The voters and customers of the Yorba Linda Water District (YLWD) have spoken.
We will not tolerate a near quadrupling of our water rates over the next five years. In just 18 days, we obtained over 5500 signatures on a referendum petition that demands the Board of Directors rescind the current water rate increase or place the question on the ballot and allow voters to decide. That is our right guaranteed by Article II, Section 11 of the California Constitution. We trust the Board recognizes this right and at the next Board meeting on November 12, they put the law before their egos, save customers the cost of an election and any litigation and simply rescind the water rate increase.
The YLWD and their PR and legal team appear to be advancing a narrative that they are above the law and the referendum process isn’t legally binding. Money and actions speak louder than words and there are early indications that the District has already incurred $50,000 in legal fees. When the Yorba Linda Taxpayers Association (YLTA) submitted referendum petitions on October 14, we were informed in writing by the District that they wouldn’t accept our petitions, unless we submitted photocopies and signed a statement that they were true and correct.
YLWD Petition Submission Response.
Video of Petition Submission.
Photocopying petitions is against the law and the District’s request was outright ignorance or arrogance or both. Then, unbeknownst to YLTA and the public, the District submitted the petitions to the Orange County Registrar of Voters without allowing any observation of the rough count performed by the District staff.
The fact is that YLWD made a demand upon the YLTA leadership which asked us to break the law. While this could indicate bad faith dealing on their part, we ascribe this to incompetent legal advice and nothing from the District, thus far, indicates they have got the legal situation figured out. We are baffled by their entire approach. It’s real simple and the California Constitution is very clear. We, the people, have the right to use the referendum process to overturn actions of a legislative body.
The leadership of the Yorba Linda Taxpayers Association have complete confidence that the voters and customers of the Yorba Linda Water District will do whatever is necessary to reign in on self-serving bureaucrats and politicians. YLWD customers will not tolerate attempts by the YLWD Board to use our money as a legal shield to support their egregious water rate increase.
I urge each and every one of you to write the Board of Directors or attend the Special Meeting November 5 meeting at 6:00 PM and ask them to rescind the water rate increase.
Send your comment to board@ylwd.com
YLWD Board of Directors
1717 E. Miraloma Ave.
Placentia, CA 92870
Change is here. The people have spoken. We are determined and united. Actions taken by the Yorba Linda Water District are subject to public review and the people will not stand for their money grab. The facts are on our side and can be found at www.facebook.com/YLTaxpayers.
Jeff Decker is the president of the Yorba Linda Taxpayers Association.
Voice of OC is interested in hearing different perspectives and voices. If you want to weigh in on this issue please contact Voice of OC Publisher Norberto Santana at nsantana@voiceofoc.org.