What is your position on the Channelkeeper lawsuit?

Larry says

The only real position is whether we stay in and keep paying, or drop out and stop paying. The Ventura River Watershed Adjudication website says it plainly: “Failing to participate in this lawsuit could have a significant adverse effect on any right to pump or store groundwater that you may have.” I have not done a deep dive into the legal filings or read through every official court notice, but the previous Council got us involved in this for a reason, right or wrong, and from what I have read and understand, walking away is not a neutral choice.

I have talked with people who follow this closely. The bottom line seems straightforward. The court is going to make decisions that affect water rights across the watershed whether we are participating or not. Walking away does not make the issue disappear, it means giving up some of our ability to influence the outcome and advocate for Ojai. It comes down to weighing the real consequences of dropping out to stop the legal bills against staying in, paying the costs, and arguing for what is best for the city. We need to know what control we would be giving up, and what the cost burden actually is.

larryforojai.com/ask/15