Right to Vote On Desal Coalition Petition Succeeds

[Photo by Alex Darocy, Indybay.org   Petitions submitted at City Hall on May 29th, 2012.]


Our campaign to get this initiative on the ballot received a groundswell of support. We submitted 8,717 signatures collected in just three and a half months by 133 signature gatherers. Dozens of other volunteers worked tirelessly to support the signature-gathering process. Many residents became informed and engaged in water planning for our community. UCSC students learned about the connection between water and campus expansion and got involved in our campaign.

According to Right to Vote on Desal spokesman, Rick Longinotti, "We hope this sends a signal to the City Council that they should be developing alternatives besides desalination to address our water challenges."

During the past months, residents shared their concerns with us and asked how alternatives to desalination would provide water supply resiliency. We propose viable alternatives that would provide us with sufficient water, cost significantly less, use far less energy, protect the Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary, protect habitat for endangered salmon, and create local jobs and business opportunities.

Ratepayers residing outside the City limits cannot vote on a City initiative but will still be affected by water planning decisions, including whether to install a desal plant. We urge the City to cooperate with County officials and the Soquel Creek Water District Board to find a way to allow these residents to participate in this important decision.

Interested residents are encouraged to look online at RTVOD2012.org to read about the upcoming Charter amendment vote and at desalalternatives.org to learn more about viable alternatives.

We look forward to celebrating our accomplishment with a gathering on Sunday, July 22nd from 3:00 - 5:00 pm at 119 Linden St. in Santa Cruz.


Contacts:

Mathilde Rand
rtvod2012 [at] gmail.com

Rick Longinotti
rtvod2012 [at] gmail.com