It was a great turnout at the Corona public hearing last Wednesday — about 300 Temescal Valley residents showed up in support of the anti-annexation effort. About 30 — maybe a little more or less — chose to speak. The comments were heartfelt and not too repetitive.

About four hours after the hearing began, the City Council voted 4-1 to go foward with its attempt to annex the Temescal Valley. It’s pretty much what many of us had expected. We knew the City Council had already made up its mind — deja vu from the Planning Commission public hearing — just another rubber-stamping to send the annexation attempt to the next level — LAFCO.

The big surprise came with Councilman Stan Skipworth’s vote to oppose the annexation. “I have to respect what you have in your community. When 30 out of 32 people say they don’t want to be a part of the municipality, that tells me something.”

Thank you to all who took time on a work-week night to come out and fill a seat in the audience. Speakers were important — you all did a great job — but sometimes numbers speak louder than words.

Bottom line: We have a lengthy process in front of us — and to quote a famous American — “We have yet begun to fight.” We all must be more proactive. If we do not win this fight, it’s only because our apathy defeated us.