-Mario Conde, Reporter.
As we prepare to welcome 2025, it’s amazing to realize that a quarter-century has passed since the dawn of the 21st century. It feels like yesterday that we celebrated the year 2000 with hope for a brighter future. Fast forward 25 years, and here we are, still grappling with the same challenges that plagued Imperial County decades ago.
It was just four years ago that a mysterious virus began spreading across Europe, eventually bringing society to its knees. The pandemic exposed the vulnerabilities of our healthcare system, our governance, and our way of life. Today, as we look around, we must ask: are we better off than we were 25 years ago?
This past election brought a wave of change, with many first-time candidates, particularly women, winning public office. For the first time, the Imperial County Board of Supervisors will have two women serving simultaneously, and the Calexico City Council now has a female majority. These historic milestones are worth celebrating, but the pressing question remains, will this newfound representation lead to meaningful change?
Unemployment, the Salton Sea crisis, New River pollution, inadequate medical access, poor air quality, and limited opportunities, these issues defined life in Imperial County in 2000, and they remain unresolved in 2025. While local leaders bear responsibility, the neglect from state and federal authorities is glaring. Governor Gavin Newsom, who frequently mentioned Imperial County during the height of the pandemic, failed to visit even as our hospitals overflowed. His lack of engagement speaks volumes about Sacramento’s indifference to our struggles. And please don’t hold your breath that Newsom will change his attitude towards Imperial County as he is planning his Presidential run in 2028 and moving his family to the White House.
Imperial County is pinning its hopes on Lithium Valley. We’ve been told it’s the key to clean energy and better jobs, a chance to finally turn things around. Imagine our kids in 2050 living in a thriving Imperial Valley, with good jobs, a clean Salton Sea, and a community that’s a leader in sustainability. But talk is cheap. If we want this dream to come true, we need to push for real action, jobs for locals, fair investment, and solutions for our community, not just empty promises.
But let’s not lay all the blame at the feet of politicians. Our community must step up and demand better. Apathy and complacency have allowed these problems to persist for generations. If we don’t act now, the younger generation will inherit the same broken systems we’ve endured.
As we begin 2025, let us resolve to hold our leaders accountable and become active participants in shaping a brighter future. Let’s commit that by 2050, Imperial Valley will be a place we can truly be proud of, a place where progress isn’t just a promise, but a reality. The time to act is now.
