Not exactly a Declaration of Independence . . . yet

When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.

The fourth of July is Independence Day, a celebration of the Declaration of Independence.  Independence from government from afar, government by the powerful over the people, government in which we had no say.

The kind of government we have in the unincorporated Midcoast.

If you live in the unincorporated Midcoast (Montara, Moss Beach, El Granada, or Princeton) the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors is your city council.

The Supervisors are responsible for all Midcoast planning and zoning.

The Supervisors are responsible for keeping Midcoast roads repaired.

The Supervisors are elected at-large, not by district.

The Midcoast is less than 2% of the population of San Mateo County.

The Supervisor who nominally represents the Midcoast lives in Menlo Park.

The Supervisors have been considering a new Local Coastal Plan, which will determine development on the Midcoast for the next 50 years.

The Supervisors meet in Redwood City.

Our elected Midcoast Community Council has no authority, and has been taken to the woodshed by the Supervisors for contradicting them on policy.

Our water, sewer, and fire service are locally controlled. But each function is split among multiple districts.

The Supervisors have directed our water and sewer districts to expand to accommodate however many new residents they choose to authorize.

No, the county hasn’t levied taxes without our consent, obstructed justice, quartered troops in our homes, nor "plundered our seas, ravaged our Coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives of our people." 

But we don’t have the self-governance that our friends in Half Moon Bay enjoy, either.

The fourth of July is always a good day to reflect on the real meaning of independence and why Americans pledged our lives, our fortunes and our sacred honor to achieve it.