Safe and Healthy Communities

(SACRAMENTO) – Assemblywoman Pat Bates (R- Laguna Niguel) stepped-up her efforts to prevent airport development at El Toro Marine Corps Air Station by publicly announcing her support for the Safe and Healthy Communities Initiative. Bates, a longtime foe of an airport at El Toro, said that the County’s base re-use process continues to disregard the concerns of the hundreds of thousands of people who will be impacted by this project.

"No one in Orange County should have to worry that County Supervisors will decide to put a dump, prison or airport in their backyard. The Safe and Healthy Communities Initiative will give Orange County neighborhoods the right to be involved in the decision making process on these important quality of life issues.

Bates continued, "A small group of powerful people is controlling the planning process… a process that should be fair and open if we are to have a successful resolution of the re-use question".

Bates said, "The Safe and Healthy Communities initiative gives Orange County residents the right to be involved in the decision making process and is a protection against special interests whose agenda can dramatically change our quality of life."