These days, saying “Prop 218″ or “Protest” anywhere within earshot of a Cambrian and you’ll find yourself in a passionate conversation (and likely late for dinner). No matter what your position on the proposed increase, there is almost 100% chance you have at least one question about it. The CCSD isn’t being very communicative. The counting took a very long time and as of now, the results indicate 49.1% (or 49.35%) valid protests from Cambrians were returned by the deadline. Out of 2500 protests submitted, 535 (or 561) were invalidated for one reason or another. Curious about whether your vote counted? Many Cambrians are. Curious about how the protests were validated or determined to be invalid? Many Cambrians are. Concerned that the CCSD will continue to run the water and wastewater with a deficit? Many Cambrians are. Concerned that the town is bickering and arguing while our current infrastructure is in need of maintenance and doesn’t have the funds to pay for it? I’m sure I’m not alone on this one.

So what is the status of the protest? Members of CFR will be meeting with CCSD District Counsel Art Montandon tomorrow for about an hour to discuss the reasons for invalidating over 500 of the protest letters submitted. And the district has said it plans to have a meeting in room 204 on Friday for Cambrians to come with their questions, though as of this writing that is unconfirmed.

Whether or not the Board approves the proposed rates remains to be seen. Given that nearly half of Cambria took enough energy to at least listen to someone and sign a letter of protest. Some even went as far as folding it and putting it in an envelope, stamping it and dropping it in the mail. As the first week of counting was winding down, I watched as the last of the protest forms submitted on the 14th were logged in. Then the dozen or so protest letters submitted by individuals directly to the CCSD, by mail or at the meeting, were logged. Then, and this is the interesting bit, Kathy Choate pulled out a file folder and said, “We should probably log the letters of support.” Completely appropriate. And how many Cambrians sent letters of support? Two. Not two percent, but 1+1=2. Neither was logged because neither had identified the service address – which was the main identifier. A few people at the hearing on the 14th spoke in support of the CCSD and the need for people to stop being obstructionists. But only TWO put pen to paper to show their support.

Now, to be fair, those who supported the rate increase (or at least didn’t feel strongly enough to protest) were not approached at Farmer’s Market or the post office by people with form letters. They didn’t receive a form in the mail. But only two took the time to do what at least 49% of Cambria did – put their position in writing. That’s really a shame. No one who supports the CCSD thought to expend the energy to make it easy for Cambrians to take action to show their support for the CCSD – including the CCSD itself. The best it could muster was publishing 3 full page ads in the Cambrian urging residents to do nothing to show support. Another missed opportunity.

Looking through the looking glass the other direction, it could be that a far larger number of Cambrians opposed the rates, but were too overcome by procrastination, their busy lives or their laziness to submit a letter of protest before the deadline. I wonder how many protest letters found their way into the CFR’s post office box after July 14. Of course, those do not count. The district was clear that all protests had to be in their hands before the end of the public hearing…postmarks do not make a protest meet the deadline. But maybe CFR could offer them as additional support for not imposing the rates as proposed. Just a thought.

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Last 5 posts by Amanda Rice