The latest Fair Political Practices Commission finance reports reveal that California Water Service (CWS), a private for-profit water company serving Marysville contributed $5,000 to Mayor Ricky Samayoa’s re-election effort. This is a sore subject for rate-payers feeling exploited by the utility.
In 2012, resident began to realize that they payed 2-3 times more for water than friends in Linda, Olivehurst and Yuba City. Those communities were all served by municipal utilities where voters have a say in the rate-setting.
At that time, residents learned that since 2003, CWS had bumped rates nearly every year for a net cumulative 121.80% over ten years -- an average 12% annually. Additional increases were proposed -- 18.4% in 2014, 20.1% in 2015 and 9.4% in 2016 or another 47.9 % over 36 months.
A citizens’ complaint was filed with the California Public Utility Commission (CPUC) highlighting rate-setting abuse. However, the residents were naïve to the fact that the CPUC was corrupt, with the complaint process rigged in favor of the utilities. The action was rejected by a utility judge.
During the complaint process the residents sought support from the Marysville City Council and the Yuba County Supervisors. The council where Samayoa was a member was not interested in challenging CWS.
CWS touts its nearly 90 years of service to Marysville. However, something occurred along the way causing water rates to far surpass neighboring municipal utilities. Residents and even the city quit watering. It was just too expensive.
Mayoral Candidate Chris Branscum remembers the city when he was raised in Marysville in the 1950s-60s. Every lawn was green and mowed, shrubs and trees alive, parks watered. Branscum left for a stint in the Navy and then a career in business in Texas. When he returned to retire in Marysville where he has family and property he noticed what many call ‘Brown Town’ and the general deterioration.
CWS is an incredibly successful corporation operating in multiple states, wonderful for stockholders, but punishing for ratepayers. Cal Water’s gift to insure that Samayoa remains mayor comes at the expense of ratepayers. Cal Water and the mayor win while the residents lose.
As former President Jimmie Carter said about political contributions, “It’s an accepted fact. It’s legal bribery of candidates.” In 2016, the city council denied a medical marijuana sales permit to River City Phoenix (RCP) since one of its board members failed a background check. RCP appealed, removed its board member and gave Samayoa $5,000. Then, an acquaintance of RCP contributed another $5,000. The appeal was granted. Now RCP has a dispensary business in Marysville.
In 2015, Samayoa voted to refinance the bond used to purchase “the B Street Property,” (bonds first issued Oct 2010) thereby increasing the debt to taxpayers on 5 acres of property to between $15-17 million. Samayoa said the property could be sold in 3 years. The property remains unsold today.
In 2016, Samayoa was a major advocate of Measure C the first ever local sales tax passed in Marysville changing rates from 7.50% to 8.50% the highest in the region. Sales taxes, particularly those on transportation (fuel / auto maintenance) have the biggest negative impact on the poor.
On Samayoa’s watch ‘Brown Town’ deteriorated. It is one of the roughest local jurisdictions in which to live and the most expensive (water and taxes). Few city and county employees live or shop in the city. It’s a job not a place to live. Families travel outside the city to use parks.
With the addition of Bendorf Homeless Zoo off 14th Street along with no enforcing of vagrancy infractions or laws governing unruly behavior, businesses have resorted to hiring private security while residents fend for themselves. Downtown has become a toilet.
Cal Water has the city on its knees and the Samayoa contribution will keep it there.
(Get Lou’s podcast at “No Hostages Radio” and his articles at nohostagesradio.com)
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