My Stupid Little Town
Our water district sent out notices about a horrendous and onerous rate increase planned over the next two years.
For example, if you now pay around $71 a month, the rate will shoot up to approximately $119 a month by 2027. That is absolutely unconscionable and a definite hardship for a lot of us.
The law requires a certain period of time for protests and objections but only for due diligence, NOT because they’ll take our opinions into consideration.
Some people wrote letters and a few of us also showed up to speak at the hearing to affirm or deny the rate increase. I realize that this was a futile exercise more based in legality rather than actually caring about the community because our council doesn’t really care at all about the people who live here; they are fully invested in overdevelopment and support all the rate increases from water to trash.
I’m really sorry more people didn’t come to the stupid council meeting yesterday to voice concerns about the egregious water rate increases but I understand — nothing we say or do ever seems to change the outcome of anything that’s done to stop the ruin of this once adorable coastal city.
The reality is that those people on council do not represent the community they are SUPPOSED to represent.
One guy who spoke said he was a civil engineer and actually supported the increase; maybe he was looking for a job? Kiss ass or a plant, I’m not sure.
The city builds more low income housing projects and don’t take into consideration those same low income residents who are on pensions, disability, Social Security, and other types of fixed incomes who are (or will become) deeply impacted by our chaotic economy and cuts to services and money for those who need and deserve it.
Who can afford an increase of $30+ a month? Council is out of touch with real people. They live in a bubble and not only don’t understand-they simply don’t care.
The water district spokeshead wanted a pat on her back as she uptalked this NOT very humble brag…”We eliminated two full time positions to save money.” like that in and of itself should justify their economically burdensome rate increase?
How much is she paid? Team Leaders at this water district are paid an average of $175,000 per year. Others are paid between $47 and $60 per hour. Group Managers earn $270,000 per year. I think we all can figure out where costs could be slashed to pay for our water increase.
I knew it was a waste of time but I showed up anyway and here’s what I said:
“You all need to learn to read the room. How are you continuously so incredibly disconnected from REGULAR people? It makes no economic nor reasonable sense in this seriously screwed up political landscape to raise rates of any sort, especially now.
Look at it another way — you constantly approve building all these low income housing projects, right?
And there are lots of seniors and retired people in Carlsbad, and other low income families on Section 8– so how do you expect this demographic who rely on some sort of fixed income to pay for these egregious increases when their FIXED income doesn’t match the increased cost?
Haven’t you thought this through, this macro picture? Do you all live in a bubble?
If the stock market continues to implode, if Social Security and disability is reduced or completely cut, if pensions and public assistance are wiped out, WHO IS going to be able to afford the increased water rates?
It makes no sense. THIS IS NOT THE TIME. I strongly and LOUDLY object and protest the tone deaf water rate increase.
This rate increase is beyond ridiculous, especially in these uncertain economic times.
It’s an egregious misuse of power to increase financial hardship for those of us who don’t know if we’ll even have a job or are on tenuous fixed incomes. You need to radically correct this type of financial exploitation. It’s an economic burden we do not need to carry.
The truth is that you do not need any rate increase; what you need to do is LOWER your water rates.”
And then I looked at the entire council’s facial valence that communicated zero emotion, negative OR positive as they stared at me, and ended my three minutes with, “Crickets again, I see. What a disappointment you all are.”
