Water Privatization
On January 12, 2010, the Stockton City Council approved a $2.4 million settlement with state water cops for the city's 2006 release of partially treated sewage into the San Joaquin River -- $2 million of the settlement is directed to the city for hiring additional workers at the plant.
The accidental release of 8.7 million gallons of sewage took place under the watch of OMI-Thames, the private company that managed the city's water works from August 2003 through February 2008.
Sylvia Kothe, Chairperson, CCCoS
Dale Stocking, Liaison, Sierra Club
Diane Park, Liaison, League of Women Voters of San Joaquin County
The picture above was from our early days (2002) when we demonstrated on City Hall steps for the council to let Stockton residents vote on the Concerned Citizen’s ballot initiative – one that would let them have a voice in whether they wanted their safe, affordable, public water system privatized.
Our initiative passed with a 60% margin, but too late! The Stockton City Council rushed to sign the contract just 13 days before the electoral ballots were cast. Their arrogance set the stage for the Concerned Citizens Coalition long legal battle to reclaim our community’s right to a public water system.
- View the 2002 initiative (PDF)
On July 17, 2007, the City of Stockton voted in closed session and announced they would rescind their appeal of Judge Humphreys' decision that the contract with OMI be canceled and operations returned to municipal control.
The City entered into a settlement agreement with Concerned Citizens that allowed the City until March 1, 2008, to complete the transition.
Within 30 days of the Effective Date of the agreement, the City paid a total of $1,975,000.00 in attorney fees and costs to Shute, Mihaly & Weinberger LLP.
It is now time for the City to accept the Concerned Citizens offer to work as a team to help restore and rebuild MUD to a facility that the citizens can again be proud of.
Thank you to our many supporters. You have kept this issue before the public while the newspaper buried the story. YOU are the winners!
"A group of thoughtful people could change the world. Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has." -Margaret Mead
August 2009 - CCCoS successfully lobbied the Stockton City Council to establish a citizens advisory committee to monitor the operations of the city's Municipal Utilities Department . On August 11, 2009 the Council voted unanimously to create a committee.
Open governance is the only way the public can remain informed.
2009 – Water Commissions in 12 California communities larger than Stockton
