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Want to remind you that we will be meeting tonight, April 28th, at 6:30 pm. Our permenant meeting location is at the Community School multi-purpose room, corner of Ramona Street and Hansen Lane. Hope to see you there.

“When in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bonds which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth the separate and equal station to which the laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind require that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation ------------- We hold these truths to be self-evident…” Declaration of Independence, July, 4, 1776.

Bold ideas, then and now. Even revolutionary. Maybe it is playing to the dramatic, but many analogies can be drawn from 1776 to today in Ramona with some relevance. One being that there are many people that feel there is no reason to upset the apple cart. There are many content Subjects. Why should we become independent? Why should we take responsibility for our own affairs? Indeed, there are many who do not know that Ramona is not financially independent. Not able to represent themselves with a seat on SANDAG to cast a vote for road improvement planning with the other cities. Not able to determine locally which civic projects must be remedied quickly, with the ability to acquire the funds to complete them. Not entitled to a huge amount of State and Federal funding sources to help Ramona fix potholes and preserve historic buildings. Not able to zone appropriately and structure fees so small businesses can thrive. Not even able to locally ratify (or not) the County’s plan to build up to 29 housing units an acre in the downtown district. Not able to implement a disaster plan locally. Does it not matter that Ramona could have perhaps managed the fire disaster without evacuating everyone out of town? We have the open space to evacuate locally, and not have to bar people from their homes and starving animals for days. So, are we better off as Subjects? Or should we be Citizens?

True enough, as Subjects we don’t have to be responsible citizens to our own community affairs. We don’t have to elect officials and balance our own budget. We don’t have to understand the myriad levels of available funding to fix what needs fixing in town (thank you Better Ramona group). We do not have to come up with General Plans for the area of Ramona. But, is this being handled any better by an agency that also weighs the needs of 40+ other areas when balancing how the money is spent. The revenues generated from the State and the Fed as a consequence of our being part of the County first filter through the County’s General Fund. What discipline do they use? Usually it is whoever is screaming the loudest. Without a specific economic study it is impossible to determine if we are a boon or a bane to the county budget. Our County Supervisor has told us she doesn’t know what our total gross revenues actually are. The last time that study was completed was 1989, in that incorporation effort. Our Initial Fiscal Analysis November 2005 suggests that we can be independent. The budgets of Poway and Santee are 2” thick. Because budgets are very departmentalized and involved, it is impossible to know whether we can be self-sufficient without completing the Economic Feasibility study requisite to Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCO) approval. LAFCO must approve the studies before the issue can be put on the Ballot for voter approval. Only then can democracy work and the citizens of Ramona decide what is best.

What is self-evident is that the County of San Diego has tens of millions of surplus dollars available to invest in some of Ramona’s most beautiful (and useable) acreage. The County’s stated mission is to own 10,000 acres in the Ramona planning area. Remember folks, conservation easements are a form of licensure that can be mitigated or revoked. Bought and sold. Will we have a say if they are mitigated or sold? When the County sells some of the land, will Ramona have a voice? Who might they sell to? It is not absolutely prohibited under the current deeding. We need to follow this process closely, or we may end up with our worst nightmare. Study Orange County.

Looking back generations at July 4^th, 1776, we are grateful that our Founding Fathers took the unimaginably bold steps they took to create a new beginning for their grandchildren. Did that struggle consume their life’s energies and wealth? Yes, it did. Were they a majority of the population? Absolutely not. They were an angry minority with great vision of something beautiful and free. Could you or I ever hope to live our lives as largely? Maybe. Looking forward to future generations, do we owe our children and grandchildren a place of beauty with large lots, small ranches with horses and vineyards, and trails to get from one end of town to another? I feel that we do. Is the RCPG 1987 General Plan for Ramona calling for minimum lot sizes of 1 plus acres still what Ramona wants? Or is high density “smart growth” best? Does Ramona need local agency management of emergency services? Or is the reverse 911 best? Does Ramona need better funding for roads, and highways? Or should we just be satisfied with what we are getting? Does Ramona need a vibrant commercial district where small businesses can thrive profitably? Or is Ramona a commuter town? Is Ramona a destination with vineyards and rural activities that draw revenue? Or is Ramona just a pass through town? Should the citizens of Ramona be the ones making these decisions, or should it be people that do not live and work here? With the County eventually owning over 10,000 acres (16 square miles) of our planning area, do we still want to be stakeholders in Ramona’s future, or does Father know best?

The County of San Diego does a remarkable job of administering the affairs of a region, from a regional perspective. It is the largest mono-governed area in the State. Ramona, at 130 square miles of planning area, is 30% of the total land area in the County of San Diego. Just those facts alone suggest that we are out of the norm as an unincorporated area. Indeed, we are an adult child still living at home. Until we are willing to grow up and accept the responsibilities of cityhood, we will continue to struggle for a seat at the table, bumping elbows with our smaller siblings to fight for food, to petition for our laundry and new shoes. We will have to stand in line for our allowances, and have little authority in our housing issues. We will always love our parents, but it is time to move out. Sure we will have to learn to be independent, but greatness never comes without a struggle.

What will our Grandchildren look back on and think about us? Will they love their town, and be proud of their heritage and their independent ancestors, or will it even matter to them? Will they still even be here with all the changes under GP2020? Will they enjoy the Ramona we came here to enjoy, but are now watching slip away?

Will we do it? Will we preserve our rural heritage from high density zoning and major airport growth? From excessive TIF fees that are running our businesses out of town? (“taxation without representation”?) One thing is for certain. It will be this group that brings it to the ballot, and the people of Ramona that decide to take the reins and incorporate. Or not. It will be the decision of our 19,280 registered voters. If this sounds like a worthy endeavor to you, WE NEED YOUR HELP. The Founding Patriots for the City of Ramona are becoming known today! The history of Ramona is being written now.

The City of Ramona, NOW! Inc. is a California Mutual Benefit Non-profit Corporation whose mission is to study the feasibility of Incorporating the unincorporated area of Ramona, to work with LAFCO through the approval process, and to bring an incorporation measure to the ballot for voter approval. Ramona NOW! meets weekly at the Community School (corner of Hansen and Ramona St.) in the multi-purpose room at 6:30 pm. Please contact us if you wish to receive email updates.