Council Backs Resolution Against Measure F

The City Council voted 4 to 1 Tuesday to oppose Measure F, or the Safe and Healthy Communities Initiative, in an effort to prevent a second jail from being built in the city’s sphere of influence.

“Today we are considering opposing Measure F because of the law-enforcement issue,” said Councilman Dan Slater during the council meeting. “A vote against Measure F is a vote in support of law enforcement.”

The measure would require approval by two-thirds of voters countywide before airports, large jails near homes and hazardous-waste landfills could be built.

If the measure passes in March, the undeveloped East Orange area would become a target for a future maximum-security jail because the measure indicates that jail facilities cannot be located within half a mile of development, city officials said. The measure does not protect future planned development.

The city has been fighting the possibility of a second jail being built in the city’s sphere of influence since last August, when it was discovered that three potential jail sites were being looked at in East Orange.

Orange already has the Theo Lacy Branch Jail, a medium/minimum security jail facility on the west side of the city that is being expanded and will provide 47% of all jail beds for the county when completed, said Mayor Joanne Coontz.

“What we are trying to do is protect the city of Orange,” Coontz said. “We would be Jail City. There is no question about that.”

The council opposed the measure, with Councilman Michael Alvarez dissenting, after listening to seven anti-El Toro-airport activists urge the council to support the measure and one speaker who opposed it.

Although the council’s reason for opposing Measure F was the possible location of future county jails, the council will discuss the controversial proposed El Toro airport next month, after city staff has researched the proposed airport’s environmental documentation.

Alvarez, who signed the March ballot argument in support of Measure F, said he voted against opposing the measure because he felt the impact of the resolution was nonexistent, and he encouraged people to go out and vote in March.

“I support the people’s right to vote, so that is why I can’t vote in favor of this resolution,” he said.

Marissa Espino can be reached at (714) 966-5879.