Idyllwild Renaissance Faire is a popular weekend event for everyone who likes adventure and various activities. Thousands of visitors are drawn to the Faire by medieval merriment, music, dance, games, food, and beverages. The fantasy faire is set during the 15th century, when Spain was ruled by Ferdinand II and Queen Isabella of Spain.

Location and infrastructure

Visitors can enjoy the event on September 27, 28, and 29, that will be held at Hurkey Creek Park. The Park is located off of Hwy 74 in the San Jacinto Mountains just 4 miles (6.4 km) southeast of Mountain Center. There are 130 individual campsites in the park’s campground for overnight or extended stays, and five loops of large group camping that can accommodate 80-100 campers each.

Events and activities of the Idyllwild Renaissance Faire

Guests of the Faire can step back in time as they enter a world filled with knights, maidens, jesters, and other characters from the Renaissance period. The faire creates an immersive atmosphere with authentic costumes, decorations, and entertainment.

Idyllwild Renaissance Faire features local entertainers and professional Renaissance performers. The public can experience interactive storytelling and shows around the Faire. The enchanting “La Mancha” offers full immersion in the bygone era with plenty of Spanish Renaissance entertainment, set across multiple stages. The public can meet jugglers, merchants, minstrels, pirates, Celtic Clans, Vikings, and all kinds of craftspeople offering their goods.

Tickets and parking

Paid parking is offered on-site. Limited campsites are available at the Faire site. First priority of the campsites will be given to Faire merchants, guilds, cast, and crew. Children under 12 can get in for free with an adult ticket. However, watch for a possible update of ticket prices on the official website in External Resources below.

There’s something for everyone, whether you’re interested in historical reenactments or just looking for a fun day out. The faire offers activities and entertainment for all ages, making it a perfect outing for families. Kids can participate in games, crafts, and educational workshops while adults enjoy the festivities.

Joining the Idyllwild Renaissance Faire 2024 means becoming part of a vibrant community of history enthusiasts, performers, and attendees who share a love for the Renaissance era. It’s a welcoming environment, where visitors can connect with like-minded individuals and make lasting memories.

Overall, the Idyllwild Renaissance Faire promises a day filled with adventure, laughter, and cultural exploration. So plan this visit in advance to get the most out of the fantastic event and to feel like a participant in a favorite historical era!

Idyllwild Renaissance Faire (Official website)

Idyllwild Renaissance Faire (Facebook)

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The latest Walmart Supercenter to undergo a major transformation is situated at 479 N. McKinley Street in Corona. Its grand reopening ceremony, featuring a ribbon-cutting event, was held on Friday morning to showcase a plethora of upgrades. From revamped exteriors and interiors to a redesigned checkout layout, an expanded pharmacy, and an updated vision center, the store now boasts enhanced features to cater to its clientele. Moreover, interactive displays and digital touchpoints scattered throughout the store aim to provide customers with a seamless shopping experience.

This revitalization effort in Corona follows closely on the heels of another successful reopening at the Walmart Supercenter located at 32225 Temecula Parkway in Temecula, where local dignitaries joined in the celebration on October 27.

Walmart’s commitment to remodeling and expanding its footprint is underscored by remarks made by Walmart U.S. President and CEO John Furner earlier this year. Furner announced plans to remodel 650 stores across 47 states, including California, within the next 12 months. Notably, on November 3, Walmart marked its “Second Best Day” with grand reopenings at 117 stores nationwide, the largest single-day rollout in the company’s history.

With over $9 billion invested in upgrading more than 1,400 stores nationwide in the past two years, Walmart’s dedication to enhancing its retail infrastructure remains steadfast. Looking ahead, the retail giant plans to build or convert more than 150 stores over the next five years, representing a significant capital investment in local communities across 30 states.

Beyond the physical upgrades, the reopening of Walmart stores translates into a boost for local economies. City documents reveal that the Temecula Supercenter consistently ranks among the top sales tax producers in the city, contributing to vital revenue streams.

Moreover, Walmart’s expansion initiatives create employment opportunities, with tens of thousands of jobs supported by renovation and development projects. Furner highlighted Walmart’s role as a major employer, directly employing approximately 1.6 million people in the United States and indirectly supporting many more jobs.

In line with its commitment to workforce development, Walmart aims to elevate its employees’ earning potential. The company announced that its U.S. average hourly wage is set to surpass $18, while store managers now enjoy an average annual salary of $128,000, signaling a commitment to providing competitive compensation packages.

However, Walmart’s expansion efforts are not without detractors. Critics argue that the retail giant’s low-price model undermines small businesses and raises concerns about its reliance on foreign-made products, potentially impacting the domestic economy. Despite these criticisms, Walmart’s financial performance remains robust, with total revenue for fiscal year 2023 reaching $611.3 billion, marking a 6.7% increase over the previous year, as reported in filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

As Walmart continues to modernize and expand its footprint, the ripple effects of its investments are poised to shape local economies and communities across Riverside County and beyond.

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Nestled in the heart of Riverside County, San Jacinto is a city that’s surrounded by not only scenic beauty but also an array of esteemed educational institutions. Prospective students in the vicinity have a multitude of choices when it comes to higher education, with everything from community colleges to universities within reach. Let’s explore the top five colleges near San Jacinto, California that have garnered praise for their academic excellence, campus life, and student support.

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, RIVERSIDE (UCR)

Located roughly 25 miles from San Jacinto, UCR stands as a beacon of academic achievement and diversity. As part of the prestigious University of California system, UCR offers a wide range of undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral programs. The campus, sprawled over 1,200 acres, is home to the renowned UCR Botanic Gardens. With research opportunities and a commitment to sustainability, UCR consistently ranks among the top national universities. Its ethnic diversity and focus on inclusivity further make it an attractive choice for students from all backgrounds.

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, SAN BERNARDINO (CSUSB)

Approximately 30 miles to the north of San Jacinto, CSUSB offers a robust curriculum in a variety of fields. With a strong emphasis on community engagement and hands-on learning, CSUSB has received accolades for its business, social work, and education programs. The picturesque San Bernardino Mountains serve as a backdrop, providing students with a serene learning environment. The university’s commitment to affordability and its reputation for fostering a diverse student body make it a standout in the region.

MT. SAN JACINTO COLLEGE (MSJC)

Closer to home, MSJC is a community college serving the San Jacinto Valley and surrounding areas. With campuses in San Jacinto and Menifee, as well as other learning centers in the region, MSJC is an accessible choice for those seeking associate degrees, certifications, or a path to transfer to four-year institutions. Praised for its student-centered approach, MSJC offers smaller class sizes, fostering a close-knit educational community. Moreover, its strong ties to local industries ensure that students receive relevant training for the workforce.

LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY (LLU)

Situated about 35 miles from San Jacinto, LLU is a health-sciences institution grounded in the Seventh-day Adventist Christian view. Known for its medical, dental, pharmacy, and public health programs, LLU emphasizes whole-person care, integrating physical, mental, and spiritual health. Students benefit from cutting-edge facilities and patient-care experiences, preparing them for careers in health care and research. The university’s emphasis on service makes it unique, with many students engaging in mission work both locally and internationally.

RIVERSIDE CITY COLLEGE (RCC)

Founded in 1916, RCC is one of the state’s oldest and most respected community colleges. Just a 30-minute drive from San Jacinto, RCC is known for its strong programs in arts, sciences, and vocational studies. The campus boasts a historic Quadrangle and other architectural gems, making it a picturesque place to study. RCC’s transfer rates to four-year institutions are impressive, and it is often seen as a stepping stone to universities within the UC and CSU systems.

In conclusion, the area surrounding San Jacinto, California, is rich with academic options for students of all aspirations. Whether one is seeking a two-year degree, planning to transfer to a university, or aiming for a specialized program, these five colleges represent some of the best the region has to offer. Their commitment to excellence, inclusivity, and community engagement ensures that students not only receive a top-tier education but also become well-rounded individuals ready to make a mark in their chosen fields.

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The right to an abortion is currently protected in California in two ways. In 2002, the Legislature passed the Reproductive Privacy Act, which made the right to obtain an abortion the official law of the state.

The other layer of protection is the privacy provision of the California Constitution, which was enshrined in 1972 and has been used by the California Supreme Court to strike down numerous attempts at abortion restrictions in the state ever since. Should voters pass Proposition 1 in November, it would add an even more formidable layer of protection, by enshrining these existing abortion rights into the state Constitution.

Why do we need to shore up protections Californians already have? Because the demise of Roe v. Wade at the hands of the Supreme Court in the Dobbs case this summer made clear that nothing is truly guaranteed, even in a progressive state like ours. Just as one California Legislature made a policy to protect the right to abortion, another could repeal it. Furthermore, the overturning of Roe showed the obvious danger in relying on court precedent to protect abortion rights.

The Supreme Court’s decision in the Dobbs case essentially said that previous courts were wrong when they ruled and maintained that the right to abortion is a fundamental liberty protected under the 14th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. So what’s to stop a future California Supreme Court from doing something similar at the state level — turning its back on previous court precedents, and deciding that the privacy provision doesn’t actually protect abortion and contraception? Nothing.

This is exactly why California needs to pass Prop. 1. By explicitly adding protections for abortion and contraception to our state Constitution, the right to abortion will still be secure even if a future Legislature were to repeal the Reproductive Privacy Act or a future California Supreme Court decides the privacy provision no longer applies to reproductive rights. Some Californians may worry that Prop. 1 is an overreach, or that it will affect our current laws.

We believe this is fundamentally wrong. Prop 1 does not alter or displace the Reproductive Privacy Act, nor does it change any element of California’s existing reproductive laws. Instead, it explicitly bolsters these protections under current law. It states in no uncertain terms that nothing in the proposed amendment “narrows or limits the right to privacy or equal protection.” Rather, by spelling out that the state cannot “deny or interfere with an individual’s reproductive freedom…which includes their fundamental right to choose to have an abortion and their fundamental right to choose or refuse contraceptives,” Prop 1 identifies and secures the right to abortion and contraception as fundamental rights in our state.

Some opponents of the amendment, including the Republican Party of California and the California Catholic Conference, argue that the amendment’s language is too broad and will therefore allow the legalization of all abortions later in pregnancy, overriding current laws that restrict abortions to pre-fetal viability unless a pregnant person’s life is at risk.

That is not true. The three-sentence amendment is broad by design, much like the privacy provision that is currently used as the basis for abortion protection, because constitutional provisions are supposed to be skeletal outlines that the legislature can then use as the basis for drafting legislation. The privacy provision did not prevent the Legislature from adding some restrictions to abortions. Prop 1 won’t have that effect either.

It’s true that the threat to abortion and contraception in California seems low right now. Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature have made clear their intention to make California an abortion sanctuary, as restrictions to reproductive care have ramped up in more than a dozen states across the country since the Dobbs decision. The majority of Californians support the right to an abortion in most, if not all, cases. Recent polling indicates that 69% of likely voters in California support Prop 1.

But likely votes don’t mean much until they’re cast. The rights to abortion and contraception are too important to be left beholden to any particular governor, Legislature or court. Prop 1 ensures that they are not.

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Like many people across the world, residents in Hemet have stepped up and begun making homemade face masks; both in response to a call for us to wear them by the city while out in public, and to help fulfil the need of the shortage of essential protective equipment for EMTs, doctors, nurses and other essential workers.

Whimsical, practical, and fun, these masks show us in more than one way – the skills of people who adapt traditional skills to address contemporary; and, in this case, pressing needs. Mask designs are created from an ever-growing array of sources, with the final results limited only by bringing imagination to the creativity of the makers’ skills.

The Hemet and San Jacinto Chronicle have launched a “Show Us Your Masks!” post on Facebook, where we’re calling for photos of masks that you, your friends, family and neighbors have made. We asked the Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicle’s readers to share their mask selfies on our Facebook page.

We have included a few of the photos that were submitted. Email photos to contact@hsjchronicle.com, post them to the Hemet & San Jacinto Chronicles Facebook (hsj.chronicle) page or tag @hsj_chronicle on Instagram & Twitter.

This project is part of the Hemet and San Jacinto’s Chronicle goal to create an archive that documents the experience of local residents during this pandemic.

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California Coronavirus (COVID-19) Response

Many of you have heard by now of the California ” Stay at home Order” sanctioned by The California State Public Health Officer and Director of the California Department of Public Health. This order, made for our protection, orders all individuals living in the State of California to stay home or at their place of residence, except as needed to maintain continuity of operation of the federal critical infrastructure sectors. What does this mean? To clear this up, we have provided a list of frequent asked questions that most of our subscribers have. 

When does the stay at home order go into effect and how long will we stay home? What areas of the state are covered?

The order went into effect on Thursday, March 19, 2020. The order is in place until further notice. It covers the whole state of California, and it exempts activity as needed to maintain continuity of operation of the federal critical infrastructure sectors, critical government services, schools, childcare, and construction, including housing construction.

What can I do? What’s open?

Essential services will remain open, such as:

• Gas stations
• Pharmacies
• Food: Grocery stores, farmers markets, food banks, convenience stores, take-out and delivery restaurants
• Banks
• Laundromats/laundry services
• Essential state and local government functions will also remain open, including law enforcement and offices that provide government programs and services.

What’s closed?

• Dine-in restaurants
• Bars and nightclubs
• Entertainment venues
• Gyms and fitness studios
• Public events and gatherings
• Convention Centers
• Hair and nail salons

Can the Order be changed?

Yes. The State Public Health Officer may issue orders as needed – for example if more information emerges about the public health situation – and issue new orders and directives as conditions warrant.

How does this order interact with local orders to shelter in place? Does it supersede them?

This is a statewide order.

Business and taxes

What businesses and organizations are exempt?

Businesses and organizations that provide critical infrastructure for the state are exempted, including health care and public health, public safety, food and agriculture and media.

I run/work at an exempted business or organization, as defined by the Order. Do I need to get an official letter of authorization from the state to operate?

No. If your business or organization is in the list of exempt sectors, it may still operate. You do not need to obtain any specific authorization from the state to do so. Exempt list can be found at  www.covid19.ca.gov/img/EssentialCriticalInfrastructureWorkers.pdf 

Do I need to pay my taxes?

Yes, state and federal deadlines have been extended. All state taxes are now due on July 15. Call 916-845-4800 or email the Public Affairs Office at publicaffairsoffice@ftb.ca.gov.

Schools and childcare

My school is providing free grab-and-go meals and childcare. Are those still open?

Yes. It is essential to keep children fed and educated. School employees should report to work and focus on distance learning, school meals, and childcare/supervision.

Are daycares still open? Can my babysitter still come to the house?

Yes. Daycares are still open, but only for children of parents working in essential sectors. Daycare centers that remain open should employ heightened cleaning and distancing requirements. Babysitters may also come to the house to care for minors of parents working in essential sectors.

Health care and helping sick relatives

What if I need to visit a health care provider?

If you are feeling sick with flu-like symptoms, please first call your doctor, a nurse hotline, or an urgent care center.

If you need to go to the hospital, call ahead so they can prepare for your arrival. If you need to call 911, tell the 911 operator the exact symptoms you are experiencing so the ambulance provider can prepare to treat you safely.

What about routine, elective or non-urgent medical appointments?

Non-essential medical care like eye exams, teeth cleaning, and elective procedures must/should be cancelled or rescheduled. If possible, health care visits should be done remotely.

Contact your health care provider to see what services they are providing.

May I still go out to get my prescriptions?

Yes. You may leave their homes to obtain prescriptions or get cannabis from a licensed cannabis retailer.

Can I leave home to care for my elderly parents or friends who require assistance to care for themselves? Or a friend or family member who has disabilities?

Yes. Be sure that you protect them and yourself by following social distancing guidelines such as washing hands before and after, using hand sanitizer, maintaining at least six feet of distance when possible, and coughing or sneezing into your elbow or a tissue and then washing your hands. If you have early signs of a cold, please stay away from your older loved ones.

Can I visit loved ones in the hospital, nursing home, skilled nursing facility, or other residential care facility?

Generally no. There are limited exceptions, such as if you are going to the hospital with a minor who is under 18 or someone who is developmentally disabled and needs assistance. For most other situations, the order prohibits non-necessary visitation to these kinds of facilities except at the end-of-life. This is difficult, but necessary to protect hospital staff and other patients.

Outdoor recreation

Can I still exercise? Take my kids to the park for fresh air? Take a walk around the block? Walk my dog?

Yes. So long as you are maintaining a safe social distance of six feet from people who aren’t part of your household, it is ok to go outside for exercise, a walk or fresh air. Gyms are closed.

Can people still go hiking or visit State Parks?

Californians can walk, run, hike and bike in their local neighborhoods as long as they continue to practice social distancing of 6 feet. This means avoiding crowded trails & parking lots. To help reduce crowds, State Parks is modifying operations at some parks, including closing vehicular access and parking lots to reduce density of visitors. A list of closures can be found at www.parks.ca.gov/flattenthecurve. Everyone has the responsibility to “Flatten the COVID-19 Curve at Parks” by maintaining a social distance of 6 feet or more when recreating in the outdoors, and staying home if they are sick. If visitors cannot maintain social distancing, they need to leave the park.

For information on National Parks, please visit their website https://www.nps.gov/aboutus/news/public-health-update.htm.

Pets

Can I walk my dog? Take my pet to the vet?

You can walk your dog. You can go to the vet or pet hospital if your pet is sick. Remember to distance yourself at least six feet from other pets and owners.

—

Information provided by covid19.ca.gov. Stay tuned by visiting the website or by keeping up to date with the next edition of the Hemet and San Jacinto Chronicle. For questions, or to submit your opinion on the matter please feel free to email us at editor@hsjchronicle.com.

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“A Tuna Christmas” promises a pleasant time of laughter

“A Tuna Christmas” belongs to a tetralogy of comedies (“Greater Tuna”, “A Tuna Christmas”, “Red, White and Tuna” and “Tuna does Vegas”) being the second in the series, written by Jaston Williams, Joe Sears and Ed Howard.

All the comedies that belong to the series are set in the fictional city of Tuna, Texas. “A Tuna Christmas” is also set in the year of 1989 and its plot focuses on the city’s annual Christmas courtyard exhibition contest, which Vera Carp won 14 times in a row. A mysterious “Christmas Phantom”, known for destroying the exhibits in the courtyard, has all the contestants very nervous. Among the secondary plots are Stanley Bumiller’s attempts to end his probation and leave Tuna, Bertha Bumiller’s fight to keep her family together at Christmas, and Joe Bob Lipsey’s fight to successfully mount his production of “A Christmas Carol” despite the city controller of the power company who threatens to turn off the lights.

The work shows us in a friendly way, the life and attitudes of people living in small towns in the south, while reflecting a fulminating satire of these same issues. What makes these works remarkable is that only two men play the complete cast, which consists of more than twenty eccentric characters of both genders and multiple ages.

“A Tuna Christmas” debuted in 1989 with a tour that ended in 2012 after Sears retired from the Theater Company. The play was nominated for “Outstanding Non-Resident Production, Helen Hayes Awards Non-Resident Production” in 1990.

This time, the Ramona Hillside Players in Hemet will present “A Tuna Christmas” directed by Frank Siebke and starring Arles Struvie as “Josh Sommers” and Thurston Wheelis as “Brad West.” It is certainly a work that no one should miss, not only to enjoy a good time, but also enriching at a cultural level.

“A Tuna Christmas” will be presented in January on 17, 19, 24, 25 and 26. There are different options for making reservations and/or buying tickets, which can be done by calling (951) 658-5300, checking online at ramonahillsideplayers.org/tickets or you can show up in person at the Box Office every Monday (Started on January 6th) from 2pm – 4pm to buy tickets with cash or check. It is important to note that there are only 95 seats available per show so purchase or reserve yours today, and do not miss out on this wonderful comedy, while you will be supporting local artistic talent.

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Fall rains give rise to a mysterious kingdom

Mushrooms: from murder to magic to medicine . . . to pizza topping. Your mother may have urged you to stay away from those “Toadstools” but for some, including myself, those pleas of warning led to a mushrooming curiosity for the unknown. And with recent rainfall we can expect these organisms to make their appearance on lawns, in forests, gardens, and pastures; providing the perfect opportunity to pique the minds of the curious, and to explore a largely misunderstood kingdom.

What’s a mushroom?

More closely related to animals than to plants, mushrooms are the reproductive structures of underground fungal networks called mycelium. The web-like structure of the mycelium feeds by secreting digestive enzymes, breaking down organic matter, and absorbing nutrients. These fungal “stomachs” can colonize acres of land. In fact, the largest known organism at 2,385 acres is a fungal network of the edible “Honey Mushroom,” residing in Oregon’s Malheur National Forest. Mushrooms are natures recycle bin. Through modes of nutrition they turn dead matter into life-giving soil, and many form essential relationships with the root systems of trees and other plants.

Fungal Friend or Fungal Foe?

Mushrooms evoke a number of emotions ranging from fear to adoration. Here in the U.S., our culture sways fungophobic – that is, we tend to be a mushroom fearing society, in contrast to European and Asian cultures. We more often associate mushrooms with death and decay; the culprits of poisonings, pests of agriculture, harbingers of bad luck. They’ve been implicated in train derailments, the assassination of an emperor, the invention of Santa Clause, and in their magical form – the psilocybin-producing species — have been speculated in spurring human language via the “Stoned Ape Hypothesis.” But all magic, mysticism and hypotheses aside, the ecological role they play is vital to sustaining life; they are an untapped resource for new medicines, and their digestive powers have been used in cleaning up oil spills and other man-made chemicals. Of the 10,000 described species in North America, most – about 80% – are non-toxic; 18%, if ingested would make you wish you were dead, and about 1% are life-threatening if consumed. The other 1% are hallucinogenic. Always consult an expert if considering any mushroom for a meal, and familiarize yourself first with the deadly species. A great book for beginners, All That the Rain Promises and More by Dave Arora, is an informative and fun guide to western mushrooms.

Unidentified Fungal Object: what’s this thing growing in my yard?

Mushrooms come in an astonishing variety of shapes, textures, colors, growth habits – and reputations, which has led to oddly named species like “Turkey Tail,” “Fairy Ring Mushroom,” “Destroying Angel,” “Corpse Finder,” “Lawyer’s Wig,” and the glow-in-the-dark “Jack O’ Lantern.” They can seem otherworldly in origin, appearing rapidly in troops, rings and lawn-occupying colonies . . . some are even known to bust through asphalt. The task of identification often starts with the anxious, stick-wielding discoverer poking at a specimen, but don’t worry, you cannot die from touching a mushroom and there are numerous books, websites, and online groups dedicated to mushroom identification; a good place to begin is at https://www.mushroomexpert.com/index.html or upload your pics and observations and contribute to the science of mushrooms at https://mushroomobserver.org/

Whatever your fungal opinion, mushrooms and other members of the fungi kingdom are an important but overlooked part of our lives. Beneath our feet lie networks of untapped knowledge and undiscovered species. The field of mycology (the study of fungi) relies heavily on amateur observations in advancing what we know; and with the recent rains, the next time you’re out browse the yard, the garden, or take a walk in the park . . . you never know what you might find.

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We are pleased  to announce the first annual “HSJ Chronicle Sports Awards” Breakfast Banquet, to be held this Sunday, December 8 at 8AM at Applebee’s in Hemet.  The event will be hosted by Kyle Headlee, HSJ Chronicle Sports Writer.  We are so thankful to Melissa Silva, Manager of Applebee’s for her commitment to our newspaper and our community!  Come by and see the HSJ Chronicle staff!

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An honest, open discussion with Mayor Bonnie Wright

The Hemet San Jacinto Chronicle sat down this afternoon with Mayor Bonnie Wright and discussed several issues: among them was the California Bureau of Audit assessment of Hemet and an article in Business Insider Magazine which, to put it mildly, did not put Hemet in the best light. “First of all…What is the criteria used to place cities on this Business Insider list of the country’s “most miserable” cities? There are a million ways you can assess any town or anything for that matter. The problem with studies like this is that no one takes the time to find out what criteria is used.” Here is the criteria used: https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1j1L19LB3T3uldlkW8OsJ_JyFq-f8yPBYWXLj752hBHA/edit#gid=1188779382

In this, our Mayor is right on target.

First off, the study gave an unexplained 40% weight to population change. Why is it weighted at 40%? The study doesn’t say. What does this population change mean? The study doesn’t say. What’s the demographic of the population change? The article answers none of those questions. By the way, and for whatever it’s worth, which no one can tell from the study,  the demographic change was pegged at 8.50% from 2010 to 2018 (http://worldpopulationreview.com/us-cities/hemet-ca-population/). From the year 2000 to the year 2018, our population grew from 58,812 to 85,275: not only does the article not mention this, but it gives no idea as to what the population increase may even mean to the city.

The article also gives a 10% weight to those working in the civilian labor force. Why only 10% ? What’s the median for a city our size? Again, the study is mute. BI’s study gives 10% weight to Median Household Income, 15% weight to median commute time, 10% weight to the percentage of people in poverty and 15% of the weight of the study goes to those without health insurance. This is the sum total of the study’s criteria.

(our mayor speaks out)

Again, one must ask, “Why are these criteria used? No one knows, because the study doesn’t cite its reasoning.

Weather? Beautiful mountain scenery? Emergency personnel response times? Police response times? Response times for firefighters? Overall quality of life, as measured by the citizens actually living here? 

None of these issues were addressed.

Using our “Question of the week,” we asked our citizens what they thought of the BI article, and, on urging from the mayor, we also asked the question, “Are you better off than you were a year ago?,” the following week. While there were some understandably dour comments, the overwhelming tone of the responses was very positive. 

“Look, our demographic is what it is: we don’t have an industrial base here, so of course people have to commute to get to certain jobs. Does that make us a “miserable city?” asks Mayor Wright, continuing, “We have a bedroom community. Why? Because we have no freeway access,“ says the fired-up Wright. 

But wait, there’s more.

“Stop and think of the demographics portrayed in this supposedly in-depth article: they don’t take into account the disposable income of our senior citizens.“ Again the Mayor’s comments are prescient: A whopping 92.7% of our citizens are in what is called the, “Age Dependency Ratio” (ADR). The ADR is defined as, “…the ratio of people typically not in the labor force due to age.” With those kinds of number, of course a study using such meager and oddly-chosen statistics is going to show skewed “findings.”

(our mayor speaks out)

The Mayor continued to hammer away with facts. “We have, in our demographics now, young married couples who moved here because the economy tanked in 2008…the  younger families were looking for a more affordable place to live, but now are driving further to go to well-paying jobs. At one time we had a median age of 63. Now? Now it’s 38. When you realize that there’s no redevelopment dollars anymore, because they’ve been siphoned-off by Sacramento, and then you see how drastically our population has changed in both size and average age, I think we’re doing remarkably well for a small Southern California town that is just now coming out of the recession.”

The mayor then took aim at the recently updated California State Auditor’s report stating bluntly, “We had some significant challenges with regards to revenue and we’re making swift and honest changes. Since Chris Lopez became a Interim City Manager, we have not only met with the Bureau of audits face-to-face several months ago, but continue to be in regular communication with the bureau.”

Interim City Manager Chris Lopez echoes the mayor’s sentiments commenting, “On May 30, 2019, I flew up to Sacramento to meet with the Auditor’s Office and discuss some of the items we plan to address in fiscal year 2019/20. Since then, I have remained in communication with the Auditor’s Office and plan on submitting a formal response to the most recent letter in the near term. It is my intent to begin discussions about a budget-forecasting model in the beginning of 2020 as this is critically important to the fiscal sustainability of our community.”

With only a month or so left in her mayoralty, the Chronicle realizes that Mayor Wright did not have to afford us an interview: it is greatly appreciated.

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