Annexations - part I

Maybe it's the water? Could it be the air? The over-abundant sunshine?? Or maybe it's just human nature to resist change? Whatever the reason, many residents tend to resist municipal annexations. As a result, this practice has led to (and continues to perpetuate) a highly fragmented municipal landscape, as many anti-annexation campaigns eventually morph into pro-incorporation ones.

In Southern California, this has translated into more than 150 individual municipalities -- which lends credence to the oft-spoken description of the region as "a hundred-plus communities in search of a center."

So, what's the big deal, one might ask? Although there are both pros and cons to how large -- or small -- local government should be in order to remain responsive and effective, there's no denying that an overly fragmented govermental structure lacks cohesiveness and tends to lead to squabbling and "parochialism" among local jurisdictions. Which in turn means gaining any kind of "regional" perspective and/or "shared" vision is very complicated, if downright impossible.

More to follow...

Related

• Riverside Press-Enterprise - A rocky road to cityhood


• Riverside Press-Enterprise - Annexation talk splits area


• Riverside Press-Enterprise - Fontana wants to add acreage


• Riverside Press-Enterprise - Riverside officials hold meeting on annexation


• Riverside Press-Enterprise - Standing ground


• Riverside Press-Enterprise - Project ignites culture clash