Coastside Self Governance

By Howard Richard Lieberman

It is only through some form of incorporation or annexation that Coastsiders will be able to adequately impact the specification and implementation of services.

The future of the coastside will be greatly impacted by two once in a lifetime events. The opening of the tunnel and the opening of Harbor Village.

The economic status of the coastside will change in ways which may generate a tax base adequate to support the needed services.

It is now or never to pursue self governance. There are a finite set of options.

Annex the region north of the City of Half Moon Bay to become one large city.

Incorporate the region north of the City of Half Moon Bay as its own city.

Incorporate a portion of the region north of the City of Half Moon Bay as its own city.

I do not claim to know what the best approach will be. This is for the community to decide. I do not even know if the public would prefer to remain unincorporated. Again this is for the community to decide.

I suspect however that with no control over any budgetary decision or ability to pass any laws or to make and decisions that it is hard to imagine how the community can successfully influence our future.

If the MCC spends all of its time worrying about and pretending to process Planning and Zoning Issues which are not actually under the jurisdiction of the MCC, as it has no legal jurisdiction, only the ability to make recommendations.

I have personally heard from members of both San Mateo LAFCo and the San Mateo Board of Supervisors that it was originally their intention and expectation that this self governance would occur. In fact I have even heard it part of their mandate. To the best of my knowledge these are also the only two decision making bodies whose approval is needed and they have been waiting for coastsiders to make an economically justifiable case. Without the new Harbor Village development project there has not been an adequate revenue base.

It is time to re-examine the potential of self governance.