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 No City Representation !
June 27, 2009
Big Bear Lake’s City Council and governing boards are hardly representative of most of the citizens they serve.
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Hello Citizens,
I sent an editorial into the Grizzly on June 4th. It has yet to be printed. Since the Council will be interviewing applicants for the DWP and Planning Commission on July 7th, I have chosen to print it below. Links to the three articles I referenced, follow my editorial.
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This editorial is a response to the three letters that appeared in the May 20th and 27th editions of the Grizzly concerning the upcoming Planning Commission and DWP appointments by the City Council. Mr. Sidener, Poole and Bos protested the fact that the Council and Planning Commission are dominated by members of the local Rotary.
I understand that it is usual for financially successful members of a community to congregate in a service club. This group usually represents a very circumscribed portion of the population in terms of age, demographics and financial position.
This is not what troubles me. The fact that 5-10 members of our local Rotary Club use their venue to fill the offices of City Council and other Valley boards is the thing that does. It is the efforts of these self-named “Eagles” which ensures that our local boards are dominated by a very limited (about 10% at best) sector of our population: the relatively wealthy, middle-aged and older, business sector. According to recent demographics, 57% of Big Bear Lake households earn less than $50,000 per year and our Latino population in 2007 is 23% and growing. Big Bear Lake’s City Council and governing boards are hardly representative of most of the citizens they serve. I’d wager that Rotary members’ incomes are more representative of the 14% of households which earned at least $100,000 or more.
So, which citizens are traditionally not represented in our City? Try the vast number of salaried workers with (or without) families: teachers, municipal workers, restaurant and hotel employees and managers, and the less wealthy retired. Consider that, from 2005 to 2006, K-12 school enrollment dropped 18% while the general population continued to grow during this period. This is likely a reflection of the lack of affordability and livability for young families with children.
Who would be better to represent a particular group’s (survival) interests in a community than members of that very community? With only 10% of the population calling the shots for the other 90%, no wonder 78% of Grizzly readers voted that our City is out of touch with the citizens it serves.
I emphatically reassure those concerned that this editorial is not a criticism of Rotary or its members. It is directed at the Rotary “Eagles” and those who actively and tacitly support their efforts to stack our Council and boards (including some elected and appointed officials). This is also not an issue of competence--intellectual or otherwise. It is an issue of fair representation of the majority of the population. Representation is a fundamental condition for a functioning Democracy and the very reason we salute our flag at the beginning of every Council and board meeting.
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http://www.bigbeargrizzly.net/articles/2009/05/20/news/opinion/doc4a13643c943fc545477971.txt
http://www.bigbeargrizzly.net/articles/2009/05/27/news/opinion/doc4a1c934f0b7db973819641.txt
http://www.bigbeargrizzly.net/articles/2009/05/27/news/opinion/doc4a1c92c6d0542478816683.txt
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The Water Board (DWP) and Planning Commission interviews will occur on Tuesday, July 7th beginning 8:30am into the late afternoon. They are open to the public.
Questions or comments?
Sincerely,
Michael |
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Big Bear ADVENTURE WEEKEND 2009
ABL & TONY M, in association with Castrobear, Presents: Big Bear Adventure Weekend, August 27th to 30th 2009, in BIg Bear Lake California. We are very excited to present the first gay men's event in Big Bear, California.
You won't want to miss the First Annual Big Bear Adventure Weekend Event. This is going to be HUGE! For more information about Big Bear Lake, check out
BigBearAdventureWeekend.com
What you can expect!
Men, men, men, lots of men... men of all types.
You don't have to be a bear to attend BBAW. This event is for all men! |
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FEATURED HOTEL
Reservations at
Northwoods Resort & Conference Center
Big Bear Lake's Premier Full Service Hotel Resort !
NEW MENU AT STILLWELLS RESTAURANT
Book Online Today www.NorthwoodsResort.com |
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CALTRANS ROAD UPDATES & INFORMATION
Mountain Highway Information
Into & Out of Big Bear Valley
For Latest CALTRANS Road Updates www.DOT.CA.GOV/DIST8
TIRE CHAIN CATAGORIES
R-0: No chains required
R-1: Chains required, unless you have snow tires
R-2: Chains required, except on 4-wheel-drives with snow tires on all four wheels
R-3: Chains required, no exceptions
CALIFORNIA LAW: Carry tire chains at all times during winter travel in the mountains!
This page updated as new information becomes available
HWY 330 from San Bernardino & Highland
HWY 18 from Lake Arrowhead & Running Springs
HWY 38 from Redlands & Yucaipa
BEST ALTERNATE ROUTE FOR HWY 330
HWY 18 from Victorville & Lucerne Valley....Use I-15 thru Cajon Pass |
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