Article from Indybay.
https://www.indybay.org/newsitems/2014/09/03/18761084.php
by Dan Bacher
Wednesday Sep 3rd, 2014 7:53 AM
CSPA Executive Director Bill Jennings observed, “Proposition 1 is a poster-child of why California is in a water crisis; it enriches water speculators but accomplishes little in addressing the drought, solving California’s long-term water needs, reducing reliance on the Delta or protecting our rivers and fisheries.
Pork-filled gift basket to special interests won’t solve water problems
The California Sportfishing Protection Alliance (CSPA) released a 14-Point Statement of Opposition to Proposition 1 on September 2.
After carefully reviewing the provisions of the “Water Quality, Supply and Infrastructure Improvement Act of 2014,” CSPA has concluded that Proposition 1 represents a “grave and insidious threat to core environmental values and principles buttressing protection for fisheries and the environment.”
“Among numerous reasons the water bond is bad for California is that Proposition 1 undermines: the public trust doctrine by purchasing water the public already owns, at inflated prices, to protect the public’s rivers and environment; the principle of beneficiary pays by subsidizing projects that benefit special interests and the core principle that projects should be responsible for mitigating their adverse impacts,” according to a CSPA news release.
“Furthermore, Proposition 1: paves the way for a new era of big dam building; is a pork-filled barrel of special interest subsidies, including the Bay Delta Conservation Plan (BDCP) to build the peripheral tunnels; provides little near-term drought relief; eliminates public oversight; crowds out other critically needed investments in roads, schools and public health and safety; is fiscally irresponsible and sabotages efforts to meaningfully address California’s continuing water crisis,” the group said.
CSPA Executive Director Bill Jennings observed, “Proposition 1 is a poster-child of why California is in a water crisis; it enriches water speculators but accomplishes little in addressing the drought, solving California’s long-term water needs, reducing reliance on the Delta or protecting our rivers and fisheries. When the pubic focuses a critical eye on Prop. 1, they’ll realize that it’s just another expensive pork-filled gift basket to special interests.”
CSPA joins the Pacific Coast Federation of Fishermen’s Associations, San Francisco Crab Boat Association, Restore the Delta, Center for Biological Diversity, California Water Impact Network, Food & Water Watch, Southern California Watershed Alliance, South Delta Water Agency, Central Delta Water Agency, Concerned Citizens Coalition of Stockton, Winnemem Wintu Tribe, Small Boat Commercial Salmon Fisherman’s Association and numerous other fishing, environmental, water and civic organizations in opposing Proposition 1.