Safe and Healthy Communities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Citizens for Safe and Healthy Communities

April 6, 1999

Contact: Leonard Kranser, CSHC Communications Director, 949-499-5567 or Jim Davy, CSHC Petition Drive Chairman, 949-498-0833

Supervisors predict victory for voters rights initiative

Santa Ana: Citizens for Safe and Healthy Communities began collecting signatures today, to qualify an initiative for the March 7, 2000 ballot. Supervisors Todd Spitzer and Tom Wilson were the first signers, at a ceremony at the Hall of Administration this morning. The two Supervisors are honorary chairmen of the grass roots campaign to bring more responsible planning to Orange County.

Supervisor Tom Wilson said, "This initiative would not be necessary if the county's planning process was on the up-and-up... but it has been hijacked by special interests. When it comes to locating jails, airports and toxic landfills, this measure has broad county-wide support because it brings back to the people what they should have always had - a choice."

Supervisor Todd Spitzer called the kickoff of the initiative drive, "One of the most significant events in Orange County history. It is about whether we will take the power of decision making back to the people... and it's about time. This initiative is going to win because, with it, the citizens of Orange County will finally have a voice in the planning of their government."

Noting that the initiative has county-wide support, Spitzer reminded the public that the City of Brea had to fight "tooth-and-nail" against expansion of a landfill in that community and that the citizens of Yorba Linda had fought against expansion of Chino airport and against plans for a nearby jail.

The Safe and Healthy Communities Initiative requires county planners to complete environmental impact reports, and hold public hearings, before asking voters to approve new or expanded airports, hazardous landfills, or jails with over 1000 beds near residential neighborhoods. The initiative deals only with county financed projects that can negatively impact residents' quality of life. These projects must then receive a two-thirds voter approval as evidence of their wide acceptance. Approximately 71,000 valid signatures will be collected by the end of August.