Fish Sniffer On Demand Digital Edition Issue 3726 Dec 8-21 | Page 24

T Dec 7 - 21, 2018 VOL.37 • ISS. 26 Voters Defeat Proposition 3, Jerry Meral’s Water Bond he voters of California decisively defeated Proposition 3, the contro- versial $9 billion water bond backed by powerful corporate agribusiness interests, in the November 6 midterm election. 52.34% of the voters, 3,568,010, voted No for the measure, while 47.66%, 3,248,415, voted Yes, with 100 percent of precincts reporting. Opponents of the water bond include the Sierra Club California, Friends of the River, League of Women Voters of California, Save The American River Association, Food & Water Action, Restore the Delta and the Southern California Watershed Alliance. Supporters of the measure include the Western Growers, California Rice Industry Association, California Fresh Fruit Asso- ciation, Stewart and Lynda Resnicks’ the Wonderful Company, Ducks Unlimited, the California Waterfowl Association, the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA) and California Trout. The Sierra Club California, the primary opponent of the measure, celebrated the defeat of the proposition promoted by Jerry Meral, the former Deputy Director of the California Department of Water Resources and Governor Jerry Brown’s point man on the Delta Tunnels. The backers of the measure, including agribusiness, spent $5,653,034 on the Yes campaign while the Sierra Club spent less than $5,000 on the No Campaign. “We have said all along that there were some good ideas in Proposition 3,” said Kathryn Phillips, Director of Sierra Club California. “For example, there was money for San Francisco Bay restoration and for improving water systems in disadvantaged communities in the bond.” “But the vast bulk of the proposition would have turned water policy upside and put the general public and the environment at a disadvantage,” she said. “That’s why we became reluctant opponents of Prop 1.” “Also, we were concerned about the pay to play aspect of the measure and how it was crafted behind the scenes,” stated Phillips. “That’s a lousy way to do public policy, especially public policy that is expending public dollars.” “We spent less than $5,000, while they spent $5.6 million on the campaign,” she added. Food & Water Action, the political affiliate of Food & Water Watch, celebrated the defeat of Proposition 3, noting that it would have favored corporate agribusinesses at taxpayer expense by funding dams and other infrastructure projects that would funnel more water to special interests. “California voters were wise to vote down Proposition 3, a measure that would have saddled our state with $9 billion of new debt to send more water to corporate agribusiness,” said Adam Scow, California director of Food & Water Action. “California’s water problems cannot be solved until the state brings agricul- tural water use in harmony with the realities of our supply.” Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla, Executive Director of Restore the Delta, issued a statement crediting Sierra Club California for the defeat of the water bond: “Credit for defeating Proposition 3 right- fully goes to Sierra Club California. Their leadership on this effort to stop Prop 3 has created yet another funding challenge for CA WaterFix and other environmentally-disas- trous water projects. Moreover, defeating this measure has prevented Big Ag from receiving a massive handout without the proper legisla- tive oversight. We are grateful for the Sierra Club’s great work to stop Prop 3 and congratu- late them on a job well done!” Supporters of Proposition 3 were disap- pointed by the defeat of the measure on election night. “While the result of last night’s vote on Proposition 3 is disappointing, I’m optimistic that California water suppliers can overcome these challenges through their proven history of innovation and dedication to a sustainable California water future,” said Timothy Quinn, executive director of the Association of California Water Agencies. ACWA’s Board of Directors unanimously supported both Proposition 3 and Proposition 68, which was approved by voters in June 2018. “Proposition 3 would have provided $8.8 billion in general obligation bond funding for water projects intended to provide safe drinking water to disadvantaged communi- ties, implement the Sustainable Groundwater Management Act (SGMA), repair infrastruc- ture and restore watersheds. It also would have dedicated funding to improve water supply reliability, which in turn benefits California’s food production and economy,” according to Quinn. The Sierra Club, Food and Water Action and Restore the Delta also commented on the election of Gavin Newson as the governor-elect. “We endorsed Newsom and are happy he got elected,” said Sierra Club California’s Philipps. “He is going to be a good governor for the environment. We believe he will be more attentive to nature resource issues than the previous two governors have been.” Food & Water Action also welcomed Gover- nor-elect Newsom - and invited him to take statewide action on fracking and oil drilling that Governor Jerry Brown failed to enact. – and to halt Brown’s 100 Rounds California WaterFix BOOK EARLY! 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(530) 724-0552 By Dan Bacher in this new era for California, we want to energy, which must include bans on make it perfectly clear what kind of water fracking, neighborhood drilling, and policies, programs, and projects we want to the swift closure of the dangerous Aliso see the Newsom Administration pursue and Canyon gas field,” said Scow. “We also implement.” urge Governor-elect Newsom to change The group has created a petition stating course and drop the costly and unneces- exactly what steps Governor-elect Newsom sary Delta tunnels project.” should take to secure a sustainable future In October, Governor-Elect Newsom for California water, and will deliver it to told George Skelton of the Los Angeles Times that he will keep building the Cali- him on day 1 of his new term. The steps fornia WaterFix, but would like to scale it include: 1. “We do NOT want the CA WaterFix back to one tunnel. “I’d like to see a more modest proposal, project to break ground and irreversibly destroy the Delta. Massive twin tunnels are but I’m not going to walk away. Doing not the 21st century solution we need to nothing is not an option…. The status modernize California’s water conveyance quo is not helping salmon,” Newsom systems. This project can and should be said. For more information, go to: http:// stopped immediately; www.latimes.com/politics/la-pol-sac- 2. Our state’s existing water infrastructure skelton-john-cox-gavin-newsom-califor- nia-governor-debate-20181011-story.html MUST be upgraded to protect not only our state’s water storage facilities and supplies, Newsom’s first major action regarding but the public’s safety; water issues on the morning after the 3. Local, sustainable water projects and election does not portend well for those programs must be funded, supported, and seeking to restore California’s imperiled implemented in communities across Cali- salmon and steelhead populations. fornia. Not only will sustainable projects The State Water Resources Control increase our self-sufficiency and regional Board postponed a decision on a plan that would have provided increased water water supplies, but these projects will flows for the San Joaquin River and Delta also decrease our environmental footprint and create well-paying jobs throughout after Governor-elect Gavin Newsom California.” joined Governor Jerry Brown in signing The petition is available at: https://www. a letter requesting more time for negotia- change.org/p/governor-elect-gavin-new- tions over the plan. som-steps-for-governor-elect-newsom-to- It is clear that the public must put modernize-ca-water heavy political pressure on Newsom to support salmon and steelhead resto- ration and stop the environmen- tally destructive *Trolling Delta Tunnels Motors plan. Restore the *Fishfinders Delta has created a petition urging *GPS Newsom to do the *VHF right things on Cali- Radios fornia water – rather *Radar than continuing the *Batteries policies of Jerry and Brown. Chargers Restore the Delta stated, “We ONE DAY SERVICE Largest Service have survived the on Installations with appointment Center election and have in the West! selected a new Governor. To usher Marine Electronics Sales • Service • Installation Sunny’s Electric Marine 3705 24 (916) 487-3868 The KFBK OUTDOOR SHOW 3507 1 Rated with your Outdoor Radio Show host for 26 years! # Bob Simms Fishing • Hunting • Destinations Conservation • History Dedicated to the Northern California Outdoorsman Listen Every Saturday Morning from 5 am to 8am on BOB SIMMS CALIFORNIA’S LONGEST RUNNING OUTDOOR TALK SHOW!