District, Costa Mesa oppose Measure F
Danette Goulet and Andrew Glazer
NEWPORT-MESA -- With a countywide vote on Measure F just two weeks away,
the Newport-Mesa Board of Education and the Costa Mesa City Council each
voted to stand in opposition of the initiative Tuesday evening.
The ballot measure, which will appear on the March 7 primary election
ballot, is designed to block the county’s proposal to build a
$2.9-billion airport at the closed El Toro Marine Corps base. The
initiative, if passed, would require a two-thirds majority of registered
voters to approve certain county projects, such as airports, hazardous
waste landfills and jails.
Residents in Newport Beach and Costa Mesa fear the measure could prevent
an airport at El Toro and force the county to expand John Wayne Airport.
The Newport Beach City Council, which has long been active in the push
for a second county airport, earlier this months also passed a resolution
opposing Measure F.
The Costa Mesa City Council on Tuesday unanimously approved a resolution
opposing the measure.
“Measure F is not good for Costa Mesa,” said Mayor Gary Monahan. “It was
part of the planning process of South County, and they didn’t look at the
ramification of the long term.”
Councilman Joe Erickson added that it is important for the council to
formally oppose the measure because it could harm the community. But he
warned that defeating Measure F is not a sure-fire method to make sure an
El Toro airport is built or to limit expansion at John Wayne.
The Newport-Mesa Unified School District Board of Education on Tuesday
also approved a similar resolution. Although it is unorthodox for school
government to speak out against land-use policy, the board members
decided to take a position after concerned parents in December, and then
again in January, asked them to oppose the measure.
The Newport Beach-based Airport Working Group, a pro-airport
organization, has held several meetings at Newport-Mesa schools to garner
parent support for the El Toro airport and opposition to Measure F.
Community opposition to the measure has been spreading rapidly. After a
lengthy debate last week, the Harbor Council PTA also came out against
Measure F.
“What PTA is, is a group that advocates for children,” said Jill Money,
president of Harbor Council PTA, which comprises all district PTAs. “It’s
really not a fund-raising organization or any of that other stuff. It
really is a voice for children. We did take a vote to oppose Measure F on
the ballot and also, should Measure F pass, we would actively fight any
expansion of John Wayne Airport.”
Parents fear that with a possible expansion of John Wayne, there would be
increased air traffic over schools. Also, should the El Toro airport
fail, the county could demolish neighborhoods around John Wayne -- which
would include bulldozing three private schools -- to make room for
another runway and a second terminal.
“The information I have received shows that we have 198 schools, not all
public schools, within a five-mile radius of John Wayne Airport, whereas
El Toro has 35 [schools] within a five-mile radius,” Money said. “Our
children would be severely impacted and it would put the runway
dangerously close to our Newport-Mesa schools.”
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