Mayor Ashley Swearengin has joined five other mayors to supports a comprehensive water plan.
Swearengin along with Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, San Diego Mayor Jerry Sanders, San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed, Long Beach Mayor Bob Foster and Santa Ana Mayor Miguel Pulido sent the letter urging legislators that "now is the time" to pass the legislation.
All six mayors hope the bill will improve the state's water delivery system, while still protecting the environment.
The package includes $3 billion to help pay for dams or other water storage projects. It would also create new agencies to buy and preserve Delta land and oversee water use in the Delta.
The mayors are also supporting:
- $1 billion for groundwater protection and water quality
- $1 billion for water recycling
- $500,000 million for water conservation
It requires a two-thirds vote in the legislature to pass and approval from voters.
"We want to make sure Sacramento knows water shortages are not just impacting rural communities," Mayor Swearengin said. "It's imperative that our leaders pass a legislative and financing package that helps ensure the future prosperity of our cities and all of California."
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