Letter: Scott the manipulator (June 5, 2017)
Another letter by Mayor Scott Nassif in which he exposes his over sensitiveness in response to a very logical comparison to what his response would be if his business were treated in the same manner as the Town of Apple Valley hostile takeover of Liberty H2O. In a prior opinion, Nassif accused the No On F people of only manipulation
in presenting their views.
The way to know what a politician does is to pay attention to what he says his opponent is doing. Yes, no one has manipulated the facts relating to the hostile takeover of Liberty H2O more than has Scott Nassif! Let us not forget the original purpose for this hostile act was the promise to reduce the cost we pay for water. The Town (and Nassif) even provided facts
to back up this position (manipulation). Once confronted with the true facts
the Town had to admit that sorry about that, folks
but we cannot reduce your cost of water for at least 30 years (if ever).
The latest manipulation of facts, is that The Town will at least not raise your cost of water
if we can just accomplish this hostile takeover of a tax-paying company and replace it with a municipal monopoly (the Town of Apple Valley). Liberty is overseen and audited by the PUC, and their reports are readily available to the public. The Town of Apple Valley only reluctantly, or with court order, provides information to the tax-paying public. The Town also cannot guarantee
to not raise the cost of water. The current Council also cannot commit what a future Council will do in this regard.
It is very insincere to criticize Liberty for spending money to defend itself from this hostile act initiated by the Town of Apple Valley. When a person or a business is sued, they must defend. That is what Liberty is doing. They have no other choice! And, by the way, Liberty cannot by law raise water rates to recover these legal costs whereas we, the tax-paying citizens of Apple Valley, will have to pay the legal fees spent to pursue this hostile act of takeover, and win or lose, the Town will also be required to pay the costs incurred by Liberty.
Lee Bell
Apple Valley
Source: Daily Press