YES On Measure B Committee Cruising to Victory

With Votes Left to Count, YES On Measure B Committee Says it’s Over

CATHEDRAL CITY — Approximately 2,000 Vote-by-Mail and 50 Provisional ballots still must be processed, but the YES On Measure B Committee appears headed for victory in an election that was often compared to David versus Goliath.

From the outset, Antonio Baciu, a Cathedral City resident who worked feverishly on the Vote YES campaign, said the residents’ votes would be the proverbial slingshot.

Turns out he appears so be correct.

The YES on B Committee had a good feeling going into Tuesday based on its canvassing, supporters told Uken Report.

According to the Riverside County Registrar of Voters, Yes on B garnered 4,465 votes while No on B netted 2,457. It will be almost impossible for the opposition to make up the difference.

The uncertified vote indicates residents trusted the City Council’s decision to not ban — but phase out — the controversial short-term vacation rentals. (STVR) The Council made its decision after studying the issue for a year and seeking feedback from the community.

The initial vote total also indicates that residents believed Police Chief George Crum’s crime analysis on STVRs. In analyzing the total calls handled by the Police Department, Crum reported that 15 calls resulted in a Part 1 Crime (the most serious) occurring at an STVR. The crimes our officers investigated at STVR properties included an attempt homicide in which two adults were stabbed, a sexual assault, five domestic violence assaults, five residential burglaries, one commercial burglary and two stolen vehicles. Additionally, the Police Department made a total of nine arrests and issued 52 citations in connection with these and other calls for service related to an STVR between October 2019 and November 2020.

Early vote totals also indicate residents are protective of their quality of life. 

Cathedral City had robust support from other Valley cities that are facing STVR issues in their communities.

“We are very pleased with the early election results.,” Doug Evans,  secretary for YES On Measure B Committee. “The Cathedral City council unanimously passed this compromise ordinance in September 2020, and the residents appear to have overwhelmingly confirmed that decision by their votes today. The Yes on Measure B campaign was run based upon factual data that could be supported every step of the way. We’ve said from the very beginning that ‘Neighborhoods are for Neighbors’ and the residents that live here agree.  STVRs have their place but not in single-family neighborhoods.  Despite being hugely outspent by the opposition, today we realized that David can indeed defeat Goliath.”

Work on the remaining ballots begins Wednesday morning. Ballots that are postmarked on or before Election Day also remain to be counted. The next updated results will be posted at 6 p.m. on Thursday.