Talking with V. Manuel Perez, the Hill’s new supervisor

One result of the 2021 redistricting of Riverside County’s supervisorial districts was shifting the Hill communities — from Pine Cove south through Garner Valley — into District 4 from District 3. District 4 Supervisor V. Manuel Perez was unopposed for his reelection, consequently the Hill did not get to vote last fall for a supervisor.

When Perez took his new oath of office Tuesday, Jan. 10, Hill residents formally became his constituents along with the other 400,000 county residents to the east, all the way to the Colorado River.

While Perez may be a new supervisor to the Hill, the Hill is not new to him. As a youth, he served as a counselor at Pathfinder Ranch.

“In the summer, I spent a lot of time in Mountain Center, Idyllwild and around Hurkey Creek,” he related. “My dad would take us camping at Lake Hemet and we’d go fishing. Who would have known, because of redistricting, these areas are now in my district.”

Now as supervisor, Perez’s district stretches from the Hill to Blythe and includes both the lowest, highest, hottest and coldest areas of the county. “These are two different worlds,” he agreed. “I understand somewhat the mountain because of my youth.”

But Perez did not wait for 2023 to begin getting familiar with his new areas. Last summer, he visited Idyllwild with former Hill Supervisor Chuck Washington. They toured the town, including the Community Center, and stopped at Idyllwild Fire, too.

Hill constituents with need for Perez’s help or assistance may visit either his Palm Desert or Riverside offices. (For addresses and phone numbers see below).

“In the meantime, I am interested in identifying locations for listening sessions, perhaps the Community Center,” Perez added. “Or potentially just hang out and listen.”

He also mentioned that he may try to find a location for an office on the Hill.

When asked if he might reestablish County Service Areas (CSA) for the Hill, since CSA 36 (Idyllwild) and 38 (Pine Cove) were dissolved in 2020, Perez acknowledged that he did not know the reasons. “I’ll need to do some research. That occurred during Supervisor [Chuck] Washington’s tenure and I’ll have to have a conversation with him. You know sometimes they work with you and sometimes — against you.”

On one major issue — short-term rentals (STR) — that has overwhelmed the Hill in the past several years, Perez is well aware of the local views and has had to cast several votes on the issue during 2022.

He recognizes that the balance between personal property rights and creating a public disruption or nuisance can be a difficult policy decision. Prior to redistricting, the county areas — the Hill and the Temecula Wine Country — with the greatest number of STRs were both in District 3.

Now Perez has responsibility for the Hill. And he notes there also are many STRs in District 4.

“I had some struggles, maybe not as bad as Chuck, but there are events, such as Coachella, that take place and require some sort of accountability process,” he mentioned.

“I do believe in private property rights. But we need a balance, especially when folk rent space. Nevertheless, because of trash or parking or other nuisances, we need to hold the renter accountable.”

Two issues on which Perez raised concerns were rentals of separate buildings on large estates and using bedrooms to limit the number of potential renters.

He felt large estates should be treated differently than a residential structure on a smaller parcel. Perez recommended that the occupancy limits might be based on the acreage of the property rather than the number of bedrooms.

While many local residents have different opinions about these issues, Perez indicated that he was flexible. “I have had no opportunity to talk with folk. Here [the desert areas of District 4] there are properties with humongous houses — 4, 5 thousand or even 10,000 square feet. These are set back from the roads and streets in rural areas. In Idyllwild, it’s quite different. The lots are not as big and more traffic concerns and other different issues. Now there is a moratorium which is good for right now. I’m not sure of the future.”

In October, the board unanimously approved a moratorium on issuing new STR certificates within the Idyllwild, Pine Cove and Mountain Center neighborhoods and the Temecula Wine Country. This moratorium will expire Sept. 9, 2023.

The concern for fires also was addressed. While fires can occur anywhere, wildfires burning thousands of acres are more common on the Hill than the desert. But Perez understands the local concern and during his summer visit to the Hill, he had the opportunity to meet with some local fire officials.

“We talked about fire issues, such as the Emergency Outdoor Warning System. I will do what I can to be helpful,” he stated. “Public safety and quality of life, I’ll do my best to for all the departments.”

He mentioned that he is very supportive, “awesome,” of Team Rubicon and expects it to return to help in the future with property abatement.

For more than two decades, Perez has been involved in elected politics. He began as a member of his local school board. In 2008, he was elected to the California Assembly. Near the end of his tenure, in 2014, he was elected as the Democratic Majority leader.

In May 2017, following the death of former District 4 Supervisor John J. Benoit, former Gov. Jerry Brown appointed Perez to the Riverside County Board of Supervisors.

A year later, with 58% of the vote, he was elected to a full four-year team. Then last spring, he encountered no opposition to his reelection to second term.

During 2020, he served as chair of the board of supervisors. The COVID-19 shutdowns and mask fashions began in March 2020.

“I think I still have trauma and possible PTSD from that period. It was the toughest policy year in my career,” he said.

The difficulty and sometimes inability to hear both sides of an argument and the level of misinformation made it grueling and problematic to find common ground and solutions, he noted.

“There was anger I never saw before,” Perez added. “Some meetings became disrespectful. Some became marathons, all day into the night. I was making sure I was a statesman. It was very hard to make everyone happy. I’m glad it’s over.”

Compared to being an assemblyman, Perez easily feels that “… being a supervisor is the tougher job. It is much more rewarding, but also more responsibility. It truly is where the rubber meets the road. There’s the language of the ordinance as well as case management.

“At the state level, there is a lot of partisan politics. As Democratic Majority Leader, I had Democratic policies to handle and to protect,” Perez said.

“At the local level, it is nonpartisan. I love it. It’s just the issue,” he related. “I now have good friends I never thought that I would. I now have a lot of friends who are Republican … The county really is a safety net and we do our best to be helpful.”

Another difference Perez prefers is the time between passing the law and recognizing its effect. “Policymaking at the state level, you don’t know what will happen for two to three years after the policy is implemented.”

During the board’s redistricting discussions and debates in December 2021, Perez was the lone vote against the current redistricting plan. In June 2022, the American Civil Liberties Union filed the suit on behalf of the Inland Empire United and six individuals asking that the plan be re-done.

But Perez acknowledged the current board does reflect diversity of the population. He and Yxstian Gutierrez, new supervisor for the 5th District, are both Hispanic. Washington is black and Karen Spiegel, representing the 2nd District, is a female.

“It was a different time back then. Is the litigation still necessary? That’s up to the ACLU [(American Civil Liberties Union)]. But I don’t think so, that’s just me. It’s far better now,” he concluded.

Supervisor V. Manuel Perez’s office locations

Palm Desert office
73-710 Fred Waring Drive
Suite 222
Palm Desert, CA 92260
Phone: (760) 863-8211
Fax: (760) 863-8905

Riverside office
4080 Lemon Street – 5th Floor
P.O. Box 1647
Riverside, CA 92502-1647
Phone: (951) 955-1040
Fax: (951) 955-2194