Growth in San Bernardino County could determine California's future
Pappy's ownership mystery solved, new CDC guidance around masks, and the Mojave Desert Land Trust acquires a new parcel
Hello from California’s high desert. I was surprised to look out my back window yesterday to see some pretty heavy rain, but it was totally dry out front. Spring is such an odd season.
One of the nerdiest things about me that you will have to understand before reading this week’s edition is that I love the Census. It’s weird, I know. I filled out my questionnaire the day after I got it in 2020. Every time I pass a road sign with a town’s population listed, I think of the people who will undoubtedly manage the tedious task of replacing every single one. I like numbers and I like thinking about how communities and places change. Although those are constants, I still enjoy getting a glimpse every 10 years.
So on Monday, when the Census tallies were released, I turned on my Do Not Disturb and started digging in.
The headline was, of course, that California lost enough residents over the last 10 years to lose a seat in Congress for the first time since the Census began. But more interestingly, in my opinion, was how much San Bernardino County grew.
Although it may not have the political weight of the nation’s largest state, it was one of the fastest-growing regions and could have a much larger impact at the state level going forward. From 2010 until 2019, San Bernardino County saw a 7.1% population increase, which amounts to roughly 150,000 new residents. For comparison, Los Angeles County grew at 2.2% over the same time period.
San Bernardino County residents are also younger, on average, than in the rest of the country. Roughly 33% of all county residents are under 18, compared to the nationwide average of roughly 28%.
The fun part of all these numbers I’m throwing out is trying to figure out what this means for our daily lives. While our growth is promising in a lot of ways and could mean additional representation in Sacramento after 2021 given this is a redistricting year, it also means that our housing and employment crises could get worse.
Property values increased over the last 10 years, yes, but the number of owner-occupied homes actually fell. Although that wouldn’t surprise anyone who has walked down an entire block full of Airbnbs, it could ultimately push out younger residents who want to own a home.
I am going to continue digging into the numbers this week, but please let me know if there’s something you would like me to specifically look into or if there was a number that caught your eye.
Now, onto this week’s news:
Part of the Pappy + Harriett’s ownership mystery is solved for now, and music lovers might be able to breathe a sigh of relief.
Shortly after The Dispatch published last week, owners of The Knitting Factory, a Brooklyn-based entertainment group, announced they were the exclusive buyer for the Pioneertown venue.
According to the group’s Instagram post announcing the news, Phil Pirrone and James Irvine will be the talent buyers.
Pirrone is the founder and creative director of Desert Daze, one of Joshua Tree’s many music festivals.
“I love them and Pappy's means the world to me,” Pirrone wrote on LinkedIn. “The experiences I've had there over the years have shaped the person I am today. Julie Pirrone and I fell in love there. And all I want to do is make everyone who loves Pappy's proud and honor this glorious place.”
“The torch being passed to us is without a doubt, an honor of a lifetime and I promise to bring reverence to the work.”
On Tuesday, the CDC released new guidance for people that are fully vaccinated, meaning two weeks after their second dose of Pfizer or Moderna or after the Johnson & Johnson dose.
Fully vaccinated people are no longer required to mask up outdoors in most settings. Masks are still recommended for outdoor activities in large groups, such as music festivals or parades. California updated its own mask mandates to reflect the CDC changes.
The CDC clarified on Wednesday that the guidance changed to hopefully encourage more people to get vaccinated as demand for vaccines starts to dry up.
Copper Mountain College in Joshua Tree is open to all people 16 years old and older. You must still make an appointment for your first dose, but you can schedule your second one on-site. Rite Aid and Walgreens in Yucca Valley are both offering vaccinations as well.
According to an Instagram post, the Mojave Desert Land Trust acquired the parcel, which is one of just three remaining private holdings in the area, on Tuesday.
The group removed a cell phone tower that was built on top of a mountain in the parcel. I highly recommend scrolling through their Instagram post for before and after pictures!
The wilderness has historically been used by Native tribes, and members of the Shoshone Nation continue to visit for spiritual and cultural purposes, the group said.
The parcel has been identified as a key link in the desert ecosystem due to its nine natural springs and prominence of bighorn sheep. Hikers will have access to the parcel, but its rugged terrain will require some advanced wilderness skills.
Pupdate of the week: Alice saw her first flyover on Saturday while we were out on the Mesa and was extremely interested in this loud bird flying overhead. It’s good to know she’s not easily spooked!
Trail tip of the week: I finally broke down and bought my first UV shirt this week. I don’t burn easily, but I regularly miss spots when applying sunscreen and pay for it later. I’m eager to try out the shirt, which blocks the harmful rays and supposedly will keep me cool, this weekend.
Book of the week: Parable of the Sower by Octavia Butler is a fictional telling of a Southern California woman’s fight to find meaning in a chaotic world. The book is set in 2024 amid the climate crisis and societal collapse, so it’s not the lightest read but I found the message oddly uplifting. Maybe that’s because it hit pretty close to home.
Show of the week: There is a phenomenal documentary series on Hulu called Sasquatch that investigates a rumored Bigfoot killing on a pot farm in Mendocino County in the 1990s. Our own desert community makes an appearance towards the end of episode one!
Small business of the week
The weekend we moved was the weekend before my birthday. In all the chaos of getting settled, a fresh bouquet of gorgeous flowers showed up at my new front door and I temporarily forgot everything else I was supposed to be doing.
So this week, I wanted to highlight Cactus Mart, the floral geniuses behind one of the best birthday gifts I’ve ever received. The shop is part florist, part nursery, and offers delivery throughout the Morongo Basin. Mother’s Day is coming up, after all!
Cactus Mart is located at 49889 Twentynine Palms Highway in Morongo Valley.
That’s all for this week! I hope you have a great rest of your week and get outside!
- Megan
I got my wedding bouquet from cactus mart. They did a beautiful job!