Representatives from 10 government agencies, educational and health care organizations, as well as from the Twentynine Palms Marine Base and Joshua Tree National Park gathered Thursday afternoon to present a State of the Morongo Basin to about 200 people at the Yucca Valley Community Center. Yucca Valley Mayor George Huntington led off the event with a State of Yucca Valley address. Managing editor Tami Roleff was there, and says the mayor was proud of all the town’s accomplishments during the past year…
Mayor George Huntington led off his State of Yucca Valley address with how the Morongo Basin is well represented at county, state and national levels. County Supervisor James Ramos is the chair of the Board of Supervisors; former Yucca Valley mayor Chad Mayes is the minority leader in the state assembly. Jean Fuller, who represents the Morongo Basin in the state senate, is the senate minority leader. Former Yucca Valley mayor Paul Cook represents the Morongo Basin in Washington, D.C. Then Huntington highlighted some of the improvements and additions to the town during the past year, with new and updated parks, a golf course, stores, and restaurants, to keep shopping local: Brehm Park, Jacobs Park, Paradise Park, Marshalls, Ross Dress for Less, 99 Cent Store, Panda Express, new Taco Bell. He added these new businesses brought in 300 new jobs and Morongo Basin residents can do their shopping now without driving down the hill. Future projects include using funds from a new grant to install in sidewalks, curbs, and gutters near Yucca Valley Elementary School. Huntington said it’s not all wine and roses, though. “We are aware of the challenges that remain…. Public safety and infrastructure remain the top priorities. The good news is … working together, we will continue to serve our residents, businesses, and visitors in the Morongo Basin.” Huntington then introduced representatives from other government agencies, who also gave updates. We’ll have some of their messages in later stories.
