@MWDFACTS Twitter Feed Launched to Provide Immediate Access to Information about MWD’s Proposed Rate Increases and Decisions
March 22, 2012
The San Diego County Water Authority today launched a Twitter feed, @MWDFacts, to help members of the public get important…
The San Diego County Water Authority today launched a Twitter feed, @MWDFacts, to help members of the public get important updates on issues and decisions by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California. The Water Authority has also launched another Twitter feed, @sdcwa, which provides updates on a variety of news and events related to the Water Authority and regional water issues.
MWD supplies water to 19 million people – more than half of California’s population – in a service area with a gross domestic product of greater than $1 trillion. Its rates and actions significantly impact how much Southern Californians pay for water. MWD is currently set to raise rates for 2013 and 2014 during its April 10 Board meeting.
“It’s vital that the public let MWD’s Board know how they will be impacted by water rate increases before it’s too late to do anything about it,” said Michael T. Hogan, chair of the Water Authority’s Board of Directors. “The Twitter feed will provide quick, immediate information on MWD’s plans, actions and business practices so that ratepayers can know what is going on and immediately take action on important issues, such as MWD’s proposed rate increases.”
The @MWDFacts Twitter feed complements www.MWDfacts.com, a website the Water Authority launched March 7 to help shed light upon and to provide greater information and transparency into the powerful and secretive Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.
On March 12, the Water Authority released more than 500 pages of documents obtained under the California Public Records Act. The documents show that much of MWD’s decision-making and policies are developed behind closed doors by a group of member agencies that exclude the Water Authority and that together control 75 percent of the voting power on MWD’s board. The documents are posted at www.MWDfacts.com.
“MWD’s finances, rates, governance, ethics and other policies need to be discussed and debated in an open, transparent, accessible forum – not behind closed doors in an “Öinvitation-only,’ “Öpay-to-play,’ “Ösecret society,’ “ said Dennis Cushman, assistant general manager of the Water Authority.
To follow the MWD facts, visit @MWDFacts.