Comment: I would suggest that "inept and corrupt municipal officials" are less likely options for what is happening behind the more likely "society should do whatever the hell it wants and damn the consequences" mindset that is not uncommon in the valley.  There is a fair bit of a legacy of that way of thinking in the valley already.  A good example is the lakes that are polluted, dammed/diverted, and/or having their natural fish populations disappearing (commonly replaced by pike, if anything).  The place people came to in the 50's, 60's, and 70's is very different these days.