Monterey, CA

by Webeditor — last modified 2007-02-12 15:13

Cal-Am is a big spender when it comes to politics in Monterey, California – which is not surprising since the rate increases imposed on residents allow the company to afford it.

The California American Water Company (Cal-Am) may be able to outspend the community, but it cannot silence the movement for locally-owned water.

Over the years, ratepayers have grown more and more aggravated with Cal-Am’s inadequate service and the over-pumping and exploitation of the Carmel River by the company. In response to this, Monterey FLOW (Friends of Locally Owned Water) and Citizens for Public Water formed to mobilize the community behind Measure W. The measure, which appeared on the ballot in November 2005, would have allowed for funding of a study to assess the process for a community buy-out of the water utilities. Cal-Am was able to defeat the measure by outspending the community groups 10-1. The company spent $300,000, making the campaign the most expensive in Monterey history. The Monterey County Herald reported on November 20, 2006 that a judge allowed Cal-Am to pass the costs of its “public outreach” — $1,353,831 — on to its customers through new surcharges beginning January 2007.

Cal-Am is proposing to increase rates by 300% by 2010. Monterey FLOW and Citizens for Public Water continue to keep residents informed about the increase proposal on their website.

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Monterey, CA

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Take Action Ask that dairies clean up their mess! Explore Further Private vs. Public United States Africa Latin America Corporate Profiles Community Efforts State Privatization Factsheets Funding Clean Water Bottled Water Water Conservation Desalination Chemical Contaminants California World Water Local Water Facts Films Reports Newsletters Press In The News Michigan Citizens Score Victory in Bottled Water Battle Against Nestlé Water Company Biwater to Get Nothing from Tanzania, International Court Rules Private Water Washed Out of Paris: Food & Water Watch Applaud's City's Plan to Take Over Water From Corporate Control Food & Water Watch Launches Campaigns to Take Back the Tap in Seven Additional U.S. Cities More >> See all headlines >> See all headlines >> Help Us Grow	Monterey, CA by Webeditor — last modified 2007-02-12 15:13 Cal-Am is a big spender when it comes to politics in Monterey, California – which is not surprising since the rate increases imposed on residents allow the company to afford it. The California American Water Company (Cal-Am) may be able to outspend the community, but it cannot silence the movement for locally-owned water. Over the years, ratepayers have grown more and more aggravated with Cal-Am’s inadequate service and the over-pumping and exploitation of the Carmel River by the company. In response to this, Monterey FLOW (Friends of Locally Owned Water) and Citizens for Public Water formed to mobilize the community behind Measure W. The measure, which appeared on the ballot in November 2005, would have allowed for funding of a study to assess the process for a community buy-out of the water utilities. Cal-Am was able to defeat the measure by outspending the community groups 10-1. The company spent $300,000, making the campaign the most expensive in Monterey history. The Monterey County Herald reported on November 20, 2006 that a judge allowed Cal-Am to pass the costs of its “public outreach” — $1,353,831 — on to its customers through new surcharges beginning January 2007. Cal-Am is proposing to increase rates by 300% by 2010. Monterey FLOW and Citizens for Public Water continue to keep residents informed about the increase proposal on their website. Related content American Water Fact Sheets Protecting America’s Waters: Clean and Safe Water Needs a Trust Fund Questions & Answers: A Cost Comparison of Public and Private Water Utility Operation The Top Five Reasons to Keep New Mexico’s Water in Public Hands The Top Five Reasons to Keep Tennessee’s Water in Public Hands The Top Five Reasons to Keep California’s Water in Public Hands more... Reports Mortgaging Milwaukee’s Future — The City of Milwaukee faces a serious fiscal predi ... Water Privatization Threatens Workers, Consumers and Local Economies — Our country’s good public operators have kept wa ... American Water — RWE’s short, uneasy U.S. experiment is a caution ... Aqua America — Aqua America is the second largest publicly traded ... Costly Returns — Costly Returns: How Corporations Could Profit from ... more...