There are many advantages to this autonomy, particularly in light of the current state budget situation. Mayor Caldwell has said that one of the biggest factors motivating the move to a charter is to protect the city’s budget from Sacramento (see archived story). Sounds noble enough.

Since that time, I’ve gotten numerous phone calls and e-mails suggesting more sinister motivations — some by the conspiracy theorists and some by anonymous insiders. I’ve heard everything from the charter allowing limitless pay raises to allowing the City to restrict access to public documents, such as those used in the recent story I did on the Foxborough plant.

If you haven’t reviewed the proposed charter yet, I encourage you to click here and check it out. The words are weighty, but the document isn’t. Rather than being hundreds of pages, like charters in San Bernardino and other cities, Victorville’s version is a mere 773 words. This allows the council to enact the charter through a vote of the people, but to add specifics through council motions down the road.

Here’s a partial list of areas currently governed by state law, according to the League of California Cities, where Victorville would gain control through a charter: election procedures, councilmember qualifications, campaign financing, council members’ salaries, procedures for enacting local ordinances, quorom and voting requirements, bidding procedures for public projects and zoning ordinances.

Now’s the time to brainstorm: Will Victorville benefit or lose by going charter? What do you think is the true motivation behind the change? What would you like to see included in the city constitution?

Understandably, the city has avoided this and still seems a bit hesitant to do so.

Shelters have been a controversial business lately, with an ongoing investigation into Adelanto’s Animal Control over the alleged drowning of kittens. Animal-loving pet owners are always ready to weigh in, evidenced by the fact that many of the most commented stories on the DP Web site lately have been about animals and shelters.

Some of the weight may be taken off local shoulders, if the city is able to move forward with plans to join a county-wide coalition of animal control agencies that is being formed as I type.

In the meantime, what would you like to see happen with Victorville’s animals? What recommendations do you have for a possible new shelter?

My name is Brooke Edwards, and I joined the staff of the Daily Press nearly three months ago. If you’ve been reading the paper regularly, you may have noticed that one of the main beats I cover is the City of Victorville.

Are you thinking what I’m thinking? Yes, it’s a BROAD TOPIC.

That’s where this blog will come in handy. I hope to open up a dialogue with members of the community who take an interest in issues beyond what can make it into the daily paper. I know there are so many of you who know this city far better than I yet do, and I want to hear from you.

Though I have roots locally, I am relatively new to the area. I was born at St. Mary’s in Apple Valley and grew up in Big Bear. I got my bachelor’s degree in English, my teaching credential and a Masters in Education from California Baptist University. After teaching high school for four years at Rubidoux High School, I decided to pursue a career in one of the things I was teaching: journalism. And so I spent the last year and a half living in New York City, completing my masters at NYU.

I have been excited to return and see the growth that has happened in this city. I am even more excited to hear some of the city’s plans for the future, with the redevelopment of Old Town and the potential for an express train to Vegas.

However, it has been in getting to know the people of this community that I have found my inspiration. I look forward to getting to know many of you better, through this blog and through future stories.

If you have a question for me or would like to suggest a future topic for this discussion, please feel free to either post it here as a comment or e-mail me at  bedwards at vvdailypress.com with “blog” in the subject line.

In the meantime, check back soon for my first posting and take care.