“The project would have to be paid for by ratepayers who are already overburdened with soaring utility costs and aren’t even aware of how the cost of this is going to impact them in their pocketbooks,” said state Sen. Jerry McNerney (D-Stockton).
State Sen. Jerry McNerney is laying down the gauntlet against Newsom’s budget proposal to fast-track the controversial Delta tunnel.
"This project will set a precedent for bypassing well-established environmental laws that have cleaned up California and set a standard for the rest of the nation," said State Sen. Jerry McNerney, D-Pleasanton.
Leaders of the Legislative Delta Caucus and statewide organizations stood united together today during a press conference to denounce Governor Newsom’s budget proposal to fast-track the Delta Tunnel Project and encourage fellow legislators to oppose any plan to accelerate construction of the $20 billion-plus, destructive tunnel.
"The Delta water tunnel is expected to cost at least $20 billion — and likely much more — and will destroy nearly 4,000 acres of prime farmland in the fragile Delta, along with salmon fisheries and tribal resources," McNerney said.
The legislature should reject the governor’s proposal. Instead, California should pursue less expensive alternatives that would safeguard our main water supply system without causing great harm to it.
“The Delta water tunnel is expected to cost at least $20 billion, and likely much more, and will destroy nearly 4,000 acres of prime farmland in the fragile Delta, along with salmon fisheries and tribal resources,” said McNerney.
"The bipartisan Delta Caucus is unanimous in strong opposition to the governor’s proposal to fast-track the Delta Tunnel, a $20 billion unaffordable project to be paid by ratepayers who are already struggling with the high cost of living in California," the Delta Caucus wrote in a news release.
The California Legislative Delta Caucus on Thursday urged leaders of the California Senate and Assembly to reject Gov. Gavin Newsom’s proposal to fast-track the Delta Tunnel Project in the 2025-26 state budget.
