Monique Contreras, an Arden Arcade resident, shares her thoughts on why our community should incorporate.

Arden Arcade has so much potential and promise. As someone who lives near the community, I’ve seen the challenges we face in our unincorporated community. But I truly believe that incorporating Arden Arcade could make a real difference. It would offer us better local representation and help us access the services and infrastructure we need for our community to flourish.

Now, Arden Arcade has only one county supervisor, one person for a massive area with many different neighborhoods, each with unique needs. That one representative is what it means that problems in Arden Arcade get lost in the bigger county agendas. When there is only one to speak for, it's difficult to battle for neighborhood issues with the urgency they deserve. We need an active voice that is sensitive to the specific problems facing our community and can directly address city services to resolve them.

On the other hand, cities do have their local governance such as mayors and city councils, therefore, people can vent their grievances directly. If Arden Arcade were incorporated, then we would have a local city council representative and mayor who would be able to speak on our behalf about our distinct needs as a community. Direct representation of this nature would enable us to be heard more vocally in policing, development, and public services. Our neighborhood is having trouble with its basic services. The county resources are too spread out to address matters of concern effectively. Since Arden Arcade is unincorporated, the majority of these issues, such
as the maintenance of the roads, public safety, and zoning, fall in between the cracks or receive no kind of attention that they should be given.

Take road repair, for instance. The roads are deteriorating, and traffic is a daily nuisance. When the county cannot adequately prioritize local roads, they are left at the bottom of the repair list. Cities, however, have local infrastructure funds, which guarantee that residents' needs are met on a more timely basis. If Arden Arcade were a city, we'd have a voice in road repair budgets, having it done quicker to improve our streets'; safety and accessibility to everyone.

Public safety is an area where city incorporation would be the most beneficial. The county police officers are over-extended, and our community is left with less responsive police presence or fewer patrols of heavily traveled areas too often. With incorporation, Arden Arcade would then have its own police force under the direct supervision of the city council and residents. This would improve our ability to deal with public safety issues more efficiently and ensure that issues of local concern, such as neighborhood crime and traffic enforcement, are dealt with.

In addition, local planning and zoning regulation is a key benefit of incorporation. Unincorporated places like Arden Arcade are more likely to see uncontrolled growth since county planning is not as concerned with the specific needs of each town. Arden Arcade has seen several developments, yet they have been initiated by outside developers who care little about the long-term impact on the residents. The result is a community that doesn't feel like it has input in the decisions being made in its name. If we were incorporated, Arden Arcade would be able to
create a General Plan and Zoning Ordinance that involve what we, the residents, want, whether it is more affordable housing, parks, or businesses that serve our community's needs.

A benefit of incorporation for Arden Arcade is that it would enable improved public transportation. Currently, our community relies on county-run services that may not be as responsive to the particular transportation needs of our citizens. As an urban community, Arden Arcade would be able to create a better public transport system integrated with local preferences, whether in terms of enhanced bus routes, more frequent servicing, or emerging modes of travel like bike-sharing schemes or ride-sharing lanes. By localizing transportation management, we
could create a more unified system that makes it easier for everyone to commute to work, school, or healthcare. This would not only improve the mobility of our citizens but also reduce traffic congestion, lower carbon footprints, and improve quality of life.

Most incorporated cities have enhanced their quality of life because they have local government. Incorporated cities, for example, tend to have more responsive city services, better infrastructure, and more avenues for community participation. If Arden Arcade were also to become incorporated, we could shape our community's future in a way that aligns with the values and priorities of the people who reside here.

Arden Arcade can be a shining example of neighborhood development and self- governance. But we need to take action to make the dream a reality. I urge residents to get engaged, learn about the benefits of incorporation, and advocate for reform. Call your local leaders, attend neighborhood meetings, and speak out. Working together, we can build a healthier, more resistant Arden Arcade, where every resident can find the opportunity to thrive.