Safe and Healthy Communities

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Citizens for Safe and Healthy Communities

September 1, 1999

Contact: Leonard Kranser, CSHC Communications Director 949-499-5567

Safe and Healthy Communities Petition Drive Exceeds Goal!

Volunteers for the Safe and Healthy Communities Initiative successfully concluded the biggest petition drive in Orange County history today, submitting over 191,000 signatures to the Orange County Registrar of Voters. An enthusiastic crowd gathered at the Registrar's office in Santa Ana to formally deliver a truckload of boxes containing the signed petitions.

The Safe and Healthy Communities Initiative gives Orange County voters the choice on locating major publicly-funded projects that negatively impact their homes. 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 two-thirds voter approval.

Initiative proponent Jeffrey Metzger reported that over 5,000 volunteers throughout the county collected substantially more than double the required number of signatures. Approximately 71,200 are needed to qualify for the March 2000 election. The Registrar has 30 working days to count the petitions.

Supervisor Tom Wilson told those assembled, "People are frustrated over quality-of-life issues in Orange County, but this initiative will change that. It protects people near John Wayne Airport as well as those near El Toro." Wilson introduced Jason Yee (18), of Irvine, the county's newest voter and an initiative booster.

Supervisor Todd Spitzer said, "Shame on county government. The people know best. This initiative gives citizens a choice in planning the locations for airports, large jails and toxic dumps. It gives power back to the people in every city of the county."

City Councilman Mike Alvarez of Orange said "This initiative will pass because it protects the quality of life for people in every part of Orange County, north or south. You can't be against letting the people choose." He called the volunteers "the new patriots of today.

Gail Brunell, a former teacher near LAX, and homemaker from Laguna Niguel, spoke of her previous community that deteriorated and how she wants to protect her new home for the sake of families and "the children who are too young to vote."

Reverend John R. Steward of the Evangelical Lutheran Church of America, in Mission Viejo, concluded that, "passing the initiative is an application of the golden rule. It is a moral, caring, and ethical thing to do."

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