Growth fight spills into cyberspace

Mathis Winkler

NEWPORT BEACH -- One might be a little more sleek than the other. But

as far as content goes, Web sites for the two growth-control measures on

the November ballot claim to provide residents with all the information

needed to make their decisions.

“We want to make sure that voters are fully informed of how

destructive Measure S will be to Newport Beach if passed,” said Clarence

Turner, the co-chairman for Measure T.

Measure S, also known as the Greenlight initiative, proposes to put

before a citywide vote any development that allows an increase of more

than 100 peak-hour car trips or dwelling units or 40,000 square feet over

the general plan allowance.

Measure T, the so-called Traffic Phasing initiative, would add parts

of the city’s traffic phasing ordinance to the City Charter and nullify

Greenlight, should voters approve both measures.

Although Turner’s group announced the launch of its Web site Monday,

he added that he wasn’t sure if much content had changed compared to a

previous site the organization had maintained.

“We want to ensure that voters are aware that Measure S would force

repeated costly elections over minor projects, abandon representative

government and divert tax dollars from priorities such as public safety,”

Turner said.

Measure S supporters countered that their Web site contained

independent information from a city study called the Douglas Report. That

document refutes the claim that Measure S will cause many minor

elections, said Phil Arst, a spokesman for Measure S.

“We want to make sure that voters understand that a dozen major

developments are hanging over our heads,” Arst said. “The issue is

protecting the city in the future, not worrying about claims of many

small elections that are disputed in writing by an official city study.”

So far, only Stop Polluting Our Newport, an environmental activist

group, has endorsed Measure S.

The Newport Beach Firefighters and Police Employees Assns., the

Newport Harbor Area Chamber of Commerce, the Orange County Business

Council and the Orange County Taxpayers Assn. have endorsed Measure T.

FYI

To access the Measure S Web site, log on to o7

https://www.newportgreenlight.comf7 .

To access the Measure T Web site, log on to o7

https://www.citizens4trafficsolutions.comf7 .

The city of Newport Beach also maintains an election Web site that

includes information on City Council candidates. It can be accessed at

o7 https://www.city.newport-beach.ca.usf7 .