The San Bernardino Sun has a good outline on what the proposed changes to San Bernardino’s City Charter would mean for the city. Some of the major changes include a shift to a council-manager form of government; the elimination of elections for the city attorney, treasurer and clerks positions; and a change in the city’s election schedule.
According to a recent poll of 400 people, two-thirds of likely voters haven’t even seen, heard, or read anything about the efforts to replace the city’s governing document. This is a little surprising, given the fierce debate already going on among current and former officials alike. Then again, it’s only September.
Opponents of the effort say the proposed changes would undermine democracy by taking key decisions out of the hands of voters. Advocates argue the changes are needed to modernize and simplify governing in the city.
“Most voters don’t know the charter is 111 years old, written when there were fewer than 10,000 people in San Bernardino…” said Betsy Starbuck, chairwoman of the campaign to replace the charter.
Proponents of change also argue that the charter was a key factor in the city’s bankruptcy which ultimately turned out to be the longest municipal bankruptcy in modern times. That argument is addressed in a recent article in Governing Magazine.
“The current document needs so much explanation it has been supplemented over the years by more than 100 city attorney opinions,” author Liz Farmer notes.
The ballot measure to replace the city charger will go before San Bernardino voters this November.