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Cityhood: A Vision Worth Pursuing
by Torry Brean and Julie Kiehne-Lamkin

   City of Ramona, Now Inc. thanks people of Ramona who attended the incorporation kickoff party last Wednesday. A special thanks is also extended to Cheers for providing a fantastic revenue and fun environment for this event, and to the Black Canyon Band for their stellar performance throughout the night.
   Cit of Ramona, Now Inc. is comprised of local residents who recognize that the "down the hill" government (County of San Diego) has not had Ramona's best interest at heart. The need is to stand up for the valuable character of this town. This includes protecting Ramona characteristics, including, but not limited to, rural lot sizes; avoidance of a very dence urban "downtown" Ramona; preserving agricultural animal keeping and equine; and promoting Ramona's local commercial and low-scale industrial development, boutique wineries, and agriculture. The way to strike down oppressive county fees and bureaucracy that have crippled business and homeowners is to incorporate and determine our own fate!
   City of Ramona, Now Inc. does not have a specific agenda other than bringing democracy to our town. It will be up to the residents, once independent, to protect these things we hold dear. As a public mutual benefit corporation, we encourage Ramona citizens to involve themselves by immediately forming an adhoc committee to formulate a proposed plan for Ramona using the 1987 Ramona Community Plan as a framework.

Myths of Incorporation
   It is understandable that some Ramona residents have doubt about incorporation, as Ramona becoming its own entity without country rule is a big change. However, we believe that the skepticism is based on myths, not facts, and we address the concerns:

1) Ramona doesn't have the tax base to incorporate...
We can provide the same services the county is able to provide now with the funds that county has access to. The county government is a bureaucratic mess and is very wasteful; by operating smaller and more efficiently, fewer of your tax dollars will be wasted on "administration". As the city begins protecting private property rights and not punishing locals for trying to improve their businesses, tax dollars will begin to increase resulting in more funds to improve services past their current failing level.

2) Incorporation will result in high taxes...
A 2/3 majority is needed to raise taxes; you will not be paying high taxes unless you want to. What about Fees? The county has practically stopped home building and use of commercial space in Ramona through their TIF and other fees; that is what we are fighting against. If Ramona were its own City, you will elect the policy makers. If they raise fees you can throw them out of office! You cannot do that now with the County of San Diego. No new taxes and no heightened fees are acceptable!

3) Incorporation will make Ramona like Poway...
Blasphemy! Incorporation can protect our rural character. If you are worried about looking like Poway, it gets worse; look at the County's plan for Ramona' growth and you will see it looks more like El Cajon. When Ramona becomes independent it will be the residents that determine the future, not County supervisors and planning commissioners that do not live in Ramona. Ramona is not a suburb of San Diego; we are our own unique and independent community and we need independent leadership.

4) Incorporation will be bad for small/home businesses and Boutique Wineries...
Boutique Wineries are a strong player in the future of Ramona. It will protect our rural land with sustainable agriculture and can make Ramona a destination location. This creates jobs, tax dollars, and compliments the nature of our land. Ramona offers commercial services through our downtown area, which needs to be designed as a thriving center of our community, and through home businesses, which provide a key support to the success of an independent Ramona.

5) Incorporation will be bad for the local equine industry...
Incorporation can protect the lot sizes that allow for animal keeping and the trail plan that will add value to horse ownership. If Ramona is nothing but condos, like the county wants, there will be no horse ownership except for the very wealthy few.

6) Incorporating Ramona can't be done...
In can, with your help!

We can achieve self-rule
   We, the people of Ramona can together move in a direction that will finally enable us to determine our future. We need to elect our own officials; we need to create our own officials; we need to create out own community plan; we need planners who are accountable to the citizens of Ramona; we need to stop sharing our tax dollars with "people down the hill."
   Three things are needed to make this work.
1) Donations: the LAFCO (Local Area Formation Commission) application process is costly but necessary step. It will include a full environmental impact report, full financial feasibility study (the preliminary fiscal analysis has already been completed), and the fees charges by LAFCO for its time.
2) Leadership: The more qualified minds that get involved in this process the more guaranteed we are of success. We need assistance writing grants, preparing the city charter, fundraising, and getting 25 percent of registered voters to get this on the November 2008 ballot. If you have the skills and time to donate to this effort, you can help make sure this does not fail.
3) Support: The ONLY way incorporation will be possible is if it is a grassroots, community-driven campaign. It is the means of all of Ramona to participate in the formation of our city. Ask questions and get involved; visit our Web site for phone numbers, e-mail addresses, and event dates.
   Everything about these efforts is open to participation and input. Please, Ramona, wake up! Your help is needed! Let's all join together to save Ramona through independent self-governance.