In a recent Maven’s Notebook commentary, Barbara Barrigan-Parrilla (Executive Director, Restore the Delta) and Ashley Overhouse (Water Policy Advisor, Defenders of Wildlife) criticize Governor Newsom’s administration for advancing Delta Tunnel trailer bills that undermine California’s water rights, environmental protections, and public due process.
These bills aim to fast-track the $100 billion Delta Tunnel project while weakening water quality standards for the San Francisco Bay-Delta estuary. They also intersect with the State Water Board’s proposed updates to the Bay-Delta Plan, which include “voluntary agreements” with water districts. In the piece, Ashley and Barbara explain how these agreements — offering regulatory exemptions in exchange for limited additional river flows and funding — would undo hard-won ecological safeguards and harm the Delta’s environmental and economic health.
Read the full commentary here.
Meanwhile, in a Substack piece, journalist John Earl examines the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California’s (MWD) search for a permanent replacement for the progressive former General Manager Adel Hagekhalil, who was controversially fired without cause in January 2025.
Earl describes the hiring process as rushed, opaque, and biased toward avoiding another progressive reformer like Hagekhalil. He cites a letter from AFSCME, the union representing 80% of MWD employees, which accuses the Board of:
- Narrowing the candidate pool behind closed doors
- Engaging in vote trading and favoring a predetermined candidate
- Violating fair process and public disclosure rules
Earl’s piece underscores the need for transparency, fairness, and objective vetting in the selection.
Read the full Substack article here.