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Voice: Time to recall Lloyd Allen

April 24, 2004

We have come to the fork in the road on water matters. And we need to take it, i.e.

(1) We need to develop effective water-management plans that do not involve allocating water to the gate.

(2) We need to recall Lloyd Allen, who supports Ag United's current push to allocate water to the gate.

The seriousness of allocating water to the gate is punctuated by Bill DuBois' statement:

— Water allocated to the gate belongs to the landowners. And the landowners can do whatever they want with their water.

If it walks like a duck, and talks like a duck, it's a duck. And more particularly, I conclude that "allocating water to the gate" effectively delivers the water rights, presently held in trust by the Imperial Irrigation District, to the landowners.

Otherwise, why would Pat Veysey write:

— If water is allocated to the gate, it will increase land values?

And Mr. Layton's letter to the editor "cuts to the chase,"

— Once water is allocated to the gate, the landowners can establish their own water entity (i.e., water would no longer be in the public domain but rather would be under the control of a land-gentried board similar to the Palo Verde Irrigation District).

At the April 8 water conservation advisory board meeting, John Veysey announced that Ag United wanted to present its plans to allocate water to the gate at the May 13 WCAB meeting.

Allen, who was at that meeting, was recognized next and supported allocating water to the gate.

Rudy Yniguez, with the Imperial Valley Press, was at this meeting. And it is unfortunate that he did not report these matters so that the public would be aware of "what is coming down."

As I understand it, a petition to recall a representative can proceed without encompassing a replacement candidate. My interest is in recalling Lloyd Allen (and any other IID representative who supports allocating water to the gate).

Time is of the essence. The time is now. When you come to a fork in the road, take it.

CLIFF HURLEY

El Centro

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