SALINAS, Calif.- For years, we've been talking about the drama and frustration surrounding the Monterey Peninsula's water supply. Local lawmakers, who tried to come up with a plan, said their efforts eventually crumbled, after conflict of interest charges came to light. So we decided to ask this question how important is it for you to get involved with what your local government is doing, especially when it has such a big impact on your future?
Right now former Monterey County Regional Water board member Steve Collins is in court-accused of grand theft and a conflict of interest that ultimately ended in a failed water desalination project. Details never heard before are coming out in court, giving a clear idea of how much goes on behind closed doors in local government.
So why should you care what happens at the Monterey County Board of Supervisor meetings or any meeting of the minds for that matter? Central Coast News political analyst Dr. David Anderson said because it may your only chance to learn what's going on and give your input.
"Because local politics affect out everyday life. It affects our jobs, it affects where we live, it affects out neighborhood and those decisions are made locally," said Dr. Anderson.
This week a judge is hearing witness testimony and combing through evidence from the district attorney's office, supporting their claim Collins had a conflict of interest between his work as a public official for the county and a contract he had with RMC Water and Environment-the company hired by the county to do the desal project.
Attorneys said they found emails showing he supposed to be kept "in the loop as attorney/client confidential" and that he was responsible for the "financial aspects and in helping close the deal". At one point Collins responded to his troubles in closing the deal in an email saying it time to "play a little "old fashioned country hardball" with CalAm. Anderson said it's conversations like these that most people don't know are going on, and can lead to mis-spent taxdollars.
"There definitely needs to be more public input into the water commission, into the planning commission, they invite the input but they don't always get a lot of it," Dr. Anderson.
One board of supervisors meeting in February of 2010 shows just a couple people in attendance, when a few big decisions were made on the failed desal project. Anderson said to stay in the know, plan ahead.
"There are schedules. So you can plan if you want to go. Some of the meetings are televised on local access," Dr. Anderson said.
If your're interested to know more about Collins' case, it's also open to the public. He'll be in court on Thursday at 9am.
