By Dawn Duckett
I am deeply concerned about item R3 on Thursday’s board agenda, which is a resolution in support of secession from the state of California and formation of a new state (sponsored by supervisor Crye). Now would be the time for all of the moderate citizens in Shasta County to let the board know that they do not wish to see their property values plummet, live in the poorest state in the union, or in a community with roads filled with potholes and no infrastructure. Get your speeches ready for Thursday folks. Here’s mine:
Supervisors, once again we’re spending valuable board time debating something that’s completely outside your jurisdiction — a symbolic resolution in support of forming a new state. Meanwhile, our local economy, infrastructure, and public safety are among many issues crying out for real attention.
Let’s be honest gentlemen: this proposal is ridiculous and does nothing tangible for Shasta County. It doesn’t fill a pothole, improve public safety, attract businesses, or stabilize our budget. It’s simply political theater — a distraction from the real work that needs to happen here at home.
Economically, the idea of breaking away from California is a financial disaster waiting to happen. Rural counties like ours receive far more in state funding than we contribute in taxes. Those dollars support our roads, our schools, our healthcare systems, and our law enforcement. If we were to separate, we’d lose those funds overnight — and be left trying to cobble together an entire state government from scratch. That means higher taxes, fewer services, and an even heavier burden on working families.
This resolution will not create jobs, it will not reduce crime, and it will not strengthen our local economy. What it will do is further divide our community and waste county time on political grandstanding.
I urge the Board to focus on local governance — on fixing what we can control right here in Shasta County — and stop filling the agenda with symbolic statements that do nothing to make life better for the people who live here. Please get to work and do better!
Dawn Duckett lives in Cottonwood.
