[env-trinity] Pro-Tunnels Group Bars Journalist From Media Teleconference
Dan Bacher
danielbacher at fishsniffer.com
Fri Jan 29 12:37:55 PST 2016
http://www.dailykos.com/stories/2016/1/29/1476847/-Pro-Tunnels-Group-Bars-Journalist-from-Media-Teleconference
Governor Jerry Brown pushes his Delta Tunnels Plan at his opening
address at ACWA's "Water 2.0" event in Sacramento on January 14, 2016.
Photo by Dan Bacher.
Pro-Tunnels Group Bars Journalist From Media Teleconference
by Dan Bacher
It appears that Californians for Water Security, the “coalition”
created by corporate agribusiness interests to promote the California
Water Fix plan to build Governor Jerry Brown’s Delta Tunnels, does not
want independent journalists to ask them any tough questions about the
controversial water project.
On January 27, I received a “media advisory” from Inez Kaminski
ofCalifornians for Water Security advising me of a teleconference the
following day at 10:30 am to “discuss the urgency of implementing
California’s Water Fix.” The advisory originated out of the Sacramento-
based Swanson Communications, the public relations firm promoting
Californians for Water Security.
The advisory stated:
“On Wednesday at 10:30 a.m., the day before the State Water Resources
Control Board holds its initial meeting to consider issuing permits
for the California Water Fix, supporters including water experts,
environmentalists and business and labor interests will host a media
teleconference to discuss the importance of implementing the
Governor’s plan to update our aging water infrastructure.
The California Water Fix has endured nearly a decade of extensive
expert review, planning and scientific and environmental analysis by
the state’s leading water experts, engineers and conservationists, and
unprecedented public comment and participation.
The coalition urges the Water Board to approve the petition as the
only viable plan to protect the health and water quality of the Delta,
while securing water supplies for nearly 2/3 of our state’s homes,
farms and businesses. “
The speakers at the teleconference were Rich Atwater, Executive
Director, Southern California Water Committee; Jerry Meral, California
Water Program Director, National Heritage Institute; and Michael
Quigley, Executive Director, California Alliance for Jobs.
The pro-tunnels teleconference was apparently spurred by the Restore
the Delta’s teleconference on Monday, “The State Water Board and the
Declining Health of the SF Bay-Delta Estuary.” That call featured a
panel of experts who have followed the State Water Resources Control
Board for decades. Their teleconference is available below:
I had participated in the Restore the Delta teleconference on Monday,
so I set aside the time on Wednesday to listen to — and ask some hard
questions of — the tunnels proponents on Wednesday.
However, when I called in on the teleconference phone number, four
conference operators in a row told me I wasn’t on the “approved
credentialed media list.”
I asked them all, “So why did they send me a media advisory about the
event (twice!) when they didn’t want me to get on the call?”
Frustrated, I then sent the following email, with the advisory attached:
Inez
You sent me this media advisory, but four phone operators said I was
not on the "approved list" of ''credentialed media."
Then why are you sending me these press releases?
I am requesting that the person in charge of this call inform me why
you are sending me these press releases if I can't join the conference
call.
Thanks
Dan Bacher, Editor, Northern California Angler Publications
I am a dues-paying member of the Communications Workers of America,
AFL-CIO, Local 39521
So far, I haven't received any response from Californians for Water
Security. However, the following day, Thursday, I did receive another
press release, headlined, "ICYMI: New PPIC Report Highlights
Importance of CA WaterFix to Protect Water Supply.”
So again the question: Why didn’t Californians for Water Security
allow me call into their media teleconference? Were they afraid I
would ask tough questions about the Delta Tunnels project that they
couldn’t answer?
The Brown administration and supporters of the California Water Fix
have become infamous for their lack of openness and transparency about
the widely-contested Delta Tunnels project. This refusal to allow an
independent journalist to participate in a media teleconference is
just typical of the lack of transparency that infests the California
Water Fix fiasco.
Below is the media advisory:
Californians for Water Security
View this email in your browser
TODAY
Media Advisory
In Advance of State Water Resources Control Board Hearing to Consider
Permit,
Groups Hold Teleconference to Discuss Urgency of Implementing
California Water Fix
On Wednesday at 10:30 a.m., the day before the State Water Resources
Control Board holds its initial meeting to consider issuing permits
for the California Water Fix, supporters including water experts,
environmentalists and business and labor interests will host a media
teleconference to discuss the importance of implementing the
Governor’s plan to update our aging water infrastructure.
The California Water Fix has endured nearly a decade of extensive
expert review, planning and scientific and environmental analysis by
the state’s leading water experts, engineers and conservationists, and
unprecedented public comment and participation.
The coalition urges the Water Board to approve the petition as the
only viable plan to protect the health and water quality of the Delta,
while securing water supplies for nearly 2/3 of our state’s homes,
farms and businesses.
WHAT:
Teleconference with water experts on CA Water Fix
WHEN:
Today, Wednesday, January 27th
10:30 a.m.
WHO:
Rich Atwater, Executive Director, Southern California Water Committee
Jerry Meral, California Water Program Director, National Heritage
Institute
Michael Quigley, Executive Director, California Alliance for Jobs
MEDIA ONLY: 1-800-285-6670
For more information on Californians for Water Security, visit:www.watersecurityca.com
###
-
Our mailing address is:
Swanson Communications
1020 16th Street
#31
Sacramento, CA 95814
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