April 28, 2006

ASAP 21 Launches Region-wide Public Education Program

?Listening Tour? to elevate awareness of need for new airport, solicit public input

The Alliance in Support of Airport Progress in the 21st Century (ASAP 21) has announced that it will host a series of public forums designed to provide more information to the citizens of San Diego County about the urgent need for a new airport, and to solicit feedback and input about this important public issue.
    The outreach tour, entitled: "San Diego Speaks. We Listen," is set to begin May 23rd, and will reach region-wide audiences through forums to be held in the central, north, south and east areas of the county. The program, consisting of up to five forums and one focus group, will conclude by the end of July and will be developed through partnerships with community and business-based organizations in each region.
"We strongly believe that additional public outreach efforts that are independent of government activities are needed to ensure that no stone is left unturned," said Dennis Burks, Chairman of ASAP 21. "This issue is so complex and so critical for the economic security of the region, that the public must be informed through as many means as possible. Perhaps more importantly, we need to be listening to people ? and that is what we intend to do through these forums."
    The public outreach program is independent of other forums that have been conducted by the San Diego Regional Airport Authority and other government agencies. ASAP 21 is comprised of a large group of business and labor leaders, including the San Diego-Imperial Counties Labor Council, BIOCOM/San Diego, Downtown San Diego Partnership, San Diego Regional Economic Development Corporation, the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce and the San Diego Convention and Visitors Bureau, among others.
    The ?Listening Tour? will be promoted through local media outlets, ASAP 21 partnering organizations and grassroots community outreach. Each forum will be held in a central location in a different County Supervisorial District. Each meeting will include a presentation by ASAP 21 and will feature an extensive ?Q & A? with the public surrounding the need for a new airport. ASAP 21 plans to release the dates and locations for all of the forums in early May.


For further information, contact:
Erik Bruvold, San Diego Regional EDC
619-234-8484
Scott Alevy, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce
619-544-1360

Last Updated: May 26, 2006

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