Local Elections

I know I risk opening a Pandora's box in asking this. But I think it warrants discussion.

Has any research of secession from our current County Supervisory District? What I mean is what are the chances and/or procedures for the SAn Benardino Mountains to have their own county district ergo our own Supervisor?

If we had the San Bernardino Mountains District(s
1. Would we need more than one district? A Big Bear and everybody else?
2. Could part of the bylaws require full time mountain residency?
3. Would we be able then to lobby for more funds dedicated to improvements to our own mountain communities?

I ask because obviously county supervisors have their plates full from the Inland Empire to the State line and our mountain communities get shoved to the back sometimes. Not living on our mountain, these folks do not understand the elements and constant concerns we have up here ranging from medical care, legislative and judicial representation, education, fire, water, conservation, jobs, industry, tourism, road ways, and much much more.

Any thoughts?

The only feasable way to get out from under the County's grip is to incorporate as a city. I have advocated that in the past as the only way to have local control of how our tax money is spent. We, as a block of voters, don't register in the political radar, we get "second class" services from the County.

Good point.

Any major alteration in County Government structure would require the consent of all the existing districts. Can you see longshot in that fact? Low voter turnout alone would defeat any radical change.

So we should bend over and smile without a fight?

bump

Becoming a city doesn't look like it would take getting permission from all other districts:

http://www.opr.ca.gov/images/oprchart.gif

http://www.co.san-bernardino.ca.us/lafco/incorporation/In...

Would you include Crestline and Running Springs in the new city or just Lake Arrowhead?

It seems like most local realtors/developers oppose incorporation.

I wonder why?

It's always about the money.

Having participated in almost every community event and fund raiser up here since we moved... I can tell you that the large Realty offices here do not put their money up to support local events or problems. Unless of course it benefits them like home tours. In fact they most often say something like "Why is it that everyone comes to us with their hands out?" Well, probably because realtors don't participate but they take a crap load of money off our hands.

It's all about the money up here.
Water = money.
Land = money.
County Supervisors = money.
Republican GOP in the Inland Empire = money.

The one thing about the money is... it all flows down the hill. Never up here. That's why we have to change this. But how?

Amen fastelk. Post that in a place where people will read it.

I tried, it died.

It's not a new idea and has been thoroughly explored. Every 6 months someone pops up with the same "new idea" and gets the same answers. Incorporation has it's advantages and disadvantages. Try to find a consensus among each community that would be willing to be absorbed by a new entity with other entities in the mix. You get the eeew factor immediately.

Bloomington is struggling with their incorporation and just lost a big chunk of it's potential tax base through annexation that was not in the plan. It costs money, lots of money and once you have done it, it costs even more money. You either have to hire a fire department and equip it, a police department and equip it, a street maintenance department and a trash company and on and on and on, or... you have to contract with the county to provide the services on a cost plus basis to get what you already get.

The biggest obstacle fastelk: An electorate that doesn't read and doesn't vote. Try getting a consensus with 85% of the eligible voters awol. Solve the apathy of the ignorant masses and then you can start to tackle the political and social problems.

Yup, agreed.

I think it's not so much apathy as being overwhelmed to a point of stagnation.

Being overwelmed by life happens to those who are busier than the rest of us. Those who need 27 hours in the day to get things done never have time for what is really important, IMHO