Sacramento, CA – Today the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund Coalition released the following statement from Phoebe Seaton, Co-Director, Leadership Counsel for Justice and Accountability on Gov. Gavin Newsom’s State of the State Address: 

“Gov. Gavin Newsom’s commitment to a Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund is welcome news for the one million Californians who live under threat of serious health conditions from contaminated drinking water each year.  

"California’s children and families - particularly those who live in our state's most disadvantaged communities - are counting on the legislature to deliver on Gov. Newsom’s call to action by passing the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Act. For less than one dollar per month for most users, the Fund is the only credible and complete statewide solution to a crisis affecting people in every region of our state. It is the only solution that provides the necessary, ongoing investment needed to sustain safe water for marginalized communities and people of color. Importantly, it exempts people with low incomes.

“Failing to deliver safe and affordable water each year means leaving children at risk from health conditions ranging from cancer to diabetes to hypertension and birth defects. The highest price of inaction will be borne by our most marginalized communities who already pay a steep price with their health, high water bills, and additional expenses for bottled water. As Gov. Newsom has said, it is a ‘disgrace,’ and a "medical emergency' that the wealthiest state in the nation is putting children at risk from toxic taps; it’s a problem we know how to fix with the Safe and Affordable Drinking Water Fund.”