TOMORROW! A petition begins to challenge the Vista Ridge (aka “San Antone Hose”) 50%+ water rate hikes that will force San Antonio Water System (SAWS) ratepayers to pay for water they don’t need! Show up, pick up a petition, and tell all your San Antonio area friends!!!
Thursday, February 18, 5:30 – 7 pm Luby’s Cafeteria, 4641 Fredericksburg Rd, San Antonio, TX 78201-6506 map here
More…. It’s time to pull the plug, once and for all, on the “San Antone Hose”, San Antonio’s Vista Ridge 142-mile pipeline project that threatens to drain Burleson, Milam, Lee and Bastrop counties.
Alfred E. Puente isn’t worried, but we’re gonna bet that SAWS CEO Robert Puente must be.
Abengoa Vista Ridge LLC was formed by its Spanish parent, Abengoa S.A., for the sole purpose of building Vista Ridge. Now the entire Abengoa family of businesses is facing bankruptcy. Abengoa Vista Ridge cannot pay its bills and is seeking new partners and new financing options. This raises something Puente has to be just a tad worried about – it could throw the deal open for another vote of the San Antonio City Council.
Finally!!! Five of the eleven San Antonio City Council members (Nirenberg, Gonzales, Medina, Trevino and Saldana) have had the courage to begin asking why SAWS has kept even the City Council in the dark and calling SAWS and Puente on the many conflicting assurances the Council has been given in recent months.
As opposition mounts amongst SAWS ratepayers as well, Puente might not be taking any bets he can dance his way out of this one before the Hose’s house of cards collapses.
Read this San Antonio Express News piece: Council split on revisions to pipeline deal Folks, this is why it’s so important to get the election right in District 17, the home and heart of the groundwater wars in Texas. We were wrong in last year’s runoff to support Golemon. We are making amends now by supporting John Cyrier, the Eagle Scout, businessman and straight shooter.
We’ll leave you with a quote from Michele Gangnes, board member of the League of Independent Voters, Lee County water watchdog and attorney:
“We didn’t think it was possible for SAWS to treat the insolvency of its partner Abengoa Vista Ridge as ‘business as usual’, but that is exactly what’s happening in order for SAWS to maintain this house of cards. The fact remains San Antonio does not need this water. Now SAWS’ business partner is vulnerable to bottom feeding investors who specialize in bankruptcy opportunities. The San Antonio City Council must intervene here and make sure SAWS exercises its unquestioned right under the contract to say an emphatic ‘no’ to this latest band-aid on a doomed project.”
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PS Did you know that early voting is underway now? Friday, February 26th is the last day, with Election Day on Tuesday, March 1st.