European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - May 6, 1987, Darmstadt, Hesse                                City invades Rural Gal form a by Robert Lindsey new York times ordon ga8rett, who has spent most of his 73 year a roaming California s High sierras remembers when All he saw on the horizon Ware mountains Pina Trees lakes and streams. Now he looks out at Asphalt automobiles and new housing developments and wonders what the Mure holds. People Are coming up Here to gel away from ii All he says but they re bringing the City with  California already the nation s most populous state in experiencing its strongest surge of population growth in decades. Oakhurst once a Rural Hamlet near the Gates of Yosemite National Park is among dozens of new Boom towns on the Wesley slopes of the sierras that Are feeling its effect. According to state officials California gained 623,000 residents in the fiscal year ending last june 30, its largest year to year increase since 1943, when a Demurl for War workers attracted 771,000 newcomers to the Sale. The is year increase of 2.4 percent raised California population to nearly 27 million widening its Lead Over iwo York to 9 million. Although much of the gain is attributed to births state demographers say almost 360.000 More people moved into California than moved Oul of it in the year. More than 40 percent of the new arrivals ii is estimated came from foreign nations particularly Mexico the Philllp Ines Korea Iran and Al Salvador. An average of More then 1,500 soul Hast asians arrive in California daily officials say. The balance of the immigrants came irom throughout America. Economically depressed Texas led the Way sending 41,250 people followed by Illinois with almost 30,000 and new York with 26.250. In a further indication that migrants Are travelling greater distances than in the recent past almost 20,000 people moved to the a a a from Florida in the 12-Monh period. Officials base their estimates of interstate population flow parity on the origins of people irom other states who obtain California Driver s licenses. Elizabeth Hoag a senior state demographer said a Small Dropoll in the rate of migration irom other states began in Early december adding but it s been nothing  in absolute numbers the largest population gains Are occurring in California s Urban areas particularly los Angeles county and a fast growing Region South and East of it that includes Riverside san Bernardino Orange and san Diego counties. The population of los Angeles county now estimated at More than 8.2 million has jumped to percent since the 1930 census. Demographic studies appear to confirm predictions that los Angeles is becoming America s firs third world City made up principally of minority groups from around the world. According to county officials residents of hispanic ancestry have accounted for almost 70 percent of the population growth in los Angeles county since 1980, a Resumil not Only of Legal and illegal immigration but also of a High birth rate among Young hispanic women. In the same period the number of non hispanic Whites in los Angeles county Rose Only four tenths of 1 percent Whsle the number or Blacks and asian residents Rose 5.4pereni and 10 percent respectively. San Francisco reversed a Long term population decline fou years ago largely because of an influx of resin feels from the Philippines and other parts of Asia but it is growing at a rate substantially below the state average. While in terms of absolute numbers California s population is growing fastest within and near metropolitan areas slate officials say that Many once Rural communities like Oakhurst on the Western slopes of the sierras Are growing at a much faster rate. Once All but forgotten ghost towns of the Gold Rush Era like Placerville Angels Camp san Andreas Nevada City and grass Valley have become Boom towns again. State experts say growth in these communities is occurring not Only because of migration from other states much of it by retired people but also because of the decisions of California urbanite to seek cheaper housing and a slower paced style of Irving i have this picture in my  said Hoag the Stele demographer of people streaming into los Angeles staying Nero for a while then streaming out of los Angeles As they look for a different Way of Lite. As sue Smith who moved to san Andreas in Calaveras county irom the san Francisco Peninsula put it i wanted to get away from the big cily to a place that was affordable raise my kids in a goo atmosphere and find a Good climate Lor  it it the kind of comment heard often in the Sierra Foothills which despite complaints ram some old timers still offer a Scenic respite from the congestion found in More urbanized areas. Nevertheless rapid growth is causing mounting strains on roads schools and sewer and water systems. Although retired people generally find living costs relatively cheap those who have joined the new influx of younger urbanite in search of a quieter life often find jobs scarce. A handful of computer oriented Industrial concerns and other business have moved to the Foothills. Agriculture logging and tourism produce Tome jobs. But the breadwinners in Many families must commute Long distances to work. Many once sleepy Gold Rush towns now face Serio is traffic problems. Sometimes you have to wait 10 minutes to Cross the Highway Smith said. In Oakhurst and nearby communities housing tracts and strip development along state route 41 have replaced much of the Alpine ambiance of a few years ago. And the population of Madera county has almost doubled in the past decade to nearly 30,000 people. Hundreds of people commute to jobs More than so Miles away in Fresno tilling the Highway with a Stream of cars twice a Day. Some Reid anti like Garrell. A retired Forest service employee mourn the changes. He scorns Rural subdivisions with houses 12 feel apart irom each other complains that newcomers Are creating the same problems of congestion and other qualities of Urban life that Many left los Angeles to escape and warns about the dangers of building so Many residential dwellings in a lire prone Region. It s a design Lor disaster he said. But Ralph Tucci the executive director of the chamber of Commerce for Eastern Latiera county said More Wiff come no Mailer what present residents would like to see. Growth is happening whether we want it or not. What we have to do is get a handle on it and be Able to control die a Rutili so vie toil ruin what we  the busine5 by Lawrence m. Fisher new York times the business of running local government in the United Stales is getting Ever , calif., for example is an equity partner in a Large regional shopping mall Cincinnati has a stake in a Weslin hotel and new to cily is a partner in an office building with Morgan Stanley & co. Long accustomed to being passive regulators of business local governments Are becoming entrepreneurs As a Way of raising Revenue developing blighted areas and acquiring specific projects such luxury hotels. The investments Are not without risk or critics. Tin projects Are still Young and their profitability not Cert and some exports think the governmental entrepreneurship could Lead to charges of antitrust violations and conflicts of interest. But others argue i hat for most municipalities the total amount of dolls involved is Small and that Public scrutiny of govern actions should help keep any project in line Moat experts agree that entrepreneurial government has is roots in the taxpayer revolts of in Lale 1970s, when voters approved proposition 13 in California proposition 2vi in Massachusetts and aim measures elsewhere. These initiatives put limits on property tax increases reducing revenues for local governments. Those governments in turn develop innovative approaches to doing business i s taken 1q years but the trusts of proposition Page 14 the stars and stripes wed nest