Our water is a political pawn
Re “As Columbus mulls giving up water utility control, union vows to fight,” May 26: Columbus residents have spent generations paying for and maintaining our water system. That’s why many are uneasy about proposals that could shift control from locally elected leaders to an unelected regional board.
This isn’t about refusing to work with nearby communities. We already have regional partnerships. The real issue is accountability. Right now, Columbus voters can hold city leaders responsible if rates rise or services decline. An unelected board would create more distance between residents and the people making decisions about a vital public resource.
At a time when large corporate projects and data centers are increasing demands on infrastructure and water use, residents deserve stronger local oversight and greater transparency, not less.
Water is a public resource, not a political experiment.
Don’t drain Columbus.
Anthony Caldwell, Columbus
This article originally appeared on The Columbus Dispatch: Columbus water isn’t a political football. City hall, stop playing games | Letters
Reporting by Letters to the Editor, Columbus Dispatch / The Columbus Dispatch
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