[GPSCC-chat] Water Rates and back room deals

[Wes Rolley]

Answers betwixt and between.


On 4/8/2016 10:53 AM, Gerry Gras wrote:
>
> I was in Pacific Grove.  The drought is affecting them too.
>
> Doesn't the Santa Clara Valley Water District have its own
> board?  If so, what do they think of all tsystem. his?
The Santa Clara Valley Water District does have it's own board.  Two of 
those board members are also board district for the San Luis Delta 
Mendota Water Authority.  One of the sources of water for us is a  
underground conduit from San Luis Reservoir into the Santa Clara Valley. 
Still, the district directors were divided, but one of the issues in 
firing the executive was that he was too enthusiastic about the tunnels 
project.  I know that D. Kennedy, my director, was skeptical.  But since 
he got so sick (fatal) he was replaced by ex-Morgan Hill Mayor, John 
Varela whom I never liked.  Gets too enthralled with big project and big 
plans.

>
> I remember an earlier email from you about Weistlands
> Irrigation District.  It's a bit surprising that they
> have that much influence.  I suppose that it relates
> to intense lobbying and campaign financing.  Yes? No?
Start with the fact that they are the largest Irrigation district in 
CA.  Add to the fact that they have a close relationship to Paramount 
Farms (Wonderful Pistachios, Pom Wonderful watered down juice, Fiji 
Water, Halos Mandarin Oranges) and that the owner of Paramount Farms is 
a good buddy to Mr. Blum, a.k.a. Mr. Diane Feinstein.  Then they are 
willing to spend a lot of money on lobbying and also on public relations 
companies.  Also, they sponsor an Astroturf organization called the 
California Latino Water Coalition (http://www.latinowater.com/index.htm)
Water District Director Tony Estremera is also on that board as well.   
Yes, they play the political game very skillfully.
>
>
> I'm sure you are right about where Santa Clara County gets
> its water, but just in case you aren't aware of it, Palo
> Alto gets it's water elsewhere (via SFPUC):
> http://www.cityofpaloalto.org/gov/depts/utl/residents/resources/water_resources/default.asp 
>
>
> Water is a basic necessity.  And I think the climate
> scientists think that California will have less water 
> http://www.latinowater.com/index.htmo
> as a result of climate change.  Is anyone in government
> seriously considering the long term consequences?
Yes, they are building tunnels to carry N. Cal Water down to a "forebay" 
near Tracy so that what water we have is "more reliable."
>
> One thing that causes me to shake my head:  ABAG
> is requiring cities and towns in its jurisdiction to
> plan for significant population growth.  Isn't ABAG
> concerned about water shortages?
,I think that they just require that others think about it.  Have to 
plan for growth?  That includes making cities, counties, etc. plan for 
water.
>
>
> Gerry
>


-- 
"Anytime you have an opportunity to make things better and you don't, 
then you are wasting your time on this Earth" - /Roberto Clemente/
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