Commentary
Riverside and San Bernardino Counties in Southern California have 52 cities. A number of their residents work in Orange County and make their commute using the Riverside Freeway, its express lanes, or the Metrolink rail.
As housing costs tend to be higher the closer one comes to the coast, moving to the Inland Empire (IE) provides for more affordable housing. For years, this phenomenon has been described as “driving until you qualify.”
But the Inland Empire has enough job opportunities within its borders to employ most of its residents, explaining its robust growth.
Obtaining current financial data for California’s cities is not easy. Most cities have excellent website modules for providing their annual budgets and audited financial statements. However, some, like the city of Westmorland in nearby Imperial County, are an embarrassment when it comes to being transparent….