A Seemingly Model City Under Attack

The town of Vernon, Calif., population 90, is unusual even by left-coast standards.

The tiny town of Vernon, embroiled in a bitter fight over its first election in 25 years... has had just four mayors, all related to its founders.

The 5-square-mile city consists in large part of rutted roads, railroad tracks, and a maze of warehouses, meatpacking plants, fuel tanks and an occasional vacant lot. There is no high school, no movie theater, no parkland. The city's motto: "Exclusively Industrial." Vernon owns virtually all the roughly two-dozen homes in town.

Lots of businesses? Only the services its residents need? I bet it's also got low taxes, low unemployment, and a good standard of living. Why yes, indeed.