However, in reality, passage of such an initiative would be detrimental to County residents. The Safe and Healthy Communities Initiative, drafted by anti-airport activists, plays upon emotional fears under the guise of increased accountability and control. While the Initiative includes both hazardous waste landfills and jail facilities, there is no question that it is truly aimed at undermining the two previous votes by Orange County residents to build an international airport at the closed El Toro Marine Corp Air Station. Not only is the tactic misleading, the proposed initiative is seriously flawed. Regardless of your position on the proposed El Toro airport, it is essential that all Orange County voters fully understand the implications of the initiative.
Lets start with the facts.
The County does not currently operate, nor have there ever been plans to site or operate a hazardous waste landfill. Therefore, inclusion of hazardous waste landfills in the proposed initiative appears as nothing more than a scare tactic designed to get people to vote for the initiative. Lets examine the facts further. There is no doubt that the proposed initiative will negatively affect public safety in Orange County. According to Sheriff Michael Corona, the County's ability to provide adequate numbers of jail beds to house arrested and convicted criminals will be made much more difficult and public safety and quality of life in Orange County will be diminished if the initiative is passed.