Editorial: The pulse of Ventura County, at age 150
This week Ventura County will get a health checkup. Its vital signs will be assessed and analyzed. That’s always a good idea, but especially so on the occasion of a 150th birthday.
Appropriately, the health assessment will come first, on Wednesday, when the Ventura County Civic Alliance releases its biennial State of the Region report. These data-filled reports assess where we stand and how we’ve changed in all manner of important measures — the economy, housing, public health and safety, natural resources, social services and more.
Notably, this report on the county’s collective health simply states the facts. No prescriptions are proffered to address whatever ailments these vital signs may indicate. Presumably, some of those will be offered the following day, on Thursday, when County Executive Officer Sevet Johnson and Board of Supervisors Chair Matt LaVere speak at a sold-out State of the County presentation at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum in Simi Valley.
That event is one of many civic and cultural events being held this year on the 150th anniversary of the county’s founding in 1873.
So what does this new analysis of the state of our homeland tell us? There are many healthy signs — many more than there were at the last checkup that came in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
On the economic front, unemployment is at a historic low and job growth last year was robust, although the number of jobs remains slightly below its pre-pandemic level. Median family income increased over the previous two years, but not quite enough to keep pace with inflation. Taxable sales were up sharply.
In terms of public safety, Ventura County is not just doing well, it is in fact excelling. The crime rate here in 2022 was the lowest in modern history, and Ventura’s standing as the safest large county in the state has been solidified. Its rate of violent crimes, 2 per 1,000 residents, was 30% lower than that of the second-safest jurisdiction, Orange County. Homicides, robberies, burglaries — even reports of shoplifting — were all in decline.
Of course, some of the county’s chronic ailments persist. Home prices, with the median sales price topping $927,000, continue to be high and out of reach for an ever-increasing percentage of households. The average monthly rent of a two-bedroom apartment in July stood at $2,738, up more than $500 over the last three years.
That high cost of living is directly related to another concerning trend, declining school enrollment. Over the past two years, the number of students in the county’s K-8 public schools experienced an unprecedented decline, down by 8%.
And the county’s population overall is in slight decline. The birth rate remains at historic lows, and the median age of a Ventura County resident rose to 38.7 years, up a half-year from two years ago.
Perhaps of most concern is the report’s focus on a deadly cancer spreading at an alarming rate. Opioid deaths — most involving fentanyl — last year reached 24.4 per 1,000 people, well above the rate statewide and in neighboring L.A. County. The rate of deaths involving fentanyl is nearly five times higher than it was just three years earlier.
It should be noted that the report’s lead author, Tony Biasotti, is a reporter for The Star, but his work on this report was independent from his employment at the Star. The data upon which the report is based comes from researchers at California Lutheran University, government agencies and trade associations.
As might be expected for any 150-year-old, the health report on Ventura County is mixed. There are things that need attention. All who are involved in the care of public life in the county would benefit from consulting the chart. It will be released at an event at 8 a.m. Wednesday. For information, visit CivicAlliance.org.
This article originally appeared on Ventura County Star: Editorial: The pulse of Ventura County, at age 150
