This is an opinion page on "growth" as the driving force behind political policy over or instead of public interest as the policy basis.

Growth Politics Vs Current Realities

Over the last 20 years or so, the High Desert area-  Hesperia-  Apple Valley- Victorville has been pushed and shoved into what it is today by what I call “growth politics” . What was a few quiet desert communities has been transformed into the hodgepodge mess that exists today.  The result of a growth at any cost attitude by the political powers put into office by developers and real estate interests. The belief that all growth is good and the faster the better has been the mantra of the political powers in the area. Moderation or the mention of sensible or smart growth is blaspheme.

All of the local government agencies, despite their original intent or purpose have transformed into “growth” agencies. No consideration of resources or the lack of resources, infrastructure or the lack of infrastructure, overcrowding, traffic, noise, pollution, is allowed. Build those houses, sell those lots and houses, and don’t question growth as the solution to all problems. We didn’t have enough water in this valley 20 years ago when the population was a third of what it is today. But, if you have control of the water you control the amount of growth and the where of growth. Thats why the MWA is controlled by growth politics.  In Hesperia, schools are being built on the south side of town to get ready for the next wave of growth. Outside of the populated areas in town, in the middle of the vacant desert. Lots are bought from campaign contributors for above market prices for no apparent need. These land deals are justified by the corrupt school board members as planning for future growth.

What about the people who live here now? What about the government services that they need and have paid for with their taxes? Public safety? Affordable and clean water? Decent roads that are not gridlocked? Safe  and nearby parks? Quality schools with quality teachers with reasonable class sizes.? No, sorry about that. There’s no money left for those things. We have invested all your tax dollars into growth, and its not returning any of your money to pay for those things. Its long gone and not coming back.

The constant push for growth has forced government agencies to redefine themselves and their purposes as the realities of limitation set in. The State of California and its legislature have created huge obstructions to business and the citizens with their disfunction and greed. Partisan politics and getting elected/reelected are their priorities. Solving problems, providing services for the people and maintaining the economy are not on the radar. The looting of the tax base with nothing to show for it starts at the State level, goes down to the County level and finishes up at the local level. The local level consists of City or Town government, school boards and water districts, special districts and special assessments. The reality of declining tax revenues pitted against the many hidden “growth” agendas is causing the current fiscal crisis and the cutbacks in jobs and services for the public. 

How the cutbacks effect you, depends on your perspective. Hours cut at state,county and local government offices are passed on to those waiting to use those government agencies. Some are closing for entire days in addition to shorter hours. Classroom sizes are growing larger with every teacher that gets laid off or is not hired to begin with. The State has raided local county, city and school district revenues in every way possible. And they promise to take more next year and the year after.


Oh ,You Don’t Know, The Shape I’m In
There’s a great old song by the Band named The Shape I’m In, the lyrics are-  I just spent sixty days in the jailhouse, For the crime of having no dough, no, no.
Now here I am back out in the street, For the crime of having nowhere to go

Save your neck, or save your brother; Looks like it's one or the other. Oh, you don't know the shape I'm in.

The line about making the choice of saving your own neck or your brothers is where we are now. When reality sets in and the times get tough, the “growth” salesmen will keep selling “growth” as  the answer. The solution to all of the problems that “growth” has caused, is more “growth”. Politicians will tell us that we need to maintain “growth”, so we need to keep spending. And they need find more money so “growth” is not at risk. So we cut back on public services and spend more on special interests. They will make the “tough” budget choices but they will never make it tough on themselves, or the special interests that put them there. It will be tough on the taxpayers and citizens, their services will be cut again and again in the name of growth.

The question of growth as the driving force for all government policy needs to be discussed by the public who are effected by this policy. The same public who votes in (and out) the policy makers in the elections. Look around at where we are now and how we got here, then ask is this where we want to be? Is this the direction we want our communities headed towards? Have the government agencies strayed from what their purpose was? Have they been taken over by developers, special interests, business interests? Do they put the public interest first? How about our quality of life issues?  You are invited to participate in this discussion, and your voting in the up coming elections will represent your opinion in action.