The Votes Are In!
SEE IF YOUR FAVORITES MADE THE LIST – AUGUST 27 –
COMPLIMENTARY COPY Volume 19, No. 33
elmonteexaminer.com
Thursday, August 13, 2015 - August 19, 2015
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California Water Use Drops 27.3 Percent, Exceeds 25 Percent Mandate for June
San Gabriel Valley Water Company Reduced Water Use by 35% in June
El Monte Mayoral, Council Candidates Overview by nick kipley
By terry miller What Speaker of the House John Boehner failed to realize a couple of weeks ago when he attacked Arcadia for its water conservation efforts was that in California, we care about conservation. In mid-June we shared with our readers a photo depicting Arcadia’s efforts to reduce water usage. Here’s what Speaker John Boehner posted on his Facebook page: “If ever there was a phrase that perfectly encapsulates liberal environmentalists’ backwards priorities and regressive ideology of restriction and scarcity, it is the one now displayed on a government sign in Arcadia, California: ‘It’s ‘green’ to go brown.’” Arcadia’s illustrious city manager, Dominic Lazaretto, had this marvelous quip to the Speaker’s absurd remarks: “If the Speaker would like to send Arcadia the thousands of acre-feet of water we would need to be able to keep our lawns green, I will happily accept them. Otherwise, Arcadia will continue to do its part to ensure that our residents have enough water to drink until the drought breaks.” Arcadia’s Mayor, Gary Kovacic, added this comment: “If the Speaker’s perpetual golf game ever brings him to Santa Anita Golf Course, perhaps he will understand the true facts about our drought and Arcadia’s tremendous efforts to conserve.” SEE PG. 14
Mayor Andre Quintero. - Courtesy Photo
After much anticipation, the official “Candidate Statement Form – Nonpartisan Offices” is available free to the public at the City Clerk’s office in El Monte City Hall. The document provides background information and outlines the platform that each respective candidate is running on. Pursuant to that, what those respective candidates believe is condensed for your perusal, below. SEE PG. 17
City Council Approves Stage IV Declaration of El Monte's Water Conservation Plan
Isabella Lake is disappearing right before California’s eyes, and some Kern River Valley residents are really worried. This fishing boat sank years ago and now serves as a graphic example of how bad California’s drought is. . - Photo by Ted Jorensen
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In consideration of the state of California’s continued drought and its severe impact on finite municipal water resources, El Monte City Councilmembers approved a resolution declaring State IV of the El Monte’s Drought Response Conservation Plan at a City Council Meeting held on Aug. 4. The City’s water rate is approximately 52 gallons of water used per person per day, which is about 60 percent less than the water usage rates of adjacent cities. This has been achieved through a variety of conservation efforts, including reducing watering at city
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parks by 33 percent and eliminating the practice of watering grass in street medians. “California’s persistent drought conditions affect every person in this state, including all of us here in El Monte,” said Mayor Andre Quintero. “As this severe drought continues, it is becoming increasingly important that we use our water frugally. We need to make sure we are protecting this incredibly valuable resource.” This declaration will prohibit use of water to ir-
SEE PG. 16