Municipal Water Company for Ojai?
from reader SPK...
I know it's kind of short notice, but a friend of mine is here in town visiting with his cousin and he just happens to be a representative with Food & Water Watch. Their website is http://foodandwaterwatch.org/ . They specialize in helping cities overthrow their private water contractors. His name is Aden Scow and he is one of the Food & Water Watch California organizers. He's in the area because he is helping Saticoy organize against their private water contractor and his cousin lives here in Ojai so he's up visiting this weekend. He learned that our water company is planning a 43+% rate increase and started to inquire if there was support here in Ojai for a campaign to return water to the public domain. I told him there was most definitely interest in that regard. He's agreed to have an initial meeting with anyone interested today at 1 p.m. at Java and Joe's. So if anyone would like to come talk about giving the boot to Golden State Water and starting a municipal water company here in Ojai, come on down.
Aden Scow - California Organizer
Food & Water Watch
1 p.m. Sunday 2/25
at Java & Joe's
| Permalink | author bio | 
Comments (4)
Very informative meeting. Adam's familiar with the ins and outs of the whole water business thing. He told us about the parent company to Golden State Water and some other big players in the private water world. He also told us how other towns have gone about getting rid of the private profit seekers in their areas and have returned it to the public domain. It turns out that we really can do this if people want to, but it would be a bit of a fight. Adam said he would be willing to come back and talk to a larger group about how to organize this effort. The first thing we need to do is make sure we are at the local PUC (public utilities commision) meeting when the schedule it here in Ojai about the 43+% rate hike.
Comment #1 Posted by: SPK | February 25, 2007 04:01 PM
An organization going by the
name of Ojai Basin Groundwater
Management Agency met at
Bryant Circle Feb 15- the
posting is in the doors of
city hall. Wonder if this
group merits watching or if
anyone is in the know on
their activities. The Bryant Street Industrial Plan buildings will take
plenty of H20. PL
Comment #2 Posted by: pete lafollette | February 26, 2007 10:25 AM
Run don't walk to the town meeting at Chapparrel Auditorium tonight, Monday, March 19 at 7PM across from the old Bill Bakers .Stop at the Fox Street light and speak up for better service. Become invested owners and run that private company out to Hesperia!!!!! Save Ojai from Greedyflow!
Namaste
Comment #3 Posted by: Mary Dorsey | March 19, 2007 02:58 PM
Golden State Water was not
prepared but rather blown out of the water (sorry) by the community response and turnout at this first meeting at Chapparrel Auditorium. Ojai is ready for it's own municipal water
company, but probably should
not seat members of the city council and planning
commission on it's board.
Comment #4 Posted by: pete lafollette | March 20, 2007 10:50 AM