Change.org Petition Aims To Shame California Lawmakers Into Finding New Water Sources
SACRAMENTO (CBS SF) - There's nothing subtle about the latest petition demanding that California politicians solve the state's water crisis.
A campaign titled "Stop punishing California residents. The water problem is your fault!" demands that Governor Jerry Brown, Members of the California Legislature, mayors and directors "get to work" to find new ways to bring water to the state.
"We have installed water saving toilets, shower-heads, sprinklers, faucets, etc. We have reduced our water consumption dramatically and are paying exorbitant fees for water and taxes...On the other hand YOU have done nothing," reads the online petition.
The movement, started by "Elias C" of Los Angeles, demands that lawmakers explore desalination, piping in water from northern states or working with veteran engineers from the Middle East to create solutions to the drought. Recent NASA estimates suggest the state only has one year of reserve water supply left.
Elias goes on to suggest that mandatory cutbacks could kill trees and plants and actually damage air quality and lead to more greenhouse gasses, among other concerns.
"You have budgeted billions of dollars to build a high-speed train, support entitlements for undocumented workers and unnecessary government projects and bureaucracy. This is an EMERGENCY. Re-allocate funds to get water into our states," writes Elias.
As of Tuesday afternoon, 55,000 people had signed the petition.
Earlier Tuesday, Santa Clara County's Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to create a team that will explore the viability of desalination as a way to "rebuild our supplies after four years of drought."