It’s back. To Stop the Tunnels, We Have to Stop this Hearing First.

Dear Restore the Delta Supporters,

It’s back. In the coming days and weeks, Delta tunnels proponents are trying to give a corrupt water handout to big agriculture on the backs of California taxpayers and water ratepayers, AGAIN. Please participate in this calling campaign aggressively and repeatedly, until we say all is clear.

Three key state legislators – Senator Holly Mitchell, President pro Tempore of the State Senate Toni Atkins, and Speaker of the Assembly Anthony Rendon will decide if California should OK a 50-year blank check water contract. Call these decision makers today and tell them to further delay the final Joint Legislative Budget Committee hearing until they have been provided basic information on the State Water Contract including the Delta tunnels amendments!

It is completely irresponsible to hold the informational hearing in the middle of the night at the end of the legislative session, or in the weeks prior to the election, when the legislature has not seen the full amendments to the contract, and does not have other basic information like the cost impacts to taxpayers and water ratepayers. It is irresponsible to move ahead without input from constituents. It is irresponsible to move ahead with a 50-year contract when the Trump Administration is moving to grab water from the State Water Contractors.

Governor Brown is pushing to build two massive water tunnels in Northern California to send water primarily to large agribusinesses. The tunnels will destroy the SF Bay-Delta estuary, leaving urban ratepayers and property taxpayers with the bill. You would pay the $19.9 billion, plus interest and overruns for a total of $50 billion, but get none of the water, especially if water is rerouted to the Central Valley Project’s agricultural users.

Supporters of the tunnels do not have the full funding for the multibillion billion project approved yet, but they want the State Legislature to allow them to extend a key water contract for 50-years as a way to stick Californians with the project for good. But the legislature hasn’t even been provided a full copy of a proposed contract on the tunnels or a basic financial analysis!

Your call could have an enormous impact. Staffers will be tallying the calls they receive.
Call key these state legislators making this decision today. Here’s how:

1. Call Senator Holly Mitchell, Chair of the Joint Legislative Budget Committee: (916) 651-4030 Sacramento Office; or (213) 745-6656 Los Angeles Office;

2. Call President pro Tempore of the State Senate Toni Atkins: (916)651-4039 Sacramento; or 619-645-3133 San Diego Office;

3. Call Speaker of the Assembly Anthony Rendon: (916) 319-2063 Sacramento Office; or (562) 529-3250 Lakewood Office;

4. Tell these key decision makers:

“Your upcoming decision on the State Water Contract will impact taxpayers and our water throughout the entire State of California. I urge you to delay the informational hearing until all information regarding financing of the Delta tunnels has been provided to the legislature and public input can be given. It is completely irresponsible to hold the informational hearing in the middle of the night at the end of the legislative session, or in the weeks prior to the election, when the legislature has not seen the full amendments to the contract, and does not have other basic information like the cost impacts to taxpayers and water ratepayers. It is irresponsible to move ahead without input from your constituents.”

Once they hold this final hearing, they give up ALL legislative oversight on changes to the state water contract that will be in effect for the next 50 years. This contract change provides state water contractors a virtual blank check with no Legislative oversight on future projects like the tunnels.

Thank you for your continued advocacy. It takes a team effort to ensure that the best water management decisions are made for Californians by our legislative leaders.

Yours in Service,

Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla
Restore the Delta

Related Posts