The Formation of CVPRC

The CVPRC was formed initially by two women and expanded to six women on a mission to expose the true nature of the Water Rate Increase Proposal. This intimate neighbors activist group was born out of frustration and the appalling lack of transparency by the CVP Districts Board of Directors. And so we set out to expose the damaging hidden facts which are associated with the proposal as it was written.

The Coalition felt the urgent necessity to inform our fellow Water Rate Payees of the financial reality and the enormous gravity of the proposal, if allowed to pass. The Coalition proceeded by dividing territories and then physically knocking on nearly all 626 residents doors. When we spoke with our neighbors, we heard what an enormous financial strain most were experiencing. It further fueled our motivations, because it was crystal clear that what we were doing, was doing our community a favor by halting what would amount to a grave injustice, (mostly to our advanced aged community, who don't use computers, cell phones or social media but instead they rely on snail mail or a friendly face to inform them). It is a reality that if the fees are allowed to out pace our incomes we would be forced to sell our mortgage free homes.(2 Board members whom shall be named later, have no compassion for our senior neighbors one said at a board meeting, "if seniors can no longer afford to pay their bills, then its time for them to leave.") That remark ignited into action what was soon formed as the Christian Valley Park Residents Coalition and we brought forth the most Protest Votes in the history of the CVP,CSD Board of Directors.

Being financially outpaced by Water Fees (without using a drop of water is immoral and inhuman, because water is a fundamental right of all beings.) What the Boards proposal would result in, would be that most of us would have to relocate out of California to find a less expensive area to live. Many of us are just too old to have the stress of moving. Many neighbors would only have enough equity to pay for rent for a limited time, after that they would not have enough monthly income to live on.

Christian Valley was pegged as a high risk for wild land fire. Subsequently many homeowners insurance policies were canceled this has resulted in double and triple the premiums. Not to mention we went thru 3 multi-day PG&E Public Power Shut Downs in October. This drives property values down, do to a lack of reliable power, cost of water perpetually increasing for the foreseeable future, and the astronomically high fire insurance premiums. There just are to many financial burdens all coming at us all within a short span of time. It feels like it is purposefully geared to run us out of our beloved area and homes at fire-sale prices.

As a side note:

Our community is truly unique. Christian Valley Park has a high number of properties still under the original 1978 Proposition 13 Property Tax Bases. So this means a savings that allows many of us seniors to remain in our homes. But it makes us a target for removal because we are a huge Tax Revenue thorn in Placer County's side. With so many burdens at once, it makes one question, if there isn't something more nefarious working in the background.

The Coalition encouraged everyone in our CVP Community about the importance of attending the December 9th 2019 Proposed Water Rate Increase hearing. We knew that the only way we could negotiate for a more equitable remedy, is that we would have to kill the proposal first, before we could have any say in what was a more equitably acceptable set of solutions. For how only 626 payees could be obligated to pay for $8.4 million in infrastructure upgrades: we needed time to look for grants and other sources of securing funds that would not have to be repaid. So that’s what we set out to do: we did it because, we are by our nature compassionate and we care very deeply for all the disenfranchised retirees and for all our class of lower fixed income neighbors.

The majority of our neighbors have been domiciled in Christian Valley Park anywhere from several decades, to more than half a century. And those properties have been a legacy, being passed down to children and grandchildren.

The more neighbors we spoke with, the more we knew what we were attempting to pull off, was the right thing for the overwhelming majority of our small community. What we accomplished over 45 days, and (with the stumbling block of the Thanksgiving Holiday) was in defiance of what several naysayer's said, that what we were doing would not make any difference and it would equate to a huge waste of time. But more times we were praised and thanked over, and over for our efforts, and for what we brought to the forefront of awareness. We kept energized, and in the end we managed to pull off a proverbial miracle, and we garnered enough Protest Votes to Stop the Proposal as it was being presented.

We bit the bullet and born the expense individually, to accomplish this feat we each used many tanks of gasoline while driving to 626 homes, And many homes we went back to a second time, to collect Protest ballots we left behind. We provided our neighbors a voice by providing them with enough information, to allow them to make an informed decision. This is something our CVP Board wouldn't do because, they knew if we were given all the facts we wouldn't approve. The CVPRC printed out and or hand printed Protest ballots and we left literature on those doors when our neighbors weren’t home. This took reams of paper and lots of ink-jet ink, plus stationary supplies and 2 ½ months of solid effort.

The result, the Community “Won” this first round, but this is not the end, not by a long shot, be warned, this is not our last Rodeo event. We have many more struggles which may need future protests. The CVPRC is here to oversee what the CVP,CSD Board is doing and what is coming down the pike.

This website is but a tool, to expand the way we let neighbors know what is being discussed in the Board Room. CVPRC is dedicated to inform our neighbors on who has their backs and best interest in mind through their actions, and who doesn't on the CVP Board of Directors.

And we are dedicated to informing the CVP community of election terms expiring and for new candidates to step into the ring and to be for the first time in 58 years a Board of Directors that is selected and voted for by election, to represent our best interests. The CVPRC has been discussing whether to seek petition signatures for the removal of two Board members, by Voter Recall Process in this years election cycle. More to come later on the Elections and Candidates page.

The CVPRC is committed to see to it that there will be NO MORE Board member APPOINTEES, by way of and thru the pass it along to a friend, and the quiet approval by Placer County's Board of Supervisors.

A special dedication and thank you must be given to the Senior Attorney and Legal Associates at the HJTA.

CVPRC is in close communication with the HOWARD JARVIS TAXPAYERS ASSOCIATION. They helped us with the Constitutionality of the public hearing notices that were sent out. On our behalf at no charge, they sent out several letters to the Board and to their Attorney, to warn them they were not in compliance, within California Constitutional Amendments Prop. 218 and Prop.13. We will be forever grateful for their prompt attention and valuable advice. The CVPRC is committed to giving Donations to the HJTA to pay-it-forward for all the Non-Profit work they do. Together we stand as a wall to injustices, and divided we don't have a chance, these wolves are waiting to pick us off one by one.

Peace and love from the CVPRC