What Are We Doing?

Local water (October 10, 2016)

Rick Piercy says his family has lived in our area for 72 years, but he worries that a for-profit water company provides our water (Transparency at Liberty Utilities, Daily Press, October 10, 2016). Really?

Apple Valley Ranchos Water Company — a for-profit company — started providing water to our area about 70 years ago. Without them, there might not even be a Town of Apple Valley. For decades, Ranchos bet its money and its future on our area before there was any certainty that our area had a future.

The Carlyle Group — another for-profit company — then took over, investing millions into our community to maintain and improve our water system.

Now, Liberty Utilities — another for-profit company — has assumed ownership, and it too is investing millions into our community to maintain and improve our water system.

Not only is this an impressive track record on its own, but it stands in stark contrast to the Town of Apple Valley’s mind-bogglingly feckless track record when it comes to maintaining anything, let alone making improvements.

Liberty Utilities has 100 percent credibility in its ability properly to operate our water system now and in the future. The Town has zero credibility. Anyone who sincerely claims that water is the lifeblood of our communities, and that water is the most vital of resources, has to acknowledge that Liberty Utilities is the only choice for us, along with a yes vote on Measure V and a no vote on Measure W.

— Greg Raven is Co-Chair of Apple Valley Citizens for Government Accountability, and is concerned about quality of life issues.