Bob Cuddy reports that the situation is the same in San Luis Obispo County, California, as it is up here in Maine: if you're a newcomer, be wary of speaking at local public meetings.
“I don’t know that that makes you a native,” Supervisor Jerry Lenthall tut-tutted a speaker who, at a recent meeting, proudly said she had lived here for 40 years and felt like a native.In my hometown, anyone whose ancestors didn't sign the petition for incorporation in 1815 is said to be "from away."
Lenthall did allow that 40 years is a long time.
But Lenthall, who has lived here four decades himself, can be forgiven. Week after week, he has to listen to people preface their remarks with “I am a fourth-generation resident” or “my ancestors came here at the beginning of the last century.” [Link]
I understand there were quite a few Filipinos living in Los Angeles when that city was founded during the American Revolution.