Privatization of Novato Waste Water on June Ballot

March 2, 2010

On June 8th, Novatoans will be asked to vote on whether the Novato Santitary District can privatize operations of a 90 million dollar water waste treatment plant. The proposal would outsource to a French company, Veolia North America. According to the California Healthy Communities Network, a project of non-profit Tides Center, the company has a history of:”costly lawsuits, conviction of Veolia officials and public officials in embezzlement of public funds, illegal bidding practices, faulty contracts riddled with important costly omissions, breach of contract issues from failure to maintain adequate staffing levels, charging improper expenses to the maintenance and repair bill covered by the public agency, serious sewage spills, failure to comply with the federal Clean Water Act, overcharging the public for services, and plant safety violations.”

The campaign against privatization also cites that Petaluma and Paris, France have recently fired Veolia for not fulfilling promises. They also claim that Veolia operates the plant in Richmond which has the no. 2 highest incidence of sewage spills in the Bay Area. To be fair, water treatment in the southern part of Marin has had spills as well.

This Friday, March 12, the movement to stop privatization will have a party to kickoff the campaign at the Old Novato City Hall at 901 Sherman Street. From 5pm to 7 pm, there will be music, food, drink, friends, and the ability to find out how you can work for local control on the water treatment. They are asking for $35.00 donation or whatever you an afford. The sponsors of this event include: Novato Democratic Club, Marin Peace and Justice Coalition, Food and Water Watch, David Schonbrunn, Frank Egger, who has been active in so many efforts to protect our environment including trying to stop the Moth Spraying (which is coming back…more on that later…)

You can RSVP for this event to Dotty E. LeMieux at 415-485-1040 or coastlaw@earthlnk.net

Posted in Events, June 8, Marin Politics, Marin Utilities, Novato, Water Issues, water politics