Cityhood Petition Still Needs 3,000 Signatures

With less than a month left in a petition drive promoting incorporation of this area of 54,000 residents, supporters are short by almost half the required signatures.

Supporters say they have about 4,000 of 7,000 signatures needed to place the cityhood proposal on the November 2000 ballot. The deadline is Dec. 5.

“We think we’ll make it,” said Dorothy T. Treakle, a member of the Hacienda Heights Cityhood Organization.

Treakle, who was a candidate for the local school board, said that recent school district elections have drawn volunteers away from the campaign.

She said supporters have hired an Anaheim-based petition service to help collect signatures, because canvassing is so time-consuming.

Opponents say the tactic is a sign the campaign will fall short.

“If there’s so much support, why are they bringing outsiders in to collect their signatures?” said Dennis Guy Matthewson, vice president of the group United Against Cityhood. “That just shows the people of Hacienda Heights don’t want it and [the area] is doing just fine under the county.”