California’s fifth largest county, home of 2.2 million people will continue to move forward with a measure that explores the possibility of secession.
According to Measure EE, San Bernardino County voted to approve a measure that would review state resources and appropriations and “up to and including secession” from California.
Although Measure EE was passed by 50.6 percent of voters on Nov. 8, it is widely believed that San Bernardino will not seize California.
Over California’s 172-year history there have been more that 220 attempts at dissolution. All of them have failed. The legislature and Congress must approve secession.
Jeff Burum, a San Bernardino resident who is also an affordable housing developer, has been instrumental in moving the effort forward.
Burum said in an interview that the measure was deliberately designed with the word “secession” in it. It was about encouraging residents to fight for their fair share in appropriations and fair treatment.
Burum was frustrated that state legislators were not able to allocate the proper resources to the county given its size, population and complexity. Burum pointed out inequalities in energy shutoffs and budget surplus allocations. He also complained about a lack in representation in the state legislature.
Velto referred to particular frustrations with “unfunded mandats” and “underfunded mandats” that are frequently imposed upon San Bernardino County officials who have little control over the consequences.
Velto expressed concern about the state’s use taxpayer money to finance the high-speed rail line between San Francisco, Los Angeles. Often referred to as “train to nowhere”, the project has an estimated final cost $105 billion. It remains unfinished since it was approved in 2008.
San Bernardino, the third-largest metro area in the Golden State, is after San Francisco and Los Angeles. This region has experienced a constant homelessness crisis, rising crime rates and increased home prices.
According to WalletHub, San Bernardino was ranked among the most dangerous U.S. cities, surpassing Los Angeles and Oakland.
Burum said, “I think that the governor of our State would just as soon ignore me, and ignore what has happened in San Bernardino,” when Burum was asked if Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom was in contact with local leaders regarding the matter.
Chuck DeVore is a former California legislator and is now with the Texas Public Policy Foundation. He said that “These secession attempts are asymptom of a problem known at the national scale: a powerful, distant government that in the best cases ignores the needs or seems to go outof its way to make their lives difficult.
Critics of Measure EE, including the San Bernardino County Democratic Party chair, suggested that it was simply a ploy by conservative voters to vote in the Nov.8 elections.
Fox News Digital reached out to the San Bernardino County Democratic Party for clarification.
Measure EE’s next step will be to prepare a formal report about San Bernardino County, and its “shortfalls” in comparison with other California counties. This will be sent to Sacramento state legislators for review, according Burum.
He stated, “If we’re to succeed in our endeavors, we hope it’s an inspiration and a source of strength for our country so that residents can feel again that they can make the difference.”
