As former Sen. Barbara Boxer noted in her op-ed “South state desalination project is a ‘no-brainer’ ” (Viewpoints, April 30), California is facing a hotter and drier future. In order to keep our communities and economy thriving, we need to develop smart and reliable local water supplies. Fortunately, we can meet long-term needs without resorting to billion-dollar boondoggles like the proposed Huntington Beach desalination plant. There is a reason desalination companies are spending millions of dollars in lobbying. Proposals like the Huntington Beach plant can’t stand on their own merit.