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Rebuttal to DG Cook / Russell Betts emails

Jeff Bowman
For Desert Water Agency Division 3

November 8, 2022
 

Rebuttal to DG Cook / Russell Betts emails

Now for you who really want to dive into the issues, here is a more complete response to Mr. Cook's Email of 10/11/2022 and Russell Betts supporting Cook on 10/16/2022:

QUOTE: “I'm also concerned about these terrible rising price increases we are seeing, including the very high increases for sewer and water. My concern, frankly, is my opponent's experience. While a director at Mission Springs Water District, he raised rates five years in a row.”

FACT: I'm positive that if Mr. Cook was on the board back in 2015 HE would have voted for the much needed rate adjustment - please read on: There have not been increases in MSWD water and sewer rates for almost 3 years!  Yes, while I was on the board we spent two years (2013-15) doing an in-depth rate analysis.  We held public meetings and had a citizens advisory council. We hired a rate analyst to compare us with all the other agencies in the valley.  When the research was finished we listened to the ratepayers and voted unanimously to set about a gradual 5 year adjustment starting in 2015 and concluding in 2020.  This was done to ensure we had financial reserves to service our aging infrastructure and to have the ability to respond in the event of an earthquake or other natural disasters.  See: https://www.mswd.org/media/1051 for the extensive review and need for the rate increase back in 2015.  It is the job of a Director to make the hard decisions, even unpopular ones, to protect our water.

OBSERVATION: Saying that one is going to lower rates or protect rates is a common statement politicians make.  In reality our water in the Coachella Valley is some of the cheapest water in California.  Just ask your neighbors who moved here from Orange / LA / San Diego. I’m a fiscal conservative and value every penny!

QUOTE: “I remember. And so did the voters. The first chance they had to turn Jeff Bowman out of office, they did. He came in a very distant third.”

FACT: I was first elected in 2009, re-elected in 2013 and 2018 Steve Grasha won by lies and slander. All you have to do is read the Desert Sun’s article about him written after the election. The public was duped by his lies. It is a shame that they did not write the article BEFORE the election.  Please see: https://www.desertsun.com/story/news/politics/elections/2018/11/13/desert-hot-springs-elects-water-board-member-history-violent-sexist-tweets/1920936002/

OBSERVATION: We really need to examine ALL claims made by politicians.  Google their names and learn about them.

QUOTE: “People are struggling. It is getting darn hard to make ends meet. The last thing we need is someone in office whose main experience is adding whopping multi-year rate increases to our family budgets.”

FACT: It was clear to our citizen’s advisory council and the MSWD board that we had to protect our water by having the proper reserves in case of emergencies.  The vote by the board was unanimous. MSWD had been using reserves to keep rates artificially low and MSWD’s finances would not handle any catastrophe.

OBSERVATION: I’m positive that if Cook was on the MSWD board when I was, he too would have voted to institute the rate increase. We were all compelled by the data to protect our water by having proper reserves.

QUOTE: “I'll have more to say during this campaign. For now, I want to let you know that you as water customers will be my first priority. That includes holding the line on costs and insuring clean, safe water is delivered to our families.”

FACT: But of course water customers should be first priority!  DWA and MSWD are owned by US, the rate payers. We are all in this together. This is what makes our various water agencies demonstrate what is perhaps the best examples of small-town democracy.  You want Directors who LIVE here, have businesses here, pay the same rates as you, and who have TIME proven commitment to your town and community.  I am a respected leader.  I’m currently the President of our Cabot’s Museum board.  When I had my hotel my wife and I were “Business Persons of the Year.”

FINAL THOUGHTS: Because I’ve been involved in our town for 19 years I’ve learned a few things.  DG Cook’s email is actually from Councilman Russell Betts’ account.  The address given (Desert Hot Springs Campaigns 12084 Palm Dr Unit B) is Meina Hair Salon, the wife of Russell Betts.  It is my strong conviction that Betts is the author of this email not DG. Betts has repeatedly stated that he wants DWA to take over MSWD and this is appalling to all who love DHS and our water.  Betts himself pulled papers to run for DWA but then he backed out as he got DG to run instead. We cannot let DWA take over MSWD. With my presence of the DWA board, I WILL NOT LET THIS HAPPEN. It was Betts (and Sanchez) who wanted the Sheriff to take over the law enforcement of Desert Hot Springs. He was wrong then and he is wrong now about DWA taking over MSWD. As it turned out their claim of “cost savings” was disproven and we would have paid more for less service.