Since the election results, many media I drew imperial valley like it changed dramatically changed politics. President-elect Donald Trump’s popularity rose sharply from 37% of the total. 2020 voting in the area This year 49%many now claim to have “flipped” from blue to red. Are we seeing once-blue counties undergoing a revolutionary realignment toward the Republican Party, or are we seeing counties becoming increasingly purple?
The truth is neither. The Imperial Valley has not experienced a war between left and right. For pundits who lazily view the region as a political novelty, it is too easy and convenient a storyline to resist. Trump’s strong local support does not signal a sudden conservative awakening, just as the region’s previous Democratic leanings did not reflect unwavering progressive beliefs.
The truth is even worse. Imperial Valley is neither red nor blue. Rather, it is a place where you feel betrayed by both sides.
Imperial County is California’s youngest county and lies forgotten in its southeastern corner. We have been treated like trash for a long time and distanced ourselves from politics and society. known for having low Voter turnout.
This election was neither an insurrection against Democrats nor a sudden endorsement of Republicans. It was an indictment on everyone.
Officials and leaders on both sides of the political spectrum have learned to use familiar vocabulary when describing our region. The words “underserved” and “disadvantaged” are used casually, as if they are harmless substitutes for words.
In the past, these words may have inspired anger and action. Now local residents have become numb to the empty repetition. They have become a soothing lullaby for policymakers, as if labeling our crises is enough to obscure the harsh reality of what those words actually mean. There is.
New rivers continue to pollute our land, water, air, and collective future with wastewater and pollutants. Contains asbestos. State officials visited in October and promised funding to clean up the contaminated area. tijuana river In more affluent San Diego County, our county remains ignored.
Once a symbol of resort opportunity, the Salton Sea continues to rapidly shrink, exposing toxic dust and polluted land. The debate about “saving the ocean” has been going on for decades, but Hay bales showing it. we, Highest unemployment rate in state — almost quadruple this year California average —For as long as I can remember.
using these scars that transcend generationsIt’s no surprise that many here have resigned themselves to tragic stagnation and the feeling that what’s broken stays broken. Even recent decisions that affect our future reveal how Sacramento and Washington, D.C., continue to fail us.
Lithium mining in the northern part of the county called “lithium valley” should help save us from jobs and economic hardship and accelerate the country’s transition to clean energy. But local leaders must fight hard for support from the state and federal governments.
In September, Governor Gavin Newsom vetoes the bill That would designate all Imperial counties surrounding the “Lithium Valley” and the Salton Sea as part of the Southeastern California Economic Region, better aligning state and federal support surrounding affected communities and clean energy development in the region. It will probably happen. That same month, the Biden administration’s Department of Energy’s Office of Loan Programs Domestic battery production — Not a single dollar of that went to Imperial Valley.
Recently, the federal government went further and put a price tag on our most precious resource: water. In exchange for our commitment to reduce resource use, the Bureau of Reclamation will: Salton Sea restoration activities. But less water means fewer jobs in areas that are established, built on, and dependent on agriculture. With fewer jobs, frontline workers will lose their jobs and wonder about their place in our future. Community advocates are now asking whether that $250 million will go toward the “greater good” or into the pockets of select people.
Growing up under Republican Gov. Pete Wilson’s administration, I remember my parents talking about the same issue my daughter is hearing about now: the New River. Salton Sea. High unemployment rate. water war. The difference is that today’s technology allows her to glimpse the outside world. She has seen what is there, what exists here, and wonders why it is not there.
Don’t get me wrong, my frustration stems not from a lack of love for this community, but from its richness. Every day I see the strength that our people share. The Imperial Valley is full of families who work harder than most people can imagine and who enjoy the joys of life despite their circumstances. This frustration isn’t that I hate where I live, it’s that I feel like we’ve been shortchanged for too long. We are a community rich in culture, spirit and potential. Our unfulfilled potential is mocked by blatant neglect and empty promises.
This election is neither a wake-up call for Democrats nor a success story for Republicans. That’s a warning to both.
The Imperial Valley is not a prize that is waved around every election cycle. Our predicament is not red or blue. It’s human. This is our home, this is our community, and we have a future worth fighting for.
Gil Reboler is a lifelong resident of Brawley and the Mayor of Brawley. He represents seven incorporated cities in Southern California’s Imperial County. Assun. of the Regional Council of Government.
