Sacramento, CA -- The Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund Coalition released the following statement from Jonathan Nelson, Policy Director, Community Water Center in response to Governor Newsom’s 2019-2020 state budget proposal:
“This budget makes clear that Governor Newsom is already demonstrating his leadership to ensure all Californians can finally have access to safe and affordable drinking water. As community-based organizations that are working alongside communities without safe, affordable water, we see the Governor’s commitment to working with the Legislature to establish the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund as a historic step towards addressing this human rights crisis that threatens people in every region of our state. We agree that California’s crisis of one million people without access to safe, affordable drinking water is ‘a disgrace.'
“Now, the Legislature must immediately introduce legislation to enact a Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund that will ensure every child, every family, in California can have universal access to safe and affordable drinking water. Ongoing investment is particularly important to ensure communities of color and low-income neighborhoods no longer bear the brunt of California’s drinking water crisis.
“We look forward to working with the Governor and legislators to ensure sustained investments, and sustainable provision of safe and affordable drinking water, through a Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund.”