Brown Administration Funding Statewide Propaganda Campaign to Sell Peripheral Tunnels: Community Groups are Paid Agents, PR Firms

For Immediate Release: Monday, October 28, 2013
Contact: Steve Hopcraft 916/457-5546; steve@hopcraft.com; Twitter: @shopcraft; @MrSandHillCrane;
Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla 209/479-2053 barbara@restorethedelta.org;
Twitter: @RestoretheDelta

Brown Administration Funding Statewide Propaganda Campaign to Sell Peripheral Tunnels:
Community Groups are Paid Agents, PR FirmsSTOCKTON, CA – Restore the Delta, opponents of Gov. Brown’s rush to build Peripheral Tunnels that would drain the Delta and doom salmon and other

Pacific fisheries today called upon the State of California to cease funding multiple Public Relations firms around the state to sell the governor’s tunnels. “It is outrageous that taxpayers are paying for a statewide propaganda campaign for these unnecessary tunnels. These front groups have not disclosed that funding when pumping the tunnels. It’s unacceptable, especially since the State has said it has not yet chosen a preferred alternative,” said Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla. “How many firms and groups are being paid to pump this project? Has the Southern California Water Committee disclosed that the State is paying it to promote this project?”

The State has not disclosed its contracts with community groups, including the Southern California Water Committee, nor disclosed that PR firms, including Katz & Associates (San Diego) and Milagro Strategy Group (LA), are being paid to push the tunnels.

The Metropolitan Water District (MWD) reported to its BDCP committee on Oct. 22 that they are working with a statewide network of State-paid Public Relations firms to sell the tunnels. “The governor stacked the Resources Agency, and Department of Water Resources with dozens of flacks. Now they’re spending our tax funds to spread disinformation throughout the state through paid front groups and PR firms. The report on the statewide propaganda campaign and the named firms can be viewed here (minute 34): http://mwdh2o.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=12&clip_id=3325