Community Corner

California Secession Off The Table For Now; Supervisors Approve Summit

Supervisors agree to reform summit over secession.

Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Stone’s proposal to split California into two separate states did not go to a board vote today.

Riverside County Supervisor Jeff Stone today set aside his proposal calling for a convention to discuss splitting up California, winning instead unanimous approval from the board of supervisors to host a summit where representatives from cities and counties can exchange ideas about how to make the state function better.

The supervisor's plan for a 51st state has generated a buzz over the last week, with mixed reactions, and speakers at this morning's Board of Supervisors meeting were both receptive and critical of the concept.

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“The state is no longer governable,'' said Temecula City Councilman Mike Naggar. “Tens of thousands of us are no longer represented in Sacramento.''

“California is the quintessential land of fruits and nuts,'' added Murrieta City Councilman Doug McAllister. “The (governor's office) has made it clear they already consider us two separate states. We should at least have a conversation about statehood. We need to remind the state that power flows from the bottom up.''

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McAllister and others blasted comments by Gov. Jerry Brown's press secretary, Gil Duran, who said conservatives unhappy with California should move to Arizona. Duran said Stone's proposal is "a supremely ridiculous waste of everybody's time."

"If you want to live in a Republican state with very conservative right-wing laws, then there's a place called Arizona," Duran told the Los Angeles Times.

Several secession opponents questioned Stone's motives.

Norco resident Julie Waltz wondered whether he had proposed a new state to further his “political career,'' while Meadowbrook resident Gary Grant compared the action to “breaking from the foundation on which this country was established.''

Stone said he hatched the idea while fuming about the 2011-12 state budget, which includes provisions that shift revenues away from counties and cities and increase the vehicle license fee -- without a two-thirds approval by the Legislature, as required under the California constitution.

“The state has looted Riverside County to the tune of $166 million,'' the supervisor said. “Our friends and neighbors are losing jobs and homes and marriages are breaking up because of the stress the economy has placed on working families, yet lawmakers in Sacramento make one job-killing decision after another.''

"I have come to the conclusion ... that the political priorities of Southern California and Northern California are completely different," Stone wrote in his motion.

Stone cited a survey showing that California is ranked dead last in business-friendliness nationally, and he named a number of companies that he said have moved operations outside the state to escape high taxation and regulation, including Dell, Toyota and Northrop Grumman.

“Aerospace is gone,'' the supervisor said. “Automobile manufacturers have been chased out.''

The practicing pharmacist and business owner highlighted the benefits companies have realized by relocating to states with no personal or corporate income taxes and comparatively low regulation, such as Texas.

Stone described California as “too big to govern'' and a laggard in K-12 education, with one-third of the nation's welfare recipients and only 12 percent of its population. The Orange County native said he wanted “the Golden State to be golden again,'' but feared the task of "getting government out of the way'' would be too great, leaving secession as the only alternative.

The supervisor's proposal called for Riverside, Fresno, Imperial, Inyo, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Mono, Orange, San Bernardino, San Diego and Tulare counties to join forces in forming a new state.
Stone envisioned a part-time legislature, with lawmakers meeting for three months every two years -- like Texas -- and earning $600 per month instead of $400 per day. He said South California's constitution should include a balanced budget provision and property tax protections, akin to those guaranteed under Proposition 13.

There would be no subsidies for illegal immigrants and an emphasis on automating many government functions.

Supervisor John Tavaglione, president of the California State Association of Counties, commended Stone and shared his “frustration with the state,'' but shied away from supporting secession.

“Perhaps there's a time when that should occur,'' he said, suggesting that for now, a forum be convened for elected officials and residents from across the state to discuss reforms and how to implement them.

Supervisor John Benoit called Stone's secession plan “an interesting proposal.'' The former assemblyman said he could relate to his colleague's disgust with various legislative acts but couldn't support a convention on secession because of the county resources that would be expended.

“We have too many critical issues on our own plates,'' Benoit said.

Supervisor Marion Ashley liked the concept, but also worried about using public funds for something that might be better suited to a grassroots movement.

Board Chairman Bob Buster said California's problems could be fixed.
“The state is an improvisation,'' he said. “It's like jazz. Sometimes you don't know what's going on.''

Buster, who represents Lake Elsinore and Wildomar, said he is confident California would be able to “leap over its problems.''

After hearing the comments, Stone modified his proposal, asking for the board's endorsement of a privately funded summit at the Riverside Convention Center, with the goal of identifying how to change the way the state does business. Any resident or local representative from anywhere in the state would be invited.

“Only something positive is going to come out of this,'' Stone said.

The board voted unanimously in favor.

The summit will likely be held in late September or October. –City News Service and Toni McAllister contributed to this report.


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