As usual,its about money. With BIA controlled elected officials, the BIA sets the agenda and policy in local government. One of the main goals is to control the Developer Impact fees that are set by City government and school boards. The County Board of Supervisors gives the BIA everything and anything for the rest of the unincorporated parts of the County. From land use policy to paving County roads up to the new developments. Just look as to who benefits from any County decision on spending tax dollars and you won't have to look far before seeing a developer making money. While the tax payers go without public services or public safety.

The BIA (Building Industry Association) has ran a very successful campaign to "continue to work to keep pro-housing candidates on our local elected bodies" in San Bernardino County government and in many of the local cities in the High Desert. The 4 elected bodies are-The County Board of Supervisors -City Councils-School Boards - Water Boards. In San Bernardino County they control most of these elected bodies today and have for the last 10 years.

Brad Mitzelfelt worked for the BIA from 1995 to 2000 as the person who wrote and created the  government policies that were designed to exclusively benefit the Building Industry instead of the public. The text below is from a local BIA magazine explaining their goals.

 GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS - This year, we'll be focusing our award - winning government affairs programs to expand our successful 'Home Team' and 'Eyes and Ears' programs that have resulted in significant savings for homebuyers throughout our region.

This year, our goals are to focus on the most pressing issue challenges such as developer impact fee increases, continued involvement in the San Bernardino County General Plan, continued opposition to misguided
inclusionary zoning proposals and working to overcome NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) opposition to higher density housing opportunities.

Thanks to our successful 'Eyes and Ears' program, we're expanding our
efforts to monitor and address development impact fee (DIF) proposals
throughout the region to keep them honest and accurate.

We'll continue to work to keep pro-housing candidates on our local elected bodies and utilize innovative community programs to mobilize community support for policies that bring more housing opportunities to our neighbors.

Some of the elected positions in the County that the BIA has contributed hundreds of thousands of dollars to "keep pro-housing candidates on our local elected bodies" are... Bill Postmus as assessor to reduce taxs on BIA member owned property. All 5 of the County Board of Supervisors for land use and regulations favoring the BIA- including the San Bernardino County General Plan. All of the High Desert City Councils and planning commissions. The Mojave Water Agency and many school boards, all working to benefit the Building Industry Associations needs. These agencies decide policy in zoning and in reducing or deferring Developer Impact Fee's, and in the issues of water for the new developments. For proof of this, look at the contributors to their campaign committee's, and how they give the money to each others election campaigns.

As one of appointed supervisors Brad Mitzelfelt's first assignments from the BIA- the County of San Bernardino with the Baldy Veiw Chapter of the BIA put on a water conference. This was not put on for the taxpayers who paid for it, but for the building industry and the elected officials that are in office because of the BIA. If the public wanted to attend the tickets were $90.00 each. How much did this County/BIA water conference cost the taxpayers of San Bernardino County? How did it benefit the people of the 1st District that Mitzelfelt is supposed to represent? Who was there as an advocate for the citizens interests? Here's how the BIA reported it,

Given the driest year on record in California to date, we can no longer afford to waste water, or even take it for granted.
Presenters delivered this message to the approximately 800
community, business and public policy leaders who attended the first annual 2007 San Bernardino County Water Conference at the Ontario Convention Center on August 9th. The event was jointly presented by the Baldy View Chapter, State Senator Bob Dutton (R-31st) and San Bernardino
County First District Supervisor Brad Mitzelfelt.
The issue of water is foremost in the minds of water stakeholders as they grapple with one of the fastest growing regions in the United States. The conference brought together an unprecedented number of regional stakeholders-- including government agencies, public and private businesses and San Bernardino County residents-to discuss the water needs of the region and find ways of creating a system to ensure that everyone will have water in the future. Supervisor Mitzelfelt opened the conference by saying that in spite of the challenges that the County may face, local policy makers are well equipped to meet the challenge. “San Bernardino County is home to some of the most talented water experts in the nation,”noted Mitzelfelt. “This conference will help us work together to identify solutions.” Following Supervisor Mitzelfelt was Todd Tatum, BIA Baldy View Chapter President and Vice President of American Housing Group. Tatum highlighted the challenges that Baldy View municipalities and homebuilders face regarding water conservation and availability.

This is one example of the BIA's plan to control local government and policy for it's sole benefit working like a charm. And being paid for with taxpayer dollars at the same time.  Yes, we will find a way to keep building houses in the High Desert even if there is no water available.The SuperWell project - raise the rates on the existing residents-  lie about the existing groundwater supply, what ever it takes to keep building houses. The cover shot of the BIA magazine has BIA president Todd Tatum in the middle with 2 of his bought and paid for elected officials- Brad Mitzelfelt and Anthony Adams. Elected or appointed to office with well over $1,000,000.00- that's 1 Million Dollars of Building Industry money between the 2 of them. Mitzelfelt reported contributions of $ 850,000.00 for 2007. Adams collected  $554,834.00 for his assembly seat in 2006.