees said the contribution was illegal. The boards contended it was legal, according to their governing documents, to protect the property of its members, and applicable legislation for non-profit mutual benefit organizations."

"The courts found in the boards' favor last year. [Plaintiffs] have been ordered to pay nearly $100,000 toward reimbursement for the community's attorneys' fees and costs."

Editor:  The court ruling makes it clear that homeowner associations legally can contribute to political campaigns to protect their property. An example is the current effort to pass the Orange County Central Park and Nature Preserve initiative.  Take this news to your homeowner association Board of Directors and ask them to join with other associations who have made financial contributions to the El Toro fight. For more information, contact Tristan Krogius.

Tomorrow, the El Toro Reuse Planning Authority (ETRPA) and Paul D. Eckles will file suit in Orange County Superior Court against the Orange County Board of Supervisors and the County of Orange for illegally diverting $8 million of John Wayne Airport funds. Click here for the ETRPA press release.

The County money is being poured into a desperate public relations campaign to counter voter opposition to an airport at El Toro.  Supervisors Smith, Silva and Coad voted to spend the money prior to next March's vote on the Orange County Central Park and Nature Preserve initiative.

"The suit alleges that the Board of Supervisors violated federal aviation law that requires an airport’s general revenue funds to be used only for that airport, airport-related facilities or the presently existing airport system."

"ETRPA and Eckles also charge that the County violated California environmental law by its diversion of funds for El Toro airport purposes. Under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), an agency must wait until an environmental impact report (EIR) is complete before deciding whether to select and approve any project that could have significant environmental effects."

Here is a summary of the lawsuits caused by the County and Newport Beach's allegedly illegal rush to spend a combined total of almost $12 million on PR prior to the upcoming election.

• ETRPA is suing Newport Beach for violation of a state law against spending public money to influence an election after an initiative has been filed.
• The County will be sued on under the same statute.
• Tomorrow's suit is based on federal law against the diversion of airport funds to improper uses, and the violation of state environmental laws.
• Another suit against the Southern California Association of Governments, SCAG, accuses that LA dominated group of environmental shortcuts by embracing flawed OC County studies.

The kickoff rally for the Orange County Park and Nature Preserve Initiative will be tomorrow at Flo Joyner Park. Plan to attend. Actual collection of signatures on petitions will begin next week.

Irvine attorneys made last minute minor technical corrections in the initiative document, which were refiled with the County this morning.  Consequently, the printing of thousands of actual petitions has been delayed by several days.  County Counsel has already prepared an initiative title and summary based on the originally submitted document and any minor changes can be accommodated quickly.

The changes are not substantive, and are only necessary because of the pro-airport side's readiness to seize any technicality to thwart the will of the voters through litigation.

A State Senate bill, attempting to reconfigure the Local Redevelopment Authority which decides whether El Toro becomes an airport, did not have its scheduled committee hearing today.  The author is Sen. Don Perata, D-Alameda, a legislator experienced in base closure projects.  Anti-El Toro forces expect SB 703 to move forward at a later date.

"Public funds cannot be used to advocate for or against a proposed initiative on the fate of the closed El Toro Marine base once the measure is placed on the March 2002 ballot, according to a legal opinion by County Counsel Laurence M. Watson. That is expected to happen this summer, after enough valid voter signatures--at least 71,206--are gathered to qualify the measure."

"Watson said officials can provide 'accurate, fair and impartial' information about a measure's possible effects even after it is placed on the ballot. But they cannot advocate a vote, even indirectly. A previous court case defined advocacy as the 'style, tenor and timing' of a public-paid message."

South Orange County cities opposed to the airport have stopped spending public funds on advertisements because of their independent legal interpretation that the ban went into effect on May 1, when the initiative was filed with the Registrar. "Last week, a nine-city coalition sued Newport Beach, which supports the new airport, over a mailer [sent countywide after May 1] suggesting the costs of a new park would trigger a tax increase." ETRPA attorneys disagree with the County Counsel and the dispute will be settled in court.

" While not thrilled about a proposal to increase the number of flights and passengers at John Wayne Airport in return for a 20-year extension of flight curfews, many of the city's residents seem to be willing to support the deal."

"Under the agreement, which the Orange County Board of Supervisors tentatively approved last week, the annual passenger cap would be raised from 8.4 million to 9.8 million. Instead of 73 daily departures, 85 planes could take off from the airport and four new gates would be added to the 14 that now exist. A 1985 settlement agreement establishing flight and passenger caps, as well as nighttime curfews, is set to expire in 2005."

The proposal is "backed by the City Council and the Airport Working Group"… Because opponents of a second Orange County airport hope to kill the [El Toro] idea with a March ballot initiative, city officials said they hope to complete a settlement agreement extension before the spring."

"James Sachtschale, who lives in The Bluffs, about 1 1/2 miles from the end of the runway, approves of the latest John Wayne plans. 'I don't find that objectionable,' Sachtschale said. 'I would rather put up with this than thinking about what would happen if El Toro was not converted to an airport.'"

Editor:  Newport Beach seems resigned to probable passage of the OC Central Park and Nature Preserve initiative on March 5, 2002 and is preparing a defensive position.  Supervisor Chuck Smith recently said, on KOCE-TV, that passage of the initiative would kill the El Toro airport.

That Smith, Silva and Coad would support such a limited growth, at what will be the County's only commercial airport, underscores their concern for residents near John Wayne. Regrettably, they have shown no similar concern for residents near El Toro. Post your comments.

Joy Fawcett, of the gold medal-winning U.S. Women's Olympic Soccer team, will kick off the petition drive for the Orange County Central Park and Nature Preserve Initiative. Fawcett, Supervisors Tom Wilson and Todd Spitzer, and many other supporters of the initiative and their families will be at Flo Joyner Park in Mission Viejo, on Friday May 18, at 3:00 PM, for the start of signature gathering.

The new El Toro ballot measure is headed for the March 2002 election.  It is intended to end the costly 7-year old war over the reuse of the former Marine base.  The initiative will change the county's General Plan for El Toro, from commercial airport designation to park, recreation, education and nature preserve uses.

It was filed with the County Registrar of Voters on May 1 by the following proponents: Huntington Beach Mayor Pro Tem Debbie Cook, Orange Councilman Michael Alvarez, Laguna Hills Mayor Pro Tem L. Allan Songstad Jr., Assemblywoman Patricia Bates (R-Laguna Niguel) and Assemblyman Bill Campbell (R-Villa Park).

The new Flo Joyner Park is located at 22761 Olympiad Road, between Marguerite
Parkway & Alicia near Lake Mission Viejo (the corner of Olympiad Road and Alicia Parkway).  Enter the parking lot from Olympiad.  Supporters will start gathering at 2:30 PM and the official program will commence at 3:00 PM.

Please come and join in.  Bring any signs you have from the Measure F campaign.

"If you took Orange County's pulse, what would be its general health? According to pollsters at the three leading local universities who routinely try to reconcile reality and perception, the community generally is in good shape. But as can happen with checkups, the surveys found some conditions that need attending to, and symptoms of others that could cause problems."

"In the annual Orange County Executive Survey by UC Irvine's Graduate School of Management, executives surveyed--as they did last year--cited high housing costs as the top barrier to doing business in the county."

"A survey done by Chapman University zeroed in on the most controversial issue facing the county: what to do with the vacant 4,700 acres at the former El Toro Marine Corps Air Station. It found that nearly two-thirds of the county's residents will support a measure on the March 2002 ballot to convert it into a park rather than the plan being pushed by the majority of the Board of Supervisors for a new airport."

Citing the Board's relatively low poll ratings, and their stand on the airport and health care initiatives, the Times concludes, "In the supervisors' case, there's a message there. Residents, as they should, are making it plain that the board's brand of representative government has some room to be more representative."

Transportation expert Robert W. Poole writes that, "Boring straight through the Santa Ana Mountains would serve OC's economic and transportation needs" and helps to alleviate the OC housing shortage. Poole supports the economics of Bill Vardoulis' proposal for an Orange County to Riverside tunnel for trucks, cars, "water, electricity and oil transport".

Poole neglects to mention another benefit of the Vardoulis plan.  It provides OC residents with easy access to an airport at the former March Air Force base, near the Riverside exit from the tunnel. 

"A bill backed by Irvine leaders could scuttle plans to convert El Toro to a commercial airport if it clears the [State] Legislature. The bill attempts to reconfigure the [Local Redevelopment Authority] body charged with deciding whether El Toro becomes an airport - switching the power from airport backers to those opposing the idea."

"SB703, by Sen. Don Perata, D-Alameda, would expand the El Toro base-reuse authority to 17 members - with the newcomers coming from communities overwhelmingly anti-airport."

"Supervisor Charles Smith, who strongly favors an El Toro airport, said that the bill doesn't worry him. The Defense Department, not the state, has the power to choose which local officials decide El Toro's fate… The supervisor figures that the anti-airport camp wants to use the bill as a way to get federal officials to recast who makes up the local reuse authority."

"The bill is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Local Government committee Wednesday."  Full story in the Early Bird Edition.

SCAG, "A regional government association that favors a commercial airport at the closed El Toro Marine base was sued Friday by [ETRPA], a coalition of South County anti-airport cities, for allegedly making 'extraordinary errors' in an environmental impact report."

"The El Toro Reuse Planning Authority filed suit in Superior Court against the Southern California Assn. of Governments, challenging the group's recently adopted 2001 Regional Transportation Plan Update, a long-range document. The authority accuses SCAG of violating the California Environmental Quality Act, and repeatedly misstating and underreporting 'significant adverse environmental impacts' of its proposed projects." Click for ETRPA press statement.

"SCAG's report … would limit Los Angeles International Airport to 78 million passengers annually, John Wayne to 8.9 million and an El Toro airport to 30 million."

"While SCAG has no direct authority over airport projects, it determines how and where federal money is spent for related improvements, such as roads and utilities. If an area is out of sync with SCAG's plans, it could lose federal transportation dollars." 

"Irvine officials are considering building a satellite airline terminal that would shuttle passengers--and their luggage--to John Wayne, Long Beach, Ontario and Los Angeles International airports by bus… Irvine officials see the bus service as a way to streamline traffic to LAX and encourage travelers to use the new Ontario International Airport terminals, eliminating the need for a new El Toro facility.  Residents could buy their airline tickets, check their baggage and with speed be taken to Ontario airport or LAX."

"Two sites have been named as potential locations for Irvine's proposed remote terminal: the Irvine Transit Center on Ada and Barranca Parkway, which serves Amtrak and Metrolink passengers; and the Irvine Business Center on Park Plaza, near Jamboree Road and Main Street… The city estimates it would cost about $2.5 million to expand the Irvine Transit Center with more parking and construct a 3,250-square-foot facility to house airline and bus ticket counters, a car rental office, information and security desks, a waiting room and restrooms."

"A similar facility already exists at the Van Nuys airport in the San Fernando Valley, shuttling 700,000 passengers a year to LAX and back. Parking costs $2 a day at the Van Nuys FlyAway terminal, and the round-trip shuttle to LAX costs $6 for adults. The idea to build a center in Irvine is popular with officials from Los Angeles World Airport, which operates both LAX and Ontario airports." 

"Nine cities fighting Orange County's plans to build an airport at the closed El Toro Marine base voted late Tuesday to sue Newport Beach over a mailer and TV advertisement that suggest the cities' alternative for a large urban park at El Toro would result in a tax increase." Complete story on "Early Bird" news.

The Orange County Register reports, "Leaders of the group said they want to invalidate the environmental studies used by the Southern California Association of Governments for a transportation plan approved last month because El Toro airport backers are using it to argue that El Toro should be built."

"The vote to sue against the regional plan was unanimous and included Lake Forest Councilman Richard Dixon -- even though he voted for it in his role as a member of the regional board."

"The anti-airport group also plans to sue Newport Beach and its council members for approving $3.7 million for pro-airport spending, most of it for public relations."

"They will argue that since a ballot initiative was filed last week that seeks to rezone most of El Toro for a park, state law prohibits use of public money for ads that seek to influence the proposed March 2002 election."

"Orange County supervisors will analyze plans to boost the number of passengers using John Wayne Airport despite criticism that the move could jeopardize the airport's status as one of the few locally restricted airfields in the country."

"The move, approved Tuesday by supervisors on a 3-2 vote, is a preemptive strike: Newport Beach officials fear that pressure could build for John Wayne to grow unfettered after 2005 if a new airport isn't built at the closed El Toro Marine base. Foes of an El Toro Airport argue that John Wayne can handle as many as 14 million passengers a year."

"Supervisors Coad, Chuck Smith and Jim Silva asked for several airport growth options to be brought back May 22 for another vote."

"Supervisor Tom Wilson, who represents the John Wayne Airport area, called the proposal a 'rush to judgment' and voted against it. 'The train seems to be leaving, but I'm going to get off,' he said.'  Click here for complete "Early Bird" news story.

"With more than $10 million in federal grants in jeopardy, Orange County leaders are moving to amend their decision to require that union labor be used on county public- works projects."

"The union deal - known as a project-labor agreement, or PLA - prompted outrage among some private contractors and some county Republicans after it was abruptly enacted in January 2000 by supervisors Cynthia Coad, Charles V. Smith and Jim Silva."

"The vote by the board majority - all Republicans with few union ties - was widely seen as a bid to win labor support for an El Toro airport."  OC Register editorial synopsis from February 2000 on eltoroairport.org

"Supervisor Tom Wilson - who voted against the PLA along with Todd Spitzer - said the board majority had yet to show how the deal benefited taxpayers." Click here for complete story

"El Toro airport backers have unleashed their own ad campaign, treating a competing proposal for a park at the former Marine base with the kind of derision their opponents have given the airport idea for months."

"The kickoff of the pro-airport campaign sets the stage for a showdown over El Toro-related advertising"

"Airport foes said the ads are likely to end up in court."

See the commercial...click here.

Click here for the enire story on "Early Bird" news

Steven Greenhut, a senior editorial writer for the Register lists his objections to the new, Central Park and Nature Preserve Initiative unveiled earlier this week.

Greenhut objections to the initiative are as follows:

“I call it the Great Pork, referring to the gobs of taxpayer funds that would be needed.. or, perhaps, the World’s Largest Tot Lot, given that the park would serve mainly as a play area for nearby Irvine families.”

“Measure F..was a reminder that the airport has little public support.  Even the politically inept pro-airport supervisors know that...everyone knows it’s just a matter of putting the final nail in the coffin and coming up with a viable alternative.”

“Previously, the airport opposition had pitched the Millennium Plan as the best-possible alternative to an airport. It was a wish list... but at least it included significant commercial development, housing to meet the county’s drastic housing shortage and other facilities that came closer to the highest and best use of the land.”

“Airport foes embraced the full NIMBY: not only do they oppose airplanes, they oppose cars and roads, new neighbors, shopping centers and most anything else. That is one unifying theme of south county politics - we’ve got our homes, so let’s shut the doors behind us.”

“The purpose of the base-closure act was to encourage economic-generating facilities, not put a fence around the former base.. or use it as a buffer zone against growth and development.” “Everyone likes open space, but the county is growing and if we take most of 4,700 acres of developable land off the table for new housing, prices here many soon rival those of the Bay Area.”

“The Central Park would be a south county park.. the total amount of parkland in north county, with a combined populations of more than 2 million, is 8,000 acres. The total amount of parks and open space in south county with a population of under 600,000 is 78,000 acres, including the Cleveland national park.”
“Proponents claim that existing base housing can be reused and generate nearly $10 million annually in revenues; agricultural land can be leased for a few million dollars a year; new commercial and industrial development on existing sites of similar use can generate another combined $15 million a year.”

“Airport supporters doubt the actual income will come anywhere near the $26 to $32 million projections.”

“Being opposed to the airport doesn’t mean that one should embrace any half-baked airport alternative that comes down the runway.”

A letter from Anaheim published in the same issue contradicts Greenhut’s assertion that the park will benefit only south county residents.

See also guest editorials by Michael Smith and by Larry Agran in the breaking news section.

Board Chairwoman Cynthia Coad placed on the next board agenda a proposal to increase passenger service at John Wayne Airport "from 8.4 million people a year to 9.8 million through 2016, while a nighttime flight curfew would remain in place through 2026." The proposal, drafted by Newport Beach officials is "aimed to thwart an even greater expansion of John Wayne Airport if a new" airport is not built at El Toro. The plan also calls for "building four additional aircraft gates at the John Wayne terminal to handle the additional passengers."

Current passenger and noise caps at John Wayne, set by a 1985 federal court agreement , expires Dec. 31, 2005.

Supervisor Tom Wilson, whose district includes both the John Wayne Airport and the former Marines base "called the plan premature, adding that "Coad didn't consult with him before placing the matter on Tuesday's agenda."

Council members of Yorba Linda, an OCRAA  member, agreed "to gather specifics regarding the city's role in the El Toro airport debate. The staff will work on identifying how the proposed flight paths would affect Yorba Linda residents" and groups from both sides will be invited to make presentations.

Continuing a trend to block the planned expansion of LAX by shifting future aviation to area airports, "a bipartisan coalition of 12 Southern California House members on Thursday expressed strong opposition to a major expansion of Los Angeles International Airport, calling instead for a more regional approach to the area's air transportation needs."

"Led by Reps. Jane Harman (D-Redondo Beach) and Maxine Waters (D-Los Angeles)," and joined by Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Huntington Beach), a long-time supporter of an airport at El Toro, the letter sent to U.S. Transportation Secretary Norman Y. Mineta said "the proposed $12-billion expansion of LAX would only add to air pollution, noise levels and traffic congestion."

"In March, officials of six Southern California counties adopted the regional aviation proposal to cap LAX at 78 million passengers a year and push future airport growth to outlying areas. The plan envisioned a major expansion at Ontario International Airport and construction of the new airport at El Toro."

"At a daytime press conference and evening meeting on Monday and Tuesday at the Golden Rain board meeting, details of a proposed Great Park for the vacated El Toro Marine Base were unveiled, along with the kickoff of yet another initiative, this one to overturn Measure A."

"Within the next few weeks, Leisure World residents will be asked to sign petitions geared toward qualifying the initiative, dubbed the Central Park and Nature Preserve Initiative, for that March 2002 ballot.  More than 70,000 signatures of qualified voters in Orange County are needed."

"Speaking at a televised joint meeting of the Irvine City Council and the El Toro Redevelopment Planning Agency (ETRPA), and Tuesday on Channel 6, city of Laguna Woods Councilman Bert Hack(Mr. Hack is also an ETRPA board member--editor) reiterated Leisure World's efforts, both in manpower and money, to defeat plans to commercialize the vacated base."

"Hack said he expected the process to begin as early as May 15." Click here to read the entire Leisure World News story.

"Nearly 40% of people opposed to an El Toro airport are clearly unhappy with the county's Board of Supervisors and have little confidence in it, according to a Cal State Fullerton poll released Wednesday.

"The two surveys, one of statewide residents and the other of county residents, is the second part of a quarterly survey by the Orange County Business Council and the Center for Public Policy at Cal State Fullerton."

"The results of the survey, based on responses from 550 Orange County residents and 604 people statewide, varied little from previous polls. Margin of error for the survey is about 4.5%."

"Julie Puentes, an executive vice president for public affairs at the business council, said that despite the negative opinion of the board by many anti-airport residents, she noted that 60% of survey respondents replied that they had from 'some' to a 'great deal' of confidence in those same county supervisors."

Click here for complete story.

"More than two-thirds of Orange County residents favor an initiative to turn El Toro into a park, according to a Chapman University poll released Wednesday." Click here for poll questions and results.

"But the survey found a majority believe the county's airport plan will prevail."

"'We were really surprised by that one," said Fred Smoller, director of the David and Ludie C. Henley Social Sciences Research Laboratory. 'On the one hand, they favor a great park, but there's a big chunk of people who think (the airport is) going to be built anyway. While they prefer other things, there's a sense that government's not going to listen to them'."

"Bill Kogerman, chairman of Citizens for Safe and Healthy Communities, which will run the initiative campaign proposed for the March ballot, said the Chapman poll confirms support in private polls."

From Jean Pasco and the LA Times, "'Given the data, the public appears to be quite supportive of a park at El Toro rather than an airport,' said Fred Smoller, director of the Ludie and David C. Henley Social Sciences Research Lab at Chapman and head of the school's political science department."

"'It's clear what people want,'(Larry) Agran (Irvine Mayor) said Wednesday. "What is unclear is whether representative government is working in this county. To the extent it isn't, people will take matters into their own hands [with the initiative]. That's at once a triumph for citizen activists but it's a very, very sad commentary on the quality of representation we have from pro-airport supervisors.'"

"Bruce Nestande, president of the pro-airport Citizens for Jobs and the Economy, said support for a park isn't surprising, since parks are like 'apple pie.'"

"Slightly more than a year after a Superior Court judge blasted Orange County's environmental review for a commercial airport at the closed El Toro Marine base as inadequate, county officials involved in the process said Tuesday they have fixed the glitches."

"A supplement to the county's environmental review released Tuesday is the most in-depth on record, County Planner Bryan Speegle said."

"Officials who have pushed for an airport, including Newport Beach City Council members, said they welcome the conclusion of the county's nearly decade-long review, which began in the mid-1990s."

Complete Paul Clinton story in the "Early Bird" news.

"Anti-airport cities declared a one-sided cease fire in the El Toro PR wars Tuesday, saying now that a new initiative has been filed, no more public money can legally be spent on ads, mailers and other El Toro-related information."

"Their maneuver came as county supervisors voted 3-2 Tuesday to spend $3 million on El Toro publicity, hiring Amies Communications with the money and bringing their total approved for airport public relations this year to $8 million."

"The idea is that public money has got to be off the table," said Laguna Hills Councilman Allan Songstad, chairman of the anti-airport group. "We're willing to abide by that, and we expect them to."

"State law prohibits the use of public funds to support or oppose a ballot measure, although it allows use of taxpayer dollars to educate or inform the public about the subject."

"The county and Newport Beach together have approved about $12 million for the next year on what they say will be educational - not campaign - materials on El Toro."

"It's important that we begin to dispel some of the myths and outright lies," said Supervisor Charles V. Smith.

Click here to read Peter Larsen's complete story.

 Jason Song and Jean Pasco story in the LA Times

"Irvine airport foes unveiled a new El Toro initiative Monday, promising that their plan would turn the former Marine Corps base into a crown jewel of a park at no extra cost to taxpayers."

"The proposal -- the Central Park and Nature Preserve Initiative -- is headed for the March 5, 2002 ballot, and many on both sides of the airport debate see it as perhaps the final showdown in a fight that has divided the county for at least seven years."

"Elected officials from nine anti-airport cities unanimously approved the new initiative Monday, saying they believe that public opinion now is firmly on their side."

"The initiative itself is simple: It removes the airport zoning placed on El Toro by Measure A in 1994 and replaces it with zoning for open space, educational or park-related uses, and a 1,000-acre nature preserve that the federal government is requiring regardless of how the base is used."

"I think it's a slap in the face to the people of Orange County who want jobs," said Barbara Lichman, executive director of the Airport Working Group, which backs El Toro."   Click here for complete "Early Bird News" Peter Larsen story.

"Airport supporters say dueling initiative is viable option"

""It's a hunch," said Supervisor Tom Wilson, an El Toro airport foe, of the possibility that his pro-airport colleagues might place their own competing measure on the March 2002 ballot."

"Russell Niewiarowski, one of the authors of the V Plan, said this measure would seek to amend Measure A - which originally zoned the base for an airport - so that runways could extend outside of the current airport zone, allowing aircraft to land more easily from the north."

""I haven't given it any thought," Board of Supervisors Chairwoman Cynthia Coad said of the idea of a competing measure."

"Barbara Lichman, executive director of the Airport Working Group, said everything - including an initiative - now is on the table." "Early Bird News" complete story.

"Airport Foes Hope to Land a Winner"

"Supporters of transforming the closed El Toro Marine base into a large urban park instead of an airport envision it as the missing link in a swath of parks and undeveloped land that one day could stretch across central Orange County from Crystal Cove to the Cleveland National Forest."

"The new measure promotes the park as a "unique civic resource" that will generate economic benefits from tourism and education, and by providing critically needed amenities to attract upscale businesses. Demand for air travel to and from Orange County can be accommodated elsewhere, the measure insists, including at an expanded Los Angeles International and John Wayne airports."  Jean Pasco's complete article.

" If sold right, a plan for a large park at El Toro could have appeal to voters, Newport Beach officials worry."

"Newport Beach Councilman Dennis O'Neil said he was anxious about how the park plan would be received by voters in the March election.   'What's being proposed is a plan that, if propagandized correctly, stands a pretty good chance,' O'Neil said. "It needs to be defeated because it's not in the best interests of the county."

"It's in fact a great South County park," (AWG spokesperson, Barbara)Lichman said. 'If it were built, that's who would get to use it. What is central about Lake Forest? . . . This is nothing but a veiled land grab.'"

"Officials in Newport Beach have criticized the plan as a financially unfeasible pipe dream. Newport Beach Mayor Gary Adams and others said the county would have trouble keeping Spitzer's promise."

 "'In theory it's an interesting concept, but we've got to have an airport,' Adams said. 'Literally, the cost of building and maintaining a Great Park would be an unfair burden on the taxpayers of Orange" For Paul Clinton's entire story, click here.

For more on the above, check the LA Times and Orange County Register websites.

Click here for previous news stories