Where We’re Going: OC in 25 Years
What better time than in the first month of a new year to look ahead?
Our Oct. 6, 2003, issue celebrated the Orange County Business Journal’s first 25 years and Orange County’s remarkable growth during that span. In the issue we asked prominent people to briefly comment on what they thought the county would be like 25 years from now. A few respondents missed our deadline, so we’re including their comments here.
For a different perspective, we also decided to seek the opinions of those who will be entering their professional prime 25 years from now,today’s students. We thank the eighth graders in Tony Zerrer’s algebra class at Bernice Ayer Middle School in San Clemente and students in Ryan Bertoni’s economics class at Fountain Valley High School for their input.
In 25 years I think Orange County will be overcrowded. Because most of the new homes being built are bigger and more expensive, there is a real possibility that Orange County will have richer residents. The good thing about the county is that the residents are for the most part tolerant of other nationalities, which helps promote diversification.
Christina Tran,
Fountain Valley High student
Some of OC’s many attributes will undoubtedly be true in 25 years: great weather, hip culture, varied recreation, ethnic diversity. If we maintain the other advantages,limited government, pro-business attitude, good schools and universities and a diversified commercial base,then we’ll be a leader in 2028.
Murray Rudin, investment banker
People will probably be driving flying cars. I believe it will be much more crowded and technologically advanced.
Seaghna Wilson,
Bernice Ayer Middle School student
In 25 years, think of OC as Westside L.A.,high income, executives live here, social life hub, etc. The Inland Empire is the middle-class enclave. OC will go up, up, density will increase and anything on the water is gold.
Michael Ray,
developer and Coast Magazine columnist
I think that this place will look like a trash dump.
Alma Lopez,
Bernice Ayer Middle School student
Orange County’s future must be based on a more urban vision. The sprawl needs to be tamed, for economic, social and environmental reasons. More housing will be needed, if any semblance of a middle or working class can remain. The choices will get starker: The county could become increasingly bifurcated between an upper-middle class elite and a service underclass. But the county has the resources, and the appeal, to make the transition and build itself into a diverse archipelago of urban villages. It can all prove very exciting, if there is some vision on the local level.
Joel Kotkin,
L.A.-based futurist and journalist
I think Orange County will be a city like L.A.
Mike Rubin,
Bernice Ayer Middle School student
Orange County has a strong and diverse economic base that is likely to continue to serve it well for several decades to come. However, ongoing cut-and-fill, suburban-sprawl development is likely to soon overrun the already strained capacity of the county’s transportation network. This will yield both considerable traffic congestion and a return to very poor air quality. The problem is that a majority of our local government officials owe their elections to development-industries’ contributions and vote and zone accordingly.
Peter Navarro,
professor of economics and public policy at the University of California, Irvine
The immigration trend will continue to diversify the county even more than already, especially with the influx of Middle Easterners. I think these different cultures will combine to form a very unique Orange County.
Terra Phillips,
Fountain Valley High student
I think in 25 years Orange County will have a lot of rules, more people and more kids.
Maria Moreno,
Bernice Ayer Middle School student
