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LWV League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Smart Voter
San Diego County, CA July 26, 2005 Election
Proposition A
Mount Soledad Natural Park
City of San Diego

2/3 Approval Required

197,125 / 76.0% Yes votes ...... 62,373 / 24.0% No votes

See Also: Index of all Propositions

Information shown below: Arguments | Full Text

Shall the City of San Diego donate to the federal government all of the City's rights, title, and interest in the Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial property for the federal government's use of the property as a national memorial honoring veterans of the United States Armed Forces?

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San Diego Union Tribune
06/29/05 Suit over measure to save cross granted court hearing

San Diego Union Tribune
07/22/05 Mount Soledad cross must get two-thirds of vote to remain
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Arguments For Proposition A Arguments Against Proposition A
ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF PROPOSITION A

Vote YES to save the Mount Soledad Memorial - AS IT IS, WHERE IT IS - with its centerpiece 29-foot cross, walls, and plaques, by transferring it to the Federal government!

Hundreds of thousands of San Diegans have united to save this historic monument!

Vote YES to preserve the integrity of the Mount Soledad Memorial by turning the monument into federal property as a "National War Memorial" protected under the Constitution of the United States!

The Mount Soledad Memorial was built in 1954 as a tribute to the veterans of the Korean War. Since then, a private group has expanded the site to include a large American flag and plaques and walls dedicated to veterans of all wars.

The people of San Diego treasure this historic memorial and public asset - AS IT IS, WHERE IT IS.

Needlessly tampering with the memorial by removing the cross would have a permanent negative impact on the quality of life and unique landscape of our beautiful city.

As in the case with Mount Soledad, wherever veterans are honored with the symbols of the fallen, an intolerant few will launch frivolous lawsuits that waste our tax dollars and threaten our heritage.

Failure to protect Mount Soledad as it stands today will place many other noble symbols of our past in jeopardy.

Transferring the property to the federal government is the best way to preserve Mount Soledad so future generations can honor those who have sacrificed to protect the freedoms of this great nation.

In 2004, the President of the United States signed legislation designating the Mount Soledad site a "National War Memorial."

Vote YES to transfer the land to the federal government and permanently preserve Mount Soledad - AS IT IS, WHERE IT IS.

Honor our Veterans! Protect our Memorial!

Transfer the Land!

Vote YES on Proposition A!

PHILIP L. THALHEIMER Chairman, San Diegans for the Mt. Soledad National War Memorial

CDR RANDY "DUKE" CUNNINGHAM USN (Retired) United States Congressman, 50th District, California

ROGER HEDGECOCK KOGO Radio Talk show host Former Mayor of San Diego

RICK ROBERTS KFMB Radio Talk show host

COL. JERRY COLEMAN, USMC (Retired) Hall of Fame Broadcaster Voice of the Padres

ARGUMENT AGAINST PROPOSITION A

STOP THE MT SOLEDAD GIVEAWAY!

RESPECT THE VOTERS DECISION ON PROP K! STOP THE LAWSUITS! DON'T LET SPECIAL INTERESTS FORCE THE CITY TO GIVE AWAY ONE OF ITS MOST BEAUTIFUL PARKS! VOTERS ALREADY OVERWHELMINGLY REJECTED PROPOSITION K, REFUSING TO ALLOW THE SALE OF MT. SOLEDAD PARK TO PRIVATE PARTIES. NOW, THESE SPECIAL INTERESTS WANT YOU TO FORCE THE CITY TO GIVE THE PARK AWAY!

SPECIAL INTERESTS, IN UTTER DISREGARD OF YOUR OVERWHELMING VOTE AGAINST PROP K, ASKED CITY COUNCIL TO DONATE MT. SOLEDAD PARK TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. THE CITY RIGHTLY REFUSED TO GIVE YOUR PARK AWAY AND TO SPEND MILLIONS OF TAX DOLLARS DEFENDING THAT ILLEGAL GIFT. SPECIAL INTERESTS THEN SPENT $100,000 TO FORCE AN EXPENSIVE SPECIAL ELECTION.

THEY CLAIM THAT IF THE LAND IS TRANSFERRED TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, THE CROSS CAN REMAIN ON MT. SOLEDAD. THIS IS ABSOLUTELY FALSE! THE CITY'S LAWYERS HAVE ALREADY ADVISED THAT IF THIS PROPOSAL PASSES AND THE CITY IS FORCED TO GIVE MT. SOLEDAD TO THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT:

1. THE CROSS WOULD HAVE TO BE MOVED BECAUSE COURTS HAVE ALWAYS HELD THAT SIMILAR CROSSES ON FEDERAL LAND ARE ILLEGAL;

2. THE LAND TRANSFER WOULD BE ILLEGAL AND WILL COST TAXPAYERS MORE MONEY IN LAWSUITS;

3. THE COURT COULD FINE THE CITY FOR ITS ILLEGAL ACT. THE CITY HAS ALREADY SETTLED THE SOLEDAD CROSS CASE. THE SETTLEMENT:

1. GUARANTEES THE MT. SOLEDAD MEMORIAL ASSOCIATION CONTROLS THE MEMORIAL;

2. COMPLIES WITH THE COURT ORDER AND MOVES THE CROSS TO A NEARBY CHURCH;

3. ENDS YEARS OF DIVISIVE LAWSUITS THAT WOULD COST TAXPAYERS MILLIONS.

DON'T LET SPECIAL INTERESTS AND THEIR MICHIGAN LAWYERS GIVE AWAY OUR PARK AT GREAT TAXPAYER EXPENSE!

RESPECT THE VETERANS MEMORIAL AND THE VOTE ON PROP K! END FIFTEEN YEARS OF EXPENSIVE LITIGATION!

VOTE NO ON THE MT. SOLEDAD GIVEAWAY!

JAMES MCELROY Attorney

ARVID STRAUBE Lead Minister, 1st Unitarian Universalist Church

Full Text of Proposition A
CITY OF SAN DIEGO Proposition A (This proposition will appear on the ballot in the following form.) Mount Soledad Natural Park Shall the City of San Diego donate to the federal government all of the City's rights, title, and interest in the Mt. Soledad Veterans Memorial property for the federal government's use of the property as a national memorial honoring veterans of the United States Armed Forces?

This proposition requires approval by a 2/3 majority of the voters.


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Created: August 19, 2005 09:51 PDT
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