Published: April 19, 2009
Assemblywoman Fiona Ma Addresses Water Rally at Conclusion of Historic March
Ma joins Governor Schwarzenegger, legislators, farmers,
and farm workers in call for action
Los Banos, CA – A coalition of farmworkers, growers, community members and elected officials concluded a four-day March for Water with a rally at the San Luis Reservoir dam today.
Assemblywoman Fiona Ma (D-San Francisco), a member of the Assembly Agriculture Committee and proponent of a comprehensive water bond, joined the call to revamp California’s water supply.
“California feeds the nation and now, the workers that help put food on our kitchen tables and their families are going hungry. The Legislature recently passed a budget that includes a rainy day fund for tough economic times and now it's time to build a rainy day fund for our state’s imperiled water supply," said Assemblywoman Ma. “Our water supply doesn't support the state’s $30 billion agriculture economy and expected population growth. The lack of sufficient water is the number one threat to the future of California’s economy.”
The march began in Mendotta on Tuesday and ended today at the base of the dam at San Luis Reservoir. The lack of water has left many farmers with no choice but to leave nearly 100,000 acres of agricultural land unplanted. The economic loss from the lack of water has already reached $300 million and is expected to grow.
California accounts for 46 percent of the U.S. fruit and nut production and 63 percent of the national value of fruit and nut crops. California’s 88,000 farmers and agricultural industry contributes approximately $30 billion to the state’s economy and is responsible for one in every 12 jobs.
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