Project 99 Newsletter, January 2000

A Plan of Action to Protect and Improve Our Community
An Urgent Appeal from Larry Agran, Chair of Project 99

Dear Neighbor,

This is an urgent appeal for citizen action! Every day people contact Project 99 asking what they can do to defeat the County’s proposed international airport at El Toro Airport and replace it with a non-aviation reuse plan that will truly benefit all of Orange County. Between now and March 7th, our answer is simple: Join the Yes on Measure F campaign. Measure F is the Safe & Healthy Communities Initiative. If it passes, it will require countywide approval by two-thirds of the voters before the County could build or expand airports, hazardous waste dumps, or jails in residential neighborhoods. Make no mistake about it: A “yes” vote on Measure F will kill El Toro Airport! It will also set the stage for a wonderful Millennium Plan/Great Park at El Toro. As part of our regular appeal for Project 99 support, this month we’re urging all Project 99 supporters to join the Yes on Measure F campaign. The easiest way to do this is to use the enclosed reply form. If you send it in today, you’ll start receiving Yes on F “Flash Reports.” These are terrific weekly reports put out by the Safe & Healthy Communities Fund. This is the committee that is funding a massive direct-mail campaign, carrying the Yes on F message not just to South County voters but to Central and North County voters as well. Between now and March 7th, you can help make the decisive difference. Please send in the enclosed reply form today and join the historic Yes on Measure F campaign!

“Yes” on F Moves Ahead The “Safe and Healthy Communities” Initiative, Measure F on the March 7, 2000 ballot, Continues to Build Strong Support Countywide

Business leaders are saying “YES.” Elected Officials are saying “YES.” Residents from every part of Orange County are saying “YES” to Measure F. And it’s easy to see why. A “YES” vote on Measure F, the Safe and Healthy Commun-ities Initiative, will stop the County’s costly and dangerous plan for an international airport at El Toro and pave the way for the non-aviation Millennium Plan— a plan that includes a magnificent centrally located Great Park. In plain words, Measure F, if passed, will enhance the quality of life for every man, woman and child in Orange County. Here are the nuts and bolts of this historic Initiative: Passage requires that a majority of those voting check “YES” on the following question: “Shall the Initiative measure, which would require that no new or expanded jail, hazardous waste landfill or civilian airport project (all as defined in the measure) be valid and effective unless ratified by a two-thirds majority of the voters voting in a county general election and requiring that the Board of Supervisors conduct a public hearing in each affected city prior to project approval, be approved?” Specifically, this Initiative requires a two-thirds vote for any of the following: (1) “the design or construction of any new jail, new hazardous waste landfill, or new civilian airport.” (2) “the physical expansion of any existing hazardous waste landfill beyond its current legally permissible and authorized boundaries...” (3) “the operation of any existing civilian airport beyond its current legally permissible and authorized level of operations.” (4) “the physical expansion of the facilities of any existing civilian airport beyond their current and legally authorized size...” (5) “an expansion or change in operations at any existing airport, whether military or civilian that increases the amount or changes the type of civilian, or joint civilian and military, cargo operations; or (6) “the physical expansion of any existing jail that provides [1,000 or more] additional beds for persons confined therein...” The preamble of the Measure F Initiative also states that: (A) “The People of Orange County, not politicians, should make the decisions, by a two-thirds vote, on new or expanded jails, hazardous waste landfills, and airport projects since these projects affect the health and safety of our neighborhoods and communities. This Initiative puts those decisions in the hands of the voters.” (B) “Politicians should not be able to make big expenditures of our taxpayer money on those projects without our vote. This Initiative prevents the spending of our taxes without our consent.” (C) “No Orange County neighborhood should be forced to accept these projects unless there is wide agreement that they are necessary. This Initiative makes sure that those projects can’t be approved unless we agree.” (D) “We deserve and expect communities that are safe and healthy. This measure will help keep them that way and protect residents in every part of Orange County.” (E) “In order to accomplish these purposes and secure these rights, the enactment of this Initiative is necessary and appropriate.” No matter what your opinion on Measure F, the March 7, 2000 election will be a historic one for Orange County. Remember, a “Yes” vote on Measure F will stop the airport!

The Safe and Healthy Communities Initiative Frequently Asked Questions About Measure F

Q. Why do we need another ballot measure? A. In 1994, voters by a margin of 51% to 49% narrowly passed Measure A, which amended the County’s General Plan and rezoned the MCAS El Toro property from military use to commercial airport use. It also gave direction to the County government to develop plans to build an airport. It is currently the law of Orange County. Measure F would halt this entire process by requiring two-thirds voter approval before El Toro Airport could be built.

Q. Why not just vote to reject the unpopular El Toro Airport plan? A. This would be a strong statement of public opinion but would have no legal effect in the overturning of Measure A or stopping the County Supervisors from proceeding with their plans.

Q. Can’t we vote to choose between the Millennium Plan and an airport? A. Unfortunately, under California law, initiatives cannot be written this way. Measure F will provide for this, but as part of a two-step process. A “YES” vote will essentially kill an airport at El Toro. It will force the County to consider the non-aviation reuse of the base — the Millennium Plan and Great Park — as its only viable option.

Q. How will Measure F stop the airport, undo Measure A, and give us a non-aviation reuse for El Toro? A. A “YES” vote on Measure F will make it almost impossible to build this unpopular airport. Measure F requires that the Supervisors present the airport plan to the voters for two-thirds approval, after the costs and environmental impacts are fully known.

Q. What will Measure F do for all of Orange County? A. Measure F will change the way that Orange County government approaches major projects that have potential harm for residents — airports, jails and toxic dumps. With a “YES” vote on Measure F, County officials will be required first to do the environmental analysis required by state law and then gain two-thirds voter approval before going forward and spending taxpayer money.

www.millenniumplan.com

Last month we published A Guide to Our Key Allied Organizations in the Project 99 newsletter. Due to an oversight, we failed to mention the pro-Millennium Plan web site, www.millenniumplan.com. This web site provides detailed information about the Millennium Plan, the official non-aviation reuse plan to create a balanced and diverse community at El Toro. It also offers free anti-airport information, including selected publications offered by Project 99. We apologize for this omission.

Project 99 is a special project of the Tides Center, a duly registered public charity. Donations to Project 99/Tides Center are tax-deductible to the extent permitted by law.