While state leaders in Sacramento have never hesitated to deliver state resources to Los Angeles and San Francisco, San Bernardino County, like much of Inland California, has consistently been left behind. This is untenable. Vote yes on Measure EE so San Bernardino County can lay out the myriad ways the county is shortchanged and lay the foundation for the county to finally get its fair share.
Jeff Burum, the local developer who spearheaded this measure, lamented in an interview with our editorial board those many ways San Bernardino County fails to get its fair share of resources to support everything from education to infrastructure. “Until when are we going to wait — until our freeways aren’t usable anymore?” he asked.
Echoing these concerns is San Bernardino County District Attorney Jason Anderson, who noted the county’s consistently underresourced judicial system. In 2020, the state Judicial Council reported that San Bernardino County was budgeted for 94 judgeships, but actually needed around 137 or 138.
Fontana Mayor Acquanetta Warren likewise argues that as much as the state talks about equity, it’s time for San Bernardino County to get some of that equity in state funding. “We’re not respected,” she said. “We’re not valued.”
Ontario Mayor Paul Leon told the editorial board of the not-uncommon tendency of many in the state to look down upon San Bernardino County, and the Inland Empire in general.
This is untenable.
San Bernardino County is the fifth-largest county in the state by population and the biggest by area. The Inland Empire is one of the fastest-growing regions in the nation, as people from coastal California continue to look for more affordable places to live.
The county shouldn’t miss out on funding it deserves. County taxpayers shouldn’t miss out on opportunities as the state’s political establishment lavishes money on select parts of the state.
Measure EE calls on San Bernardino County leaders to study all options, including up to secession, to determine its options for getting the county’s fair share.
While the secession talk generates plenty of headlines and grabs the attention of people who otherwise might not be interested in this measure were it not for the mention of leaving the state, those promoting the measure have clearly succeeded in generating interest in their just cause.
Jeff Burum deserves credit for spurring this needed discussion. San Bernardino County residents should vote yes on Measure EE.
Sourcing & Methodology
To help you make decisions about the numerous candidates, measures, propositions and other races on your ballot, our editorial board (made up of opinion writers and editors), makes recommendations every election. The process is completely separate from newsroom reporting and journalists. With the exception of our executive editor, the members of our editorial board are not news reporters or editors.
Sal Rodriguez, the opinion editor for the Southern California News Group’s 11 newspapers, heads the editorial board and guides our stances on public policy and political matters.
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