Irvine : Group Seeking Initiative on Roads Will Get Help

The Center for Law in the Public Interest, a nonprofit, public-interest law firm, has agreed to represent Irvine residents in an appeal seeking to force an election on an initiative that would require voter approval for new highway and freeway funding measures.

The Los Angeles-based organization will file an appeal during the next several weeks in an attempt to overturn a Superior Court order that found the initiative invalid, ruling that freeways are an issue of statewide concern and not subject to the local balloting process.

The suit challenging the initiative was filed by a coalition of business groups, including the Building Industry Assn., the Orange County Chamber of Commerce, the Irvine Chamber of Commerce and the Industrial League of Orange County, all of which expressed fear that allowing local voters to decide on freeway funding could cause important regional transportation facilities to be held up because of opposition within a single jurisdiction.

Los Angeles attorney Fred Woocher said the organization agreed to take on the case because of “fundamental public issues” that are at stake.

“The initiative power is very important because it’s often the only way citizens can have their views implemented when through imbalances in the democratic process they are not being represented,” Woocher said. “The people have spoken in Irvine, and for whatever reason, the City Council has not been receptive to those views.”

The law center has previously represented Orange County citizens groups in lawsuits against Orange County and the City of Irvine seeking guarantees for more low- and moderate-income housing.