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.”