n this new column, guest writers will present historical fact-based information for local voters to consider about the advantages of cityhood. This week's column will examine: 1) Observations about democracy; 2) Local vs. county government; and 3) The function and value of a locally elected city council.

Practicing the Right of Democracy

Early in the American experience a French visitor to the United States named Alexis de Tocqueville toured our country and made many observations. He commented that America truly practiced democracy "in every hamlet, village and town where local citizens congregate and decide the public issues of the day." 

One of the highest expressions of democracy is the election of local citizens to oversee neighborhood interests and make decisions governing public order and welfare; that hasn't changed in over two hundred years. Local democracy is energetically practiced in California, where 85% of the population is represented in its 476 cities. Each of these cities is governed by a City Council made up of as few as five people. With at least 2,380 local business and professional people, housewives, teachers, artisans, farmers, and others who give their time to serve their communities, for very little in compensation, it is evident that de Tocqueville's observation remains relevant. 

Multiplicity of County Government Responsibilities

Years ago, when Castro Valley first thought about forming a local democracy, it was a far different and much smaller community then today. Castro Valley voters assumed then the County government could handle any problems. Yet the 58 counties of California are very different entities than its cities.

It is true that a county must provide for its unincorporated areas, which are generally agricultural, sparsely settled, economically unable to take care of themselves, or not interested in administering their own government. On the other hand, a county's primary interest and responsibility is to act as the State's principal agent in seeing that the many State mandated programs are properly administered in the entire county—not just in the unincorporated areas. Specifically among these are the administration of justice (court facilities, jails, probation department, juvenile detention); public health (public hospitals and clinics); and social services (welfare, aid to children or the aging, food stamps).

Most of the unincorporated area of Castro Valley falls into District IV, one of the five Supervisory Districts. Since Castro Valley is not a city, the one Supervisor for this district essentially functions as the Mayor and City Council for Castro Valley; even though it represents only about a third of the supervisor's district, the governmental demands of unincorporated Castro Valley require a non-proportional amount of his time and effort. It is interesting to note that the remaining two thirds of this supervisor's constituency reside in cities.

With broad responsibilities and an annual budget exceeding a billion dollars, the County's primary consideration is not Castro Valley's current populace of 58,000; ninety per cent of the more than one and a half million people who live in Alameda County live in its cities and are the beneficiaries of these aforementioned services. 

Advantages of Popularly Elected City Council

Contrast the limited involvement possible by even the most conscientious and dedicated county supervisor with just some of the full range of activities a locally elected city council can carry out for Castro Valley:
 

• Elected by (and representing only the interests of) the people of Castro Valley;

• Plan and control traffic and oversee street signals, signage and maintenance;

• Approve the local operating budget every year reflecting community priorities. (Under the State Constitution and current State law a city council has no power to raise sales or property taxes; only voters can do that.);

• Appoint local citizens to boards or commissions, such as the Planning Commission, and provide for streamlined service in the community. Citizens would not have to travel to downtown Oakland or Hayward to deal with a variety of County department offices to solve problems, as they must do now;

• Negotiate with other public agencies that have interests or plans affecting Castro Valley, oversee major projects, and sustain pressure on agencies and officials for needed local improvements or extras, such as landscaping or refinished roads; 

• Promote economic development through redevelopment and helping existing businesses;

• Apply for grants from the State and Federal governments for improvements including streets, bridges, environmental enhancements, law enforcement needs and social services;

• Develop a tradition of local decision-making, dealing with a variety of issues that the community decides are important: zoning, youth problems, sports, seniors, shopping, traffic, arts and beautification.

Popularly elected city councils serve as the focal point for decision-making and provide a human face for their communities. They provide a rallying point around which individuals, homeowners' organizations, service organizations, clubs, churches and other local institutions can gather and give shape to what the community is and what it represents. 

Anyone with sufficient interest and effort can be elected to the City Council. Each citizen can lend their own energy to the practice of local democracy in Castro Valley—keeping alive that American spirit observed by Monsieur de Tocqueville so many years ago. 
 

Future Visions of Castro Valley

To open this up for community discussion, future "Visions of Cityhood" columns will cover some the following topics:

·How can incorporation benefit me?
·How will Castro Valley city government work?
·How would a city council work?
·What can a city do that the MAC can't?
·How a city can plan ahead and head off problems.
·How a city can handle redevelopment more efficiently?
·What are things on which a City can have more clout?

About the columnists:Sal Tedesco is a 33 year resident of Castro Valley who was formerly MAC (Municipal Advisory Council) chairman, a city manager, and a federal grants manager. Marty Hoag is a four year resident of Castro Valley who is a communications consultant and public school teacher.