It's been awhile since CABB has been active as an organization, but many of its individual members are still advocating for useful and necessary changes in the Big Bear Valley. If you were wondering where CABB went, here's your answer:

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<cabb.information@gmail.com>Jul 4, 2020, 4:58:34 PM

Happy Independence Day!!

As the founder of Community Advocates of Big Bear, it has been rewarding work to inform and support Big Bear's residents. But the time has come for me to no longer be a Big Bear resident myself, as I am moving north soon to help assist in running my family's 2000 acre cattle & hay ranch and agricultural businesses. My sincere hope and intention is that CABB will continue to be a resource for Big Bear residents, and some very capable helpers are already stepping up to assist to keep CABB updates current. I hope you'll consider joining them--please let us know! 

 

As you are ALL Community Advocates, here are a few ways you can still be involved:

 

1. Respond to posts on social media & share

*With the oppressive position FaceBook has taken toward freedom of speech, CABB is no longer actively using the FaceBook platform, though the CABB page still exists and previous posts are visible.

 

2. Use and share CABigBear.com

Have you checked out all the helpful information on the website yet? Are you using links to the CABB webpage on social media to help others know where to find answers? We've worked really hard to put together a comprehensive guide to living in Big Bear, and new things are added regularly. Please send us suggestions for additional pages or updates that need to be added. The page is currently funded by private individuals who believe it can be a valuable resource for Big Bear residents, but if it's not being used, it will go away. 

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3. Attend local meetings, run for office, make your voice heard on social media, write to the Grizzly, volunteer where needed, give to local causes, pick up trash, and help create the community you want to live in.

 

Looking into the future...

As part of the Big Bear community heading into the future, there are a few issues you should keep in mind and get involved if you feel strongly about the decisions being made.

 

1. Infrastructure

CSD and BVES have implemented recent rate increases to pay for the necessary services they provide, which include doing things like upgrades to decrease fire risk, a new well for the east end of the valley (which is where the main population of the valley lives), and sewer maintenance and upgrades to handle the increased flow into the future. While now is a difficult time to be asking for increases, the reality is that there's never a good time and the infrastructure of this valley is in danger of falling behind the demand being placed on it with the dramatic influx of visitors over the past few years. And really, does Big Bear want to be known as the town where the sewers back up or power goes out on busy weekends and holidays? What is the potential cost of NOT maintaining and improving essential systems?! 

 

The safety of the roads in and out of Big Bear is also a critical issue, as volume of visitor traffic increases, more and more Valley residents commute to work down the hill to find good jobs, and funding for our roads is calculated by faulty formulas that always leave us drastically short of the funding needed to properly maintain and improve the only ways on and off the mountain. The County of San Bernardino needs to hear from Big Bear to fight for what we need and deserve. With the split jurisdictions between City and County (see item #4 and read here), we have to work extra hard for County residents' voices to be heard on issues at the County level, and transportation funding is a major area of concern. With Big Bear looking more appealing to many people as they are both buying vacation homes and moving out of cities, the needs of the community need to be considered 

 

2. Emergency Response

In direct response to the failure of Measure I in March, Big Bear Fire Department cut positions, decreased staffing, and put off investments in training and equipment that would help this community. Instead of closing the Sugarloaf Station, they made cuts that ultimately hurt the whole valley, not just that one area. But that's the position they're forced into, and the community will only get what they pay for, whether it's from Big Bear Fire Authority, County Fire, or any other service provider. With the visitor numbers showing no signs of slowing down, more and more retirees moving in who require increased medical response, the resorts now operating high-risk activities virtually year-round, and no new sources of substantial funding being revealed, Big Bear Valley will continue to fall short of what it needs to provide timely and adequate emergency services.

 

3. Housing & Jobs

With the real estate market strong right now, it means there are fewer affordable homes for residents, more properties being bought up as second homes, likely more short-term rentals in the future, and what few long-term rentals are available will be even more expensive. With most jobs in this valley paying under $20/hr, many without benefits, the housing shortage will quickly turn into an even more dire labor shortage than already exists (it's the #1 complaint of local business owners, who can't find or keep quality employees), and Big Bear will find itself unable to sustain the volume of visitors who need services if there aren't people to work in the service industry. In the future, Big Bear might need to follow other popular vacation towns and limit the number of nights homes can be used as vacation rentals in a year, or designate certain zones as no short-term rentals allowed (Which would also eliminate many of the hassles of visitors who can't be good neighbors, as I have my doors and windows shut and can still hear the guests yelling and the pumping bass of the music blaring from the only short-term rental in my neighborhood. Why live somewhere that you dread weekends and holidays?! More and more good residents are realizing they don't have to stay, and this community suffers for it.). These are decisions that are better made sooner rather than later, as the problem isn't going to get better by itself. A veteran of policy-making and politics in Big Bear said it well: "Big Bear has to decide if it's a tourist community or a community with tourists." As you elect leaders and ask them to guide this community, pay attention to where their priorities are. There has to be balance between tourists, part-time residents, and full-time residents, but if the 78% of empty homes in Big Bear Lake frequently dictate policy for the whole valley, those who live here full-time lose the ability to shape Big Bear into a place worth living, and eventually it won't be a place worth visiting, either.

 

While the Chamber of Commerce is working hard to help existing businesses, it can't create new industry. Covid is just another reminder that tourism is a tenuous business. What else does Big Bear have to sustain the local economy when tourism is limited? Apart from government work and self-employment (which the state of CA has made much harder this year with AB5, limiting independent contractors), what is there for college-educated individuals? What impact does it have that this valley does not have better wage-earning opportunities to draw families into the area? Here's one consequence, taken from the 2020 Bear Valley Unified School District Local Control Accountability Plan (LCAP): "There are approximately 19,000 full time residents in the valley and our median income is $33,000. 71% of our students qualify for Free and Reduced lunches, 73% of our students are socioeconomically disadvantaged/EL/Foster Youth, and 14% of our students are English Language Learners." (page 4). For perspective, the Public Policy Institute of California, a non-partisan research organization, estimates that the poverty level in CA is actually "$32,500 per year for a family of four, nearly $7,600 higher than the official poverty line." Even if an individual here could find a job that paid $20/hour and take home every penny they earned, they'd make $36,000 a year. From what's posted as available in the newspaper and online, most jobs in Big Bear offer $13-$15 an hour part-time and limited or no benefits, with the occasional job at a utility or other government agency offering $20-$25 full-time with benefits. The discrepancy is substantial, and the cash economy in the valley doesn't bring in taxes to help society pay for public services and government benefits, but it does at least help individuals survive up here. What are local leaders doing to make Big Bear an appealing place for new businesses that aren't tourism-driven? What will the future of Big Bear look like if young families can't afford to work and live up here? School enrollment is already declining, and covid will almost certainly impact it further. If there aren't good schools and good jobs, who will want to live here? Retirees are already the #1 demographic moving to Big Bear, but with the hardships of winter living and limited local healthcare, many only stay part-time or move away after the difficulties outweigh the benefits. If they're on a fixed income and might only live here a few years, they aren't as interested in investing in infrastructure or working toward long-term benefits for the community like young families would be. Who is left to provide stability and leadership in the community? This question leads us to item #4:

 

4. Valley-wide Incorporation

This is a complicated issue that needs careful consideration of all the pros and cons, but it has to be on the table as a necessary discussion to be revisited regularly. The City of Big Bear Lake leadership will likely be opposed to incorporation, as they enjoy far more income (both from increased property taxes and the TOT on short-term lodging, which funds the millions of dollars for Visit Big Bear and visitor-related improvements within the City, but not in the County areas) and have a much smaller area to manage than if the valley incorporated. And, let's face it, people are expensive and complicated to take care of compared to empty houses. The County area on the east end of the valley is where the majority of the full-time residents live (32% of homes not occupied by full-time residents vs 78% in the City), but it receives far less funding and amenities for residents. 

Just compare: 

--parks (Bear City still doesn't have a decent park and probably never will because someone in San Bernardino makes that decision if it comes from the County, and CSD has tried but the available land costs more than they can afford--and the $1 million designated at the County for a BBC park went to the new zoo, which we'll still have to pay to enter), 

--streets & roads (Areas of Erwin and Big Bear City still have dirt roads in heavily-populated neighborhoods. BBL has multiple lanes going through to accommodate heavy traffic; BBC has places that see frequent accidents, dangerous & difficult left turns into heavy traffic on the Boulevard, few turn lanes, and virtually no shoulder for the bicycle traffic. But BBC has no locally-based governing body to speak up and get CalTrans to make changes like BBL does.), 

--convenience (Need a permit in BBL? Go to City Hall. In BBC? Drive to San Bernardino.), 

--local control (decisions in BBL are made in BBL; decisions for the rest of the valley are sometimes made locally by a variety of entities, but many are made by people who don't live here and don't really know the realities of our valley), 

--consistent policies & services and continuity of governance (County and City have separate code enforcement and requirements to uphold, and having separate services for City & County probably isn't the most cost-effective way to serve the community. Consolidation and local control could have many benefits, even if it costs a little more to be able to make local decisions. Be very wary of giving up local control if you don't have to! Covid should have demonstrated that vividly: who do you want deciding what is safe and smart for your town? During this time of covid concern, the City of BBL is issuing regular directions, updating residents, making policy, and taking action in the interest of the City, including limiting rental availability and visitor access to services and resources, and working to help businesses succeed safely. The rest of the valley has to go with what the County is doing, which does not always reflect our reality up here. In the future, this lack of continuity between City and County could hurt the community should more serious situations be presented in which the City can act within its jurisdictions but the rest of the valley is left to fend for itself. Local control is key to creating a community that reflects the will of its residents. The majority of the residents of this valley don't vote for City Council and only have limited impact on the actions it takes.), and 

--communication (Got a problem? If you're in BBL, you can call City Hall and they'll direct you. In the rest of the valley? You probably call City Hall anyway, since they can probably help you, but ultimately it's much more difficult to resolve problems that require dealing with someone in an office an hour away than ten minutes away.).

 

On the other hand, some residents in the County areas appreciate not having local governance, want the relative freedom of not having as much oversight, and want to keep it that way. This is a simplified list of just some of the factors to consider regarding valley-wide incorporation, and if you have more information, please give feedback so this issue--and everything in this post--can be discussed with diverse and accurate input.

 

On a personal note

As I prepare to leave Big Bear after 7 years here, it is with tremendously mixed feelings and many wonderful memories. Without a doubt, the best part of Big Bear are the residents, who are generous, independent, resourceful, caring, and show incredible patience and fortitude in dealing with the challenges of being in a community that is high-altitude, remote, and a popular tourist destination. Big Bear provided a safe place for my kids to finish their school years and become young adults. We found a vibrant and supportive faith community which sheltered us through the greatest storms life has yet dealt us and rejoiced with us in the joys that have followed. And, we enjoyed the beauty, tranquility (where you can find it), resources, and adventures in God's gorgeous creation. We know we'll always be back to visit, so this is not so much a "goodbye" as a "see-you-later"! 

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Wishing you all the best,

Julie Dawson-Parlee