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    dominus's Avatar
    dominus
     

    Activists see Sonoma County winegrowers’ proposed bill as a ‘water grab’


    Activists see Sonoma County winegrowers’ proposed bill as a ‘water grab’

    https://www.pressdemocrat.com/news/4...ty-winegrowers

    Environmentalists are mobilizing in protest of a would-be bill backed by the local wine industry that would create an irrigation district intended to protect the water rights of about 1,000 grape growers in the Russian River region.

    Noting that Sonoma County is facing “urgent water supply” problems unique to the Russian River watershed, the legislation — proposed by the United Winegrowers of Sonoma County — would create a segmented district covering five viticultural areas in Alexander, Knights, Dry Creek, Russian River and Bennett valleys, which produce the county’s priciest wine grapes.

    The move comes in fourth year of California’s historic drought, when competing claims for dwindling supplies and state moves to safeguard stream flows have set some rural landowners under mandatory cutbacks against grape growers who have so far faced no such restrictions.

    Activists involved in the escalating debate over winery expansion and vineyards’ unlimited use of water were alarmed by a published report last month that said state Sen. Mike McGuire, D-Healdsburg, was “quietly sponsoring” the bill, and they intend to protest at McGuire’s annual town hall meeting Thursday night at the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors chambers.

    McGuire said he had received a copy of the proposed bill from Bob Anderson, executive director of the United Winegrowers for Sonoma County, who handles the local wine industry’s political affairs. In response, McGuire said he advised the wine industry and environmental factions that all sides need to agree on a “collaborative solution” before he would consider carrying any legislation.

    “There is no bill,” he said, noting that the deadline for filing legislation this year has passed.

    McGuire said he would only consider a measure “after a robust local public process including every stakeholder at the table,” including urban and rural water users, agriculture and environmental interests.

    Shepherd Bliss, a Sebastopol activist and berry farmer, said there was a “lack of transparency” in the formulation of the proposed bill to create a Russian River Irrigation District, which he said would “usurp state authority over water.”

    “This is a classic water grab,” Bliss said. “In our society we should all have equal access to water.”

    Continues here



    "You just completed the transfer of 40 trillion dollars to your team. Some would say "stole" through a global financial coup d'etat. Your leadership pulled this off due to financial engineering, speculation, and fraud. They lied, they killed, they covered up, they lobbied to get some laws passed and others canceled. They engaged in racketeering in emerging markets to lock up natural resources, they privatized companies and assets on the cheap, they raised hundreds of billions of dollars in not-for profits and foundations in order to engineer a soft revolution for global control. This money was then invested via their endowments in large corporations while grants were spreading vaccines, gmo seeds and photo opportunities wherever they went." Catherine Austin-Fitts

    These are the people who have control of our economy. Their plan is to buy up all natural resources and rent it back to the rest of humanity. Plain and simple.

    See the memorable speech by Charlie Chaplin in "Great Dictator."

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mVLzy0UtL7M

    These issues are at the very heart of what it means to be truly human.
    Last edited by Barry; 08-13-2015 at 12:23 PM.
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  3. TopTop #2
    Shepherd's Avatar
    Shepherd
     

    Re: Activists see Sonoma County winegrowers’ proposed bill as a ‘water grab’

    Here is a link to the article in today's Press Democrat about State Senator Mike McGuire's Town Hall meeting scheduled for this evening. Please consider attending. It will be at 575 Administration Drive, SR, which is the Board of Supervisors chambers. Scheduled for 6:30 to 8:30, it would be important to get there early, if you want a seat. It will probably be a full house, in which case they will pipe it into the lobby, so come when you can. We will have leaflets to distribute. You will probably be able to sign up to speak.

    Please also consider making an online comment to this article and/or writing a letter to the editor. This Town Hall could be the turning point by the public arrival of a mass movement opposing Big Wine's over-expansion. From looking at the agenda, it appears that various politicians will first address the group. When I used to attend Town Halls in New England, where they evolved, they were mainly for townies to address politicians, rather than yet another forum for them to speak to us. So I hope that we can encourage the politicians to speak briefly and listen to what you and others have to say.

    For more background on this matter, consult Will Parrish's important article in the AVA, which is at the following link: https://theava.com/archives/45917. Will's research helped expose this "would-be bill," as the PD article describes it.

    Following are some talking points to consider for comments that could be made at the Town Hall or online, especially if Sen. McGuire tries to back off from it:

    1. Executive Director Bob Anderson of the United Winegrowers provided him the proposed bill.

    2. That bill was written by Peter Kiel, whose firm represents "wine industry giants E&J Gallo and Constellation Wines,"as well as others.

    3. Nearly 1,000 people attended four meetings in early July by the Water Board to protest residential users in the Russian River tributary watersheds being required to cut back water use by 25%, while the wine industry can continue its unmitigated use.

    Shepherd
    Last edited by Barry; 08-13-2015 at 12:24 PM.
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