STOCKTON, CA – Supervisor Steve Ding, representing San Joaquin County’s District 4, responded to this morning’s Sacramento special interest group press conference on the Delta Tunnel, calling out the project for its disregard of Valley communities and local resources:

“What we heard in Sacramento today was the same old story. The power players in Sacramento, Los Angeles, and the Bay Area are pushing a project that adds no new storage and delivers no new water. They are calling it “low-cost” and “affordable.” I almost spit out my coffee when I heard that. Only in Sacramento would $20 billion be considered a “deal.” The truth is simple. The Delta Conveyance Project would devastate the Valley and the Delta. Our farmers, our landowners, and our waterways would be sacrificed so Southern California can take more water.

This project is not a climate solution. Sacramento is asking us to spend more than $20 billion on a distraction that fails to deliver reliable water, fails to protect the Delta, and fails most Californians. The state should be investing in smarter solutions that actually create and store more water and get it to the communities that need it most, without destroying the Delta or the endangered species that live there.

Independent studies show the state’s $20 billion price tag is unrealistic. Government projects aren’t known for being on time or underbudget, after all. On top of that, this plan tosses aside court decisions and voter protections, leaving taxpayers on the hook for the fallout. One more overreach by Sacramento politicians.

If this project really had broad support, it would go through the regular legislative process. Instead, its backers are relying on special rules and backroom deals. That tells you everything you need to know: this is a special favor for special interests, not a solution for all of California.”

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