Opinion: California shouldn't block attempts to help struggling Rainbow, Fallbrook farmers survive [Opinion]
For years, farmers in North County have warned they are imperiled by the high rates they have to pay the San Diego County Water Authority. Concerns are particularly acute among avocado growers within the Rainbow Municipal Water District and Fallbrook Public Utility District, where about 600 growers produce about 10 percent of the state’s crop on 5,300 acres. “Agriculture’s dying in the North County,” Rainbow Municipal Water District General Manager Tom Kennedy said in April.
But Rainbow and Fallbrook officials — because their already-built infrastructure is also connected to the Eastern Metropolitan Water District in Riverside County — have an option to readily change water providers to a significantly cheaper supplier, an option not available to districts without such connections. They pursued it at the behest of their farmers.
These arguments are legitimate. But advocates also maintain — without hard evidence — that Rainbow’s and Fallbrook’s departure could trigger copy-cat moves by agencies that don’t have infrastructure in place. To his credit, Serrano says he wishes the water authority had taken farmers’ concerns more seriously in the years leading up to the LAFCO vote. But he and other supporters bristle at the notion that this is a David-and-Goliath struggle in which underdogs are taking on powerful interests.
It’s dubious to suggest Rainbow and Fallbook are getting a sweetheart deal since they would pay exit fees recommended by a distinguished, independent expert. It’s more dubious to characterize long-established LAFCO provisions as loopholes. Because of the circumstances of its introduction, AB 399 would only advance to Gov. Gavin Newsom if it receives two-thirds support in both the Assembly and the Senate. It would be a shame if the legislation gets that far. That would be a triumph for hardball politics — not expanded democracy — and one more blow to two reeling farming communities.
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