Opinion Piece By Donna Westfall – JANUARY 1, 2016 – NOTE:  1 protest per property!  If you own 10 properties, that’s 10 protests.

I received the PROPOSED INCREASE IN SEWER SERVICE RATES from Crescent City, City Hall.  I plan to protest.  I have until February 16, 2016 to hand in my protest.  I’m going to hand in mine Monday, January 4th.

Here’s what I’m doing:

I took my sewer bill and made a copy.  I signed my name in BLUE INK and wrote “I Protest Rate increase” and I dated it today. I did all that on a copy. You can do it on your sewer bill though.

Then I made a copy of that with my original signature for my records.  That means I have an original and a copy. 

Then I will run down to City Hall on Monday and hand in the one with my original signature, signed in blue ink Why blue ink? Because occasionally they will say that the black ink looks like a copy and disqualify your protest.

I will have them date stamp my copy for my records and take it home and file it.

Now, you don’t have to go through all those steps.  You can take a chance and drop off a protest without keeping proof. But just be aware that lots of things get destroyed and go missing at City Hall.

If you don’t follow my basic instructions, don’t blame them for saying you didn’t turn it in because, again, you’d be surprised at how many things get destroyed and go missing at City Hall.

If you want to protest, then follow these directions and here’s why:

It has all the elements of a proper, legal protest.

1. Your water/sewer bill has your account number on it.
2. It has your name on it.
3. All they need is an original signature that matches the name on the sewer bill…use blue ink!
4. And the words, “I protest sewer rate increase.”

If you have any questions give me a call at (707) 951-3650.

If you need to make a copy, give me a call at (707) 951-350.

If you want to help with the sewer rate protest, give me a call or send me an email at donnawestfall@gmail.com or find me on facebook. Our goal is to collect 45 signatures a day for the next 45 days.

Once the protest is successful, then maybe the City will sit down with us ratepayers and start asking what they can do to rectify this situation.  Until then, there’s really nothing more to say.  I’ve written article after article in crescentcitytimes.com about some of the fraud and corruption that went on.  You can do a search and pull up those articles.  Seven years have passed since this scheme went into effect.  In seven years, reliable, credible people have come forward to relate story after story of corruption. The truth has a nasty habit of coming out. I’ve been led to believe that up to $15 million is in question. I want those questions answered before I’m prepared to hand over one more cent for that white elephant.

In order to win the protest, 50% +1 verified protests must be turned in by February 16th.  Although only about 1700 valid protests are required to succeed, our goal is to hand in at least 2,000 protests out of 3400 ratepayers.

A valid protest can come from the owner of the parcel OR from the renter if they pay the sewer bill because they receive a sewer bill from the City with their name on it.

Sound simple? It is.

Any questions?

You know how to reach me.

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