Andrew Glazer
California voters overwhelmingly approved state funding for parks and
improving water quality, but weren't as eager to loosen the requirements
for passing school bonds, a measure designed to help local schools.
Voters approved bond measures that will set aside state money to offset
the cost of scraping muck from the Upper Newport Bay and blocking new
silt from sliding in.
"This is a huge victory for those of us working to preserve the
environment," said Bob Caustin, founding director of pro-environment
group, Defend The Bay. "We are so pleased to see what good work will be
done with the bonds."
Proposition 12, known as the "parks bond," will release approximately $13
million in state money for the cleanup -- about half of what officials
say the total cost will be. In a smaller cleanup last year, Newport Beach
spent $7.4 million to dredge 900,000 cubic yards of sludge from the bay.
Caustin said he will push cities inland of Newport Beach, where much of
the silt comes from -- including Irvine, Tustin, Lake Forest and Orange
-- to foot the rest of the bill for the bay cleanup.
The parks bond also opens up approximately $1.3 million in state money
for Costa Mesa's parks. The city's Public Services Director, Bill Morris,
said the city will use the money to convert Fairview Park from a weedy
pasture to a natural preserve. He predicts the whole project will cost
the city $8 million.
"This will be very helpful," he said. "We'd certainly like to tap into
some of that to develop the park."
Voters also approved an initiative -- known as the "water bond" -- which
will free $2 billion to protect the state against floods, improve its
drinking water and ensure it has a reliable water supply.
The water bond may provide $5 million in state money to prevent more silt
from flowing into Newport Bay.
But Proposition 12 was just one of 20 measures voters in California --
known nationally as the "ballot initiative capital" -- decided on.
Late Tuesday night, it looked as though voters chose against making it
easier to approve bonds for school construction and repairs.
Proposition 26 -- which at press time was too close to call -- would
allow a simple majority of voters, just 50%, to approve the bonds.
"I'm still hoping for the best," said Dana Black, president of the
Newport-Mesa school board, and a Prop. 26 supporter. "But I'm not really
optimistic."
If passed, the measure would be enacted in time for a June election, when
voters will decide whether to approve a $110-million bond for school
repairs.
