Cambrian letters to the editor, Jan. 7, 2016
Take control of rising water rates
Health and related insurances, drug cost, food and everyday living will increase without our control.
But we do have control when it comes to our water and wastewater proposed rate increase. We have the right under Proposition 218 to protest such rate increases by submitting to the Cambria Community Services District a written letter of protest or completing a protest form, which is simply available by requesting one from Cambrians for Fiscal Responsibility. Email cambrians4fiscalresponsibility@gmail.com before Feb. 12.
Alex Handlers of Barnes & Wells did the presentation on the rate increase at a public workshop. After attending, I walked away with the thought that this is all about marketing techniques. This is a five-year increase. Every January for five consecutive years, water and sewer costs will rise independently of each other. This does not include the fixed charges of the Emergency Water System already on our bills. This rate increase could amount to an additional 125 percent, based on your usage.
This community has struggled to conserve water. Now it is being told the CCSD made no money and rates must be increased. The community was also told that grant funds were on hold until the LandWatch suit was resolved. Now the lawsuit is continuing, and CCSD received its grant money. CCSD directors have pitched FEAR — fear of not having water when you turn on your tap. We have not received one drop of water from the EWS. Wake up, Cambria, and stop this madness by protesting the proposed rate increase.
Cheryl McDowell, Cambria
Rice ‘best chance’ for working class
You hit the nail right square on the head yet again with your last article (“Fresh leadership in Cambria no cause for alarm,” Page 8, Dec. 31). Thank you! Please keep on this topic weekly and be the voice Cambrian residents need to hear.
The current condition of the water department is poor at best, and it doesn't take a smart person to understand it will remain the same (poor) if the leadership does not change! Amanda Rice is our best chance for a town leader who has the best interest of all Cambria’s working-class residents in mind.
No more “good old boys” mentality. Those days need to end ASAP. We can see what the current leadership has not done or, better yet, what they have done to Cambria, putting this town through several upsetting and costly situations. It speaks for itself.
Fernando Ray Rosales, Cambria
Criticism deserved
A friend of mine has accused me of being harsh in my letters; I am sorry for that, but I feel strongly about what I write.
The CCSD is an organization that deserves some criticism for much of what it does. The board does not act like a democratic body, because its members’ views are not democratic in that they are closed off from real lively ideas. They vote like a closed body,with the exception of Amanda Rice, who will on certain occasions votes take issue with the whole body.
When you attend one of their meetings, they never seemed to disagree on almost anything of concern to us Cambrians or, for that matter, anyone at all. In a word, it is closed to any real discussion in a real democratic sense. A democracy is supposed to be the marketplace of free ideas, but their door is closed.
Clive Finchamp, Cambria
This story was originally published January 5, 2016 at 4:34 PM with the headline "Cambrian letters to the editor, Jan. 7, 2016."