When the coronavirus pandemic forced classrooms to close this spring, Leticia Garcia’s family in Fairfax County, Virginia, quickly ran short of money. Garcia cleans schools for a living and, with her hours sharply reduced, found herself at home with her two daughters. She cut their cell phone service to keep the water, gas and electricity […]
Less than a week before Christmas in 2016, the State Water Resources Control Board held a single public hearing in our community. The topic? Draining our community’s water supply and sending it to the Bay Delta. Not only was the hearing deliberately held when our community’s attention was focused on the holiday — it was […]
The cost of buying cases of bottled water for cooking and drinking is adding up for residents of Earlimart, where a contaminated well became the main source of tap water for more than 8,000 people there in late May. The state Water Resources Control Board that is responsible for drinking water has a program to […]
For the past two decades, dams have been falling across the United States in a bid to reverse a legacy of destruction of fish and their habitat. American Rivers, a nonprofit advocacy organization, estimates that 1,200 dams were dismantled nationwide from 1999 to 2019, including major dams on the Elwha and White Salmon Rivers in […]
Hector Gastelum has been censured by the Otay Water District Board of Directors for posting controversial comments on social media. Again. In 2017, the water district censured Gastelum and removed him from all committees because of a tweet that described Muslim people as “subhuman scum.” This time, Gastelum’s censure is the consequence of a racist […]
South San Joaquin Valley farmers have a reason to celebrate this week: Democratic leaders in the House of Representatives appropriated $200 million to fix the Friant-Kern Canal. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, Chairwoman of the House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, attributed the allocation to the advocacy of Rep. T.J. Cox.
A Pandemic and Surging Summer Heat Leave Thousands Struggling to Pay Utility Bills
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Kimberlyn Velasquez /Inside Climate Newsby Maddie KornfeldWhen the coronavirus pandemic forced classrooms to close this spring, Leticia Garcia’s family in Fairfax County, Virginia, quickly ran short of money. Garcia cleans schools for a living and, with her hours sharply reduced, found herself at home with her two daughters. She cut their cell phone service to keep the water, gas and electricity […]
Opinion: State Water Board Trying to Drain Away Merced County’s Chief Supply
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Kimberlyn Velasquez /Merced Sun-Starby Daron McDanielLess than a week before Christmas in 2016, the State Water Resources Control Board held a single public hearing in our community. The topic? Draining our community’s water supply and sending it to the Bay Delta. Not only was the hearing deliberately held when our community’s attention was focused on the holiday — it was […]
The Water is Contaminated. But California Bottled Water Program Isn’t Helping This Town
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Kimberlyn Velasquez /The Fresno Beeby Monica VaughanThe cost of buying cases of bottled water for cooking and drinking is adding up for residents of Earlimart, where a contaminated well became the main source of tap water for more than 8,000 people there in late May. The state Water Resources Control Board that is responsible for drinking water has a program to […]
To Dam or Not to Dam
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Kimberlyn Velasquez /Hakai Magazineby Larry PynnFor the past two decades, dams have been falling across the United States in a bid to reverse a legacy of destruction of fish and their habitat. American Rivers, a nonprofit advocacy organization, estimates that 1,200 dams were dismantled nationwide from 1999 to 2019, including major dams on the Elwha and White Salmon Rivers in […]
Director Gastelum Censured by Otay Water District Over Racist Social Media Posts
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Kimberlyn Velasquez /The San Diego Union Tribuneby Gustavo SolisHector Gastelum has been censured by the Otay Water District Board of Directors for posting controversial comments on social media. Again. In 2017, the water district censured Gastelum and removed him from all committees because of a tweet that described Muslim people as “subhuman scum.” This time, Gastelum’s censure is the consequence of a racist […]
Money to Repair Central Valley Canal in House Bill. A Large Funding Gap Remains
/in California and the U.S., Media Coverage /by Kimberlyn Velasquez /The Fresno Beeby Danielle BergstromSouth San Joaquin Valley farmers have a reason to celebrate this week: Democratic leaders in the House of Representatives appropriated $200 million to fix the Friant-Kern Canal. Rep. Marcy Kaptur, Chairwoman of the House Energy and Water Appropriations Subcommittee, attributed the allocation to the advocacy of Rep. T.J. Cox.