Who should make the decisions for a community? Local leaders, not those from the state

Members of most political parties are patriotic and want what is best for our country. The difference is how to get there. The country gets much better results when government has checks and balances from more than one party. Members of opposing parties are adversary’s and should not be considered enemies.

President Abraham Lincoln, in his 1863 Gettysburg Address, said “That this nation shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not parish from the Earth. “

I highlight “government of the people, by the people, for the people” because many of our legislatures are acting as if we are a government of, for and by the party or for the government itself. The people have little or no say and our legislatures are taking action with little to no regard of the desires of the people.

Some elected officials act as if the people work for them. They need to be reminded they work for the people.

The loss of local control is on a slippery slope and seems to be slipping away faster every day. These are just a few examples:

1. The state of California wants to seal the background of criminals so most companies won’t have access. How will those of us that work with children know if we are hiring a pedophile? Maybe a bank will hire a bank robber.
2. The state of California wants to restrict some drug testing of employees. Employers know best if there is a need to drug test, depending on responsibility of the job.
3. The state of California is taking away local control of zoning. Each community should not be forced to develop the way that the state or federal government wants us to. The state wants to control every counties general plan.
4. The state of California has forced some local communities that a percentage of homes must be available to renters.
5. If a 14 year old male identifies as a female, California requires that in a sleep-away camp they have to put that male into a female cabin with teen-age females.
6. And the latest is the state of California demands the county change the name of a city when the majority of the people are opposed.
7. The state is passing laws without determining the impact to the people.
8. Men can now participate in women’s sports. It took many years to get women equal opportunities as men in sports. Now it is jeopardized.

I support the action of the Fresno County Board of Supervisors voting to stop the state from what should be local control. For years our county fought to keep local control, and I encourage our elected officials to resist giving that up.

Local control is slipping away.