A good deal if you’re connected

The proponents of Measure I say it’s about water but I say its about money and power.

The “circumstantial evidence” supports my claim. See what you think.

If passed, our water rates will go up 2.5 to 3 times to pay for building the project. As a result of that project, our water quality is supposed to get better. But it won’t.

The alternative to importing river water would be pumping deep well water. Current well water, from mixed shallow and deep wells meet state and federal standards for drinking water. Water from deep wells alone would be superior to what we have now. So, isn’t the concern overblown?

So, why are we even being asked to vote on this measure?

I believe the answer is: for other people’s political and financial gain.

The amount of water that would be imported is five times our current use. Five times our use would support a city five times the current footprint of Davis.

10,000 acre-feet of the river water would come from Conaway Ranch, which is owned by Angelo Tsakopoulos. He is Sacramento County’s largest developer and has many political connections— particularly in the Democratic Party (he actually slept the night in the White House when Clinton was president).

If Measure I passes, I predict the following: political career pathways will open up, more developments will be built, consultants will get work, and labor will find work. All of us will have to pay for these groups’ benefits through: higher water fees, less open space, the loss of farm land, decreased habitat, increased traffic, and poorer air quality.

Measure I is a good deal for a few groups. However, everyone would have to pay for their advancement. This is not a good trade-off. Vote No on Measure I.

Jim Leonard
Davis