|
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE May 31, 1999 Contact: Leonard Kranser, CSHC Communications Director 949-499-5567 or Jim Davy, CSHC Petition Drive Chairman 949-498-0833 Voters Rights Petition Drawing Enthusiastic Response Ever since Supervisors Todd Spitzer and Tom Wilson signed the first petitions for the Safe and Healthy Communities Initiative, community-wide signature gathering has picked up speed. Proponents of the voters rights ballot measure have approximately 1,000 volunteers circulating petitions throughout the county. Hal Marshall, Area Captain for Santa Ana, Orange and Tustin said, "We're getting enthusiastic response. Of people I talk to, 90 to 95 percent sign a petition. They are anxious to help." Theresa Sears, heading the effort in East Orange reported, "The response is good. Our neighbors see this as giving them a voice in protecting their rights and the environment." Proponents must collect over 71,000 valid signatures by the end of August. They expect to exceed that goal. Initial efforts began with door-to-door signature gathering, mail, and e-mail. Volunteers now are out manning tables at major retail outlets. The Safe and Healthy Communities Initiative gives Orange County voters the right to decide on major publicly-funded projects that negatively impact the quality of life. It requires county planners to complete environmental impact reports, and hold public hearings, before asking voters to approve new or expanded airports, hazardous landfills, or major jails near residential neighborhoods. These projects then must receive a two-thirds voter approval as evidence of their wide acceptance and before anyone can be deprived of the safe enjoyment of their homes. The initiative committee has an Internet website at http://www.safe-and-healthy.org where viewers can read the text of the initiative, volunteer to help, and request petition blanks to circulate. Volunteers also can reach Petition Drive Chairman Jim Davy at 949-498-0833.
### |
