00:00:22.250 --> 00:00:26.959
[ Man ]The world attention and eyes are focusing on us today...

00:00:26.959 --> 00:00:29.999
as we witness
the largest gathering...

00:00:29.999 --> 00:00:33.667
dealing with one
of the greatest challenges...

00:00:33.667 --> 00:00:36.667
of the 21st century:
fresh water.

00:00:36.667 --> 00:00:42.792
[ Man #2 ]This water is now in a stage of crisis,

00:00:42.792 --> 00:00:46.458
and due to
the rapid increase...

00:00:46.458 --> 00:00:48.792
of the world's population,

00:00:48.792 --> 00:00:55.959
this situation is expected
to become even more serious.

00:00:56.500 --> 00:00:58.999
[ Man #3 ] The challenge here...

00:00:58.999 --> 00:01:03.875
is to convey access
to all the unserved people...

00:01:03.875 --> 00:01:06.041
at an affordable price.

00:01:06.041 --> 00:01:09.917
My experience as
a water professional...

00:01:09.917 --> 00:01:11.625
is that it is possible.

00:01:11.625 --> 00:01:12.959
It is possible,
but there are conditions.

00:01:12.959 --> 00:01:19.375
The political question really
is, "Who owns water and
who gets to control water?"

00:01:19.375 --> 00:01:21.208
Here you're going to hear,
or you are hearing,

00:01:21.208 --> 00:01:24.500
two very, very different visions
of a future for water.

00:01:24.500 --> 00:01:29.208
On one side are those who see
water as an economic good--

00:01:29.208 --> 00:01:33.417
to put water on the open market
for sale to the highest bidder.

00:01:33.417 --> 00:01:38.458
On the other hand, you're going to hear the voice of a growing
civil society movement...

00:01:38.458 --> 00:01:42.291
who has a vision of water as
a part of the global commons...

00:01:42.291 --> 00:01:45.999
and treated as a public trust
for all time...

00:01:45.999 --> 00:01:48.750
by governments everywhere.

00:01:49.166 --> 00:01:53.667
People were killed
by the army...

00:01:53.667 --> 00:01:55.583
because of what
you are saying here.

00:01:55.583 --> 00:02:00.417
Somebody has to pay for water,
ladies and gentlemen.

00:02:00.417 --> 00:02:02.750
Whether it's the users...

00:02:02.750 --> 00:02:06.999
or the future generations,
that is the reality.

00:02:06.999 --> 00:02:11.834
[ Man Speaking Spanish ]

00:02:17.999 --> 00:02:19.999
Many of the companies
that are represented here...

00:02:19.999 --> 00:02:24.458
have stained our water with
the blood of our compatriots.

00:02:24.458 --> 00:02:26.750
[ Spanish ]

00:02:26.750 --> 00:02:30.125
Do not stain your hands
with blood anymore.

00:02:30.125 --> 00:02:33.875
[ Cheering, Applauding ]

00:03:02.709 --> 00:03:06.083
[ Whistling, Chattering ]

00:03:07.375 --> 00:03:10.458
[ Explosions ]

00:03:16.500 --> 00:03:19.166
[ Speaking Spanish ]

00:03:32.625 --> 00:03:37.125
[ Olivera Speaking Spanish ]

00:04:16.750 --> 00:04:20.917
[ Shouting In Spanish On Bullhorn ]

00:04:29.999 --> 00:04:32.583
[ Woman ]
Bravo!

00:04:32.583 --> 00:04:37.999
[ Olivera Speaking ]

00:04:53.083 --> 00:04:57.750
- [ Gunshot ]
- [ Man Screaming ]

00:05:00.458 --> 00:05:04.250
[ Screaming In Spanish ]

00:05:16.458 --> 00:05:19.999
♪♪ [ Chanting ]

00:05:38.999 --> 00:05:42.000
[ Cheering ]

00:05:44.000 --> 00:05:48.083
[ Man Shouting In Spanish ]

00:05:54.750 --> 00:05:57.542
[ Spanish ]

00:06:08.875 --> 00:06:13.166
[ Speaking On Bullhorns ]

00:06:15.250 --> 00:06:18.792
[ Chanting In Spanish ]

00:06:44.583 --> 00:06:47.583
[ Cheering ]
[ Man #4 ] We are U.S. citizens.

00:06:47.583 --> 00:06:50.875
Yes! This is a democracy, yes?

00:06:50.875 --> 00:06:53.999
-Yes!
-The people have a right
to vote, yes?

00:06:53.999 --> 00:06:57.917
Yes!
Well, what's goin' on
in there? Talk to us!

00:06:57.917 --> 00:07:02.375
[ Man ] The people should decide.
Let the people vote!

00:07:05.291 --> 00:07:07.792
[ Man #5 ] Brothers, sisters,

00:07:07.792 --> 00:07:11.583
you pretty much name it,
the people of Stockton are here.

00:07:11.583 --> 00:07:13.917
We want the people to vote.
Yeah!

00:07:13.917 --> 00:07:17.709
[ Chanting ] Water for life,
not for profit. Water for
life, not for profit.

00:07:17.709 --> 00:07:21.166
[ Continues ][ Man #5 ] I think water
is the next OPEC.

00:07:21.166 --> 00:07:24.750
If you think you have problems
now with oil,

00:07:24.750 --> 00:07:28.999
wait until multinationals own
all the water in the world.

00:07:28.999 --> 00:07:31.834
They already are buying
in South America...

00:07:31.834 --> 00:07:34.583
and Europe
and in the United States.

00:07:34.583 --> 00:07:37.125
Once they get
a stranglehold over water,

00:07:37.125 --> 00:07:39.999
be prepared to pay
gas prices for water.

00:07:39.999 --> 00:07:42.709
[ Chanting ]
Let the people vote!
Let the people vote!

00:07:42.709 --> 00:07:47.291
[ Man #6 ] These people aren't in here to do the citizens
of Stockton a favor.

00:07:47.291 --> 00:07:51.999
They're in it to make money.
Let the people vote!

00:07:56.208 --> 00:08:03.250
[ Man #6 ] I don't like
the idea of my water being
controlled by a private company,

00:08:03.250 --> 00:08:06.792
especially in these times.

00:08:06.999 --> 00:08:10.709
I'd rather stay here
under our local control.

00:08:10.709 --> 00:08:15.959
And our employees live here.

00:08:15.959 --> 00:08:18.875
They've -- Most of them
have gone to school here.

00:08:18.875 --> 00:08:20.875
They're raisin'
their children here.

00:08:20.875 --> 00:08:23.834
It's important to them
that they do a good job.

00:08:23.834 --> 00:08:28.999
And we don't have to think about, you know, "How are we
gonna make a profit here?"

00:08:28.999 --> 00:08:33.999
All we have to think about is how we're gonna provide
a good service to the citizens.

00:08:33.999 --> 00:08:36.250
All right.

00:08:36.875 --> 00:08:42.542
I was actually born in Mississippi, but I've been here
since I was three years old.

00:08:45.667 --> 00:08:48.417
As kids, we used to go fishing
back behind the plant.

00:08:48.417 --> 00:08:52.291
We'd walk down the railroad tracks, and, uh, we'd ride
our bicycles down there.

00:08:52.291 --> 00:08:55.834
And that's where
we used to go fishin' at.

00:08:55.834 --> 00:08:58.500
Striped bass, uh, catfish. [ Chuckles ]

00:08:58.500 --> 00:09:01.458
Sturgeon. [ Train Whistle Blowing ]

00:09:06.250 --> 00:09:07.999
Did y'all make out
your time cards already?

00:09:07.999 --> 00:09:11.583
My handprint's on everything
there. I've been involved in...

00:09:11.583 --> 00:09:16.999
almost all the jobs that have gone on at that plant
for 25 years.

00:09:16.999 --> 00:09:17.999
All the way, baby.

00:09:17.999 --> 00:09:21.542
Stockton is deciding whether or
not to let a private company...

00:09:21.542 --> 00:09:23.375
run much of
the city's water system.

00:09:23.375 --> 00:09:25.917
This is the brainchild
of Mayor Gary Podesto.

00:09:25.917 --> 00:09:30.999
He says that the plan could save the city
$170 million over 20 years.

00:09:30.999 --> 00:09:34.999
News 10's Tim Daly is there
live right now, with a report.

00:09:35.000 --> 00:09:38.166
It's not truly privatizing,
except for green waste.

00:09:38.166 --> 00:09:41.625
Okay. If it makes so much sense,
why is there so much opposition?

00:09:41.625 --> 00:09:43.999
They confuse this with
this globalization issue.

00:09:43.999 --> 00:09:47.208
Yeah, you have boats out there,
goin' up and down the river.

00:09:47.208 --> 00:09:49.542
Yeah.
Bullhorns telling you
that this is a bad idea.

00:09:49.542 --> 00:09:51.917
Yeah. Fortunately,
I can't hear 'em in here.

00:09:51.917 --> 00:09:55.999
Let us vote!
Let us vote!

00:09:55.999 --> 00:10:00.041
Let us vote!
Let us vote!

00:10:02.542 --> 00:10:07.208
[ Woman ] You know, this is
a really conservative town.

00:10:07.208 --> 00:10:09.583
-[ Bell Rings ]
- Hello.

00:10:09.583 --> 00:10:13.000
Hi. And why are you
popular today?

00:10:13.000 --> 00:10:15.834
He likes to come by
to make sure I stay
out of trouble.

00:10:15.834 --> 00:10:18.417
Of course.
[ Woman Chattering
On Police Radio ]

00:10:18.417 --> 00:10:22.999
We've heard that you
get in trouble a lot.
Not as much as I'd like.

00:10:22.999 --> 00:10:29.500
I was born and raised here, and I heard they were trying
to privatize the water here.

00:10:29.500 --> 00:10:31.999
And I was like, "Okay, well--"

00:10:31.999 --> 00:10:34.667
I don't, you know-- It was more
of a bigger issue.

00:10:34.667 --> 00:10:36.667
It was globalization,
as far as I was concerned.

00:10:36.667 --> 00:10:38.875
And it was something that
was taking place right here.

00:10:38.875 --> 00:10:42.667
It was something that I could
actually, like, you know,
put my hands in,

00:10:42.667 --> 00:10:47.792
and it wasn't so abstract, because
it was happening right here.

00:10:48.542 --> 00:10:53.999
We're hoping to leave by 4:15
with the puppets and signs
that we made, and so--

00:10:53.999 --> 00:10:57.667
It puts the onus back on them
to prove where has there
been a city...

00:10:57.667 --> 00:11:00.417
that saved money
with privatization?

00:11:00.417 --> 00:11:03.000
Is there anybody on the council,
other than the mayor,

00:11:03.000 --> 00:11:07.750
who you think
could get up and give
a 20-minute, intelligible--

00:11:07.750 --> 00:11:10.333
[ Woman ]Well, you know, that's
the whole joke of this. Nobody--

00:11:10.333 --> 00:11:14.999
Mayor Podesto owns the gavel.[ Woman ] Yes, I know.nBut we can ask the questions.

00:11:14.999 --> 00:11:20.291
- Right. Right.
-[ Man ] We're basically
a grassroots citizens' group.

00:11:20.291 --> 00:11:24.083
And we have other day jobs.

00:11:24.083 --> 00:11:27.999
Sunday the 19th at 5:00.

00:11:29.333 --> 00:11:33.375
Are you gonna stick with
strawberry, or do you want
to switch to bubblegum?

00:11:33.375 --> 00:11:36.166
[ Man ]I've been in the area
all my life.

00:11:36.166 --> 00:11:42.333
Born and raised a conservativeRepublican, and for the last,
probably, 10 to 15 years,

00:11:42.333 --> 00:11:45.999
now I'm registered
"decline to state."

00:11:46.125 --> 00:11:49.583
I'm not a community activist.
I'm an involved citizen.

00:11:49.583 --> 00:11:51.458
I read the ballot. I vote.

00:11:51.458 --> 00:11:55.417
I get involved on issues, and if there's an issue
I feel about,

00:11:55.417 --> 00:11:59.041
I get involved in that.

00:11:59.417 --> 00:12:02.999
You know, whether
I'm an orthodontist,

00:12:02.999 --> 00:12:05.834
whether I'm a housekeeper,

00:12:05.834 --> 00:12:07.500
water's important to all of us.

00:12:07.500 --> 00:12:10.667
And many in the community
are opposed to...

00:12:10.667 --> 00:12:14.333
the idea of turning
our municipal utilities...

00:12:14.333 --> 00:12:16.834
over to a private company.

00:12:16.834 --> 00:12:19.999
And actually, when
privatization happens,

00:12:19.999 --> 00:12:23.083
services have been known to get worse.

00:12:23.083 --> 00:12:27.792
I would hope that
the city council...

00:12:27.792 --> 00:12:30.999
would choose to
at least delay...

00:12:30.999 --> 00:12:35.917
a definitive action until
after a vote of the people.

00:12:35.917 --> 00:12:41.709
Let the people vote!It's like what's happening in the underdeveloped countries.

00:12:41.709 --> 00:12:44.999
There are people there
that can't even afford
to pay for the water.

00:12:44.999 --> 00:12:46.999
That's a basic need.
That's a basic right.

00:12:46.999 --> 00:12:49.709
Without water, we can't survive.
[ Woman On Bullhorn ]
What do we do?

00:12:49.709 --> 00:12:53.999
Fight back! Fight back!
When democracy
is under attack,

00:12:53.999 --> 00:12:56.583
what are we gonna do?
Fight back! Fight back!

00:12:56.583 --> 00:13:02.750
- When water is under attack,
what are we gonna do?
- [ Applauding ]

00:13:03.625 --> 00:13:06.834
[ Man ] There may be one
or two burning questions,

00:13:06.834 --> 00:13:08.375
but remember,
we're going to come back.

00:13:08.375 --> 00:13:10.875
Go ahead, please.
The microphone to
that gentleman out there.

00:13:10.875 --> 00:13:14.458
[ Man Over Microphone ]I had to mortgage my farm
in order to fight them in court.

00:13:14.458 --> 00:13:21.333
At what point does
a corporation not understand
that we do not want you there...

00:13:21.333 --> 00:13:22.709
and when will you leave?

00:13:22.709 --> 00:13:24.792
My name is Holly Wren-Spalding,
and I'm from the Great Lakes.

00:13:24.792 --> 00:13:28.208
I'm sure you know where
that is, because there's
quite a lot of water there.

00:13:28.208 --> 00:13:29.999
And some of you are
already exploiting it.

00:13:29.999 --> 00:13:33.333
I'm very concerned about
the mining of groundwater
and the fact that...

00:13:33.333 --> 00:13:36.625
it's being put
in small plastic bottles, which
we see all over this conference.

00:13:36.625 --> 00:13:40.709
I think it's a horrible image
to present if you're talking
about conservation of water.

00:13:40.709 --> 00:13:43.999
[ Scattered Applause ]
Next person, please.

00:13:45.750 --> 00:13:49.333
[ Speaking Indian Language ]

00:14:13.875 --> 00:14:16.583
[ Birds Cawing ]

00:14:41.999 --> 00:14:44.208
[ Chattering ]

00:14:46.208 --> 00:14:50.917
About 500,000 villagers in this
region are now practicing...

00:14:50.917 --> 00:14:53.500
rainwater harvesting,
and every day,

00:14:53.500 --> 00:14:56.166
more and more people are
joining the cause.

00:14:56.166 --> 00:14:58.333
The people here have realized...

00:14:58.333 --> 00:15:00.999
that self-help can be
a lot more effective...

00:15:00.999 --> 00:15:06.959
than huge and environmentally disruptive
hydroelectric power projects...

00:15:06.959 --> 00:15:07.999
run by a faraway government.

00:15:07.999 --> 00:15:14.999
Leading this movement is a man the locals here
call a modern-day Gandhi.

00:15:20.999 --> 00:15:26.999
[ Speaking Indian Language ]

00:17:03.291 --> 00:17:06.709
[ Speaking Indian Language ]

00:18:13.999 --> 00:18:17.041
[ All Chattering ]

00:18:19.583 --> 00:18:22.999
[ Female Narrator ] Every day, all around the globe,

00:18:22.999 --> 00:18:27.709
we're providing clean water
and other vital services--

00:18:27.709 --> 00:18:33.792
[ Woman ] We've worked in places like Malaysian
and India and the Middle East.

00:18:33.792 --> 00:18:37.834
Uh, Thames Water is a British company.

00:18:38.000 --> 00:18:42.999
It's wholly owned by R.W.E.
in Germany.

00:18:43.417 --> 00:18:46.999
In the United States,
the infrastructure for...

00:18:46.999 --> 00:18:51.542
the future requirements--
the dollar value is very high.

00:18:51.542 --> 00:18:55.417
It's been estimated
to be about $2 trillion,

00:18:55.417 --> 00:18:58.959
with all the infrastructure
that's required.

00:18:59.625 --> 00:19:02.999
We came here up to Stockton
about four years ago,

00:19:02.999 --> 00:19:06.917
to work with
our partners, O.M.I.

00:19:09.208 --> 00:19:13.792
And the mayor, in particular,
who has been quite--

00:19:13.792 --> 00:19:16.875
very, very supportive
of this proposal...

00:19:16.875 --> 00:19:19.291
all the way through.

00:19:23.999 --> 00:19:27.709
I'll tell everybody I can.

00:19:29.000 --> 00:19:32.917
How are you?
Good to see you again.

00:19:33.667 --> 00:19:37.667
[ Emcee ]It is my great pleasure now
to introduce...

00:19:37.667 --> 00:19:41.999
the mayor of our great city,
Mayor Gary Podesto.

00:19:45.999 --> 00:19:49.000
[ Podesto ] Thank you.

00:19:49.208 --> 00:19:51.375
I stand in front of you
today very proud...

00:19:51.375 --> 00:19:54.834
of the courageous path
your city council...

00:19:54.834 --> 00:19:57.875
is traveling in reenergizing
this great city.

00:19:57.875 --> 00:20:02.959
It's time that Stockton
enter the 21st century
in its delivery of services...

00:20:02.959 --> 00:20:06.750
and think of our citizens
as customers.

00:20:06.750 --> 00:20:09.750
Before this council,
for the past few years,

00:20:09.750 --> 00:20:12.999
have been many opportunities
to trim waste...

00:20:12.999 --> 00:20:17.250
by outsourcing various services,
including the operation...

00:20:17.250 --> 00:20:21.166
and maintenance
of our municipal utilities.
[ One Person Clapping ]

00:20:21.166 --> 00:20:24.208
I look forward--
Thank you, dear.

00:20:24.208 --> 00:20:27.999
[ Laughing ]

00:20:27.999 --> 00:20:31.291
If you haven't met my wife,
she's in the front row.

00:20:31.291 --> 00:20:34.999
I, uh--
[ Chuckling ]

00:20:41.792 --> 00:20:44.999
Oh, I can't go
anywhere with her.

00:20:44.999 --> 00:20:48.250
I look forward
to your city council...

00:20:48.250 --> 00:20:52.709
continuing the courage
to act in your interest...

00:20:52.709 --> 00:20:57.875
and vote to approve
$172 million savings...

00:20:57.875 --> 00:21:00.750
to Stockton's industry
and residents.

00:21:05.166 --> 00:21:09.291
Oh, I was in--I was in to do
a couple of things.

00:21:09.291 --> 00:21:11.917
Then we had
our goal-setting sessions.

00:21:11.917 --> 00:21:14.500
And that's not been
resolved yet?

00:21:14.500 --> 00:21:16.999
[ Podesto ]The marketplace
makes you compete, always.

00:21:16.999 --> 00:21:21.999
Government departments like this operate
as a monopoly basically.

00:21:21.999 --> 00:21:23.875
They don't really compete.

00:21:23.875 --> 00:21:27.041
So there's really not
a lot of incentive to improve.

00:21:27.041 --> 00:21:30.375
Uh, especially if you're
a for-profit company,

00:21:30.375 --> 00:21:33.542
you compete daily for profits.

00:21:33.542 --> 00:21:35.999
We need to pull the trigger
and commit--

00:21:35.999 --> 00:21:39.166
I was in retail grocery business
in this area.

00:21:39.166 --> 00:21:43.999
Had what are referred to as
"price-impact" or "box" stores.

00:21:43.999 --> 00:21:47.208
And I had an opportunity
to sell and retire.

00:21:47.208 --> 00:21:50.959
I had friends that encouraged me
to run for political office,

00:21:50.959 --> 00:21:53.999
and the one I decided
to run for was mayor.

00:21:53.999 --> 00:21:57.125
Can't play golf today, can you? [ Chuckles ]

00:21:57.125 --> 00:21:59.208
The feds, back in the '60s,

00:21:59.208 --> 00:22:03.458
helped cities build the
infrastructure through grants.

00:22:03.458 --> 00:22:04.709
Those dollars
aren't there anymore,

00:22:04.709 --> 00:22:09.458
and it's several billion
dollars' worth of infrastructure
that has to be replaced.

00:22:09.458 --> 00:22:14.125
And the feds now believe,
under President Clinton
and under President Bush,

00:22:14.125 --> 00:22:17.500
that by incorporating a partnership
with the private sector,

00:22:17.500 --> 00:22:20.041
that this can be done
for less dollars.

00:22:20.041 --> 00:22:22.250
[ Chuckles ]

00:22:22.250 --> 00:22:24.999
I think we're elected
as representative government...

00:22:24.999 --> 00:22:29.166
to make these decisions, and I think these are
the kinds of tough choices...

00:22:29.166 --> 00:22:33.917
that we have to make--
and this is one that
is extremely complicated--

00:22:33.917 --> 00:22:36.583
a 900-page, almost, contract--

00:22:36.583 --> 00:22:40.375
talking about siloxane,
B.A.F. technology,

00:22:40.375 --> 00:22:43.375
all these kinds of things--
activated sludge--

00:22:43.375 --> 00:22:48.999
Okay. This is the individual...

00:22:48.999 --> 00:22:51.333
that we're up against,
and basically...

00:22:51.333 --> 00:22:53.999
it's a political
control machine.

00:22:53.999 --> 00:22:57.291
Bottom line is that
the mayor and his group...

00:22:57.291 --> 00:22:58.999
are professionals,
working full time,

00:22:58.999 --> 00:23:03.208
and you're all doing your other jobs and then trying
to do this as volunteers,

00:23:03.208 --> 00:23:05.999
and it's--
it's naive to think
that's it's gonna be easy.

00:23:05.999 --> 00:23:10.208
You know, we need to protect public employment
and public employees,

00:23:10.208 --> 00:23:13.208
because this privatization
is partially a way...

00:23:13.208 --> 00:23:17.583
to try to get rid
of public employment
and public employees.

00:23:19.041 --> 00:23:24.750
[ McDonald ] I am one of the employees that will not go
to work for the private company.

00:23:24.750 --> 00:23:27.041
I will leave.

00:23:28.834 --> 00:23:31.125
People that say that
government employees are lazy...

00:23:31.125 --> 00:23:35.917
are just frustrated people who
want to be government employees.

00:23:35.917 --> 00:23:39.500
That's just my--
my personal opinion.

00:23:40.999 --> 00:23:43.333
Everybody knows you can do
whatever you want with numbers,

00:23:43.333 --> 00:23:47.667
but I don't know how the mayor can make the claim
that it's gonna be cheaper.

00:23:47.667 --> 00:23:50.792
I don't believe the $175 million
savings is there.

00:23:50.792 --> 00:23:52.999
...come out and do it Saturday,
and I'll tell you--

00:23:52.999 --> 00:23:55.999
I know for a fact that
these guys and ladies...

00:23:55.999 --> 00:24:00.999
are very, very hard workers
and very, very dedicated
to the work that they do.

00:24:00.999 --> 00:24:06.625
You know, you can go
to work somewhere else other
than work at a sewer plant,

00:24:06.625 --> 00:24:08.750
uh, and make a living.

00:24:08.750 --> 00:24:10.458
[ Seagulls Crying ]

00:24:10.458 --> 00:24:14.542
[ Man ]This is really an environmental
enhancement facility.

00:24:14.542 --> 00:24:16.583
It's not just a sewer plant.

00:24:16.583 --> 00:24:20.709
We're environmental specialists.

00:24:32.542 --> 00:24:36.959
From this view,
we get a panoramic shot
of the main plant here.

00:24:36.959 --> 00:24:39.250
Then you can see
the primaries,

00:24:39.250 --> 00:24:43.166
where we settle out the organic material
and the floatables--

00:24:43.166 --> 00:24:44.999
They actually come
to the digester here.

00:24:44.999 --> 00:24:50.917
From there,
we overflow by gravity
into the sludge lagoon.

00:24:50.917 --> 00:24:55.375
We are a stellar department.
We are and we always have been.

00:24:55.375 --> 00:24:59.750
[ Man #2 ] We've done a pretty good job of meeting
all our permit requirements.

00:24:59.750 --> 00:25:04.999
There's a lot of satisfaction
in being able to take
the wastewater that comes in...

00:25:04.999 --> 00:25:08.291
and turn around and put
almost out tap-quality water.

00:25:08.291 --> 00:25:12.917
[ Man #1 ] The chemicals
sure seem to be working well,
because the odors are way down.

00:25:12.917 --> 00:25:15.083
[ Man #2 ]
Yeah. Yes, they do help.

00:25:15.083 --> 00:25:19.999
What people don't understand is
the majority of people
in California...

00:25:19.999 --> 00:25:21.999
drink what comes out
of the delta.

00:25:21.999 --> 00:25:26.999
So, you know, if I were them,I'd definitely be concerned
about what Stockton...

00:25:26.999 --> 00:25:31.999
was discharging
into their drinking water.

00:25:32.542 --> 00:25:37.250
Because the public has gotten so involved
with the process...

00:25:37.250 --> 00:25:39.583
and feel strongly about it,

00:25:39.583 --> 00:25:43.834
they think we need to then
take it out to the people
and let them vote on it.

00:25:43.834 --> 00:25:47.999
And I'm going,
"So, if you don't believe--
or you believe that...

00:25:47.999 --> 00:25:51.999
"there's slippery
figures here, then it's
a philosophical decision.

00:25:51.999 --> 00:25:55.250
"Think the public should
own and operate? Do you think
a private company...

00:25:55.250 --> 00:25:57.041
can do as good a job
or better?"

00:25:57.041 --> 00:26:02.208
If it's close, my own opinion
would be to keep it public,
and I'll tell you why.

00:26:02.208 --> 00:26:07.250
I kind of do my polling
in the aisle of the supermarket.

00:26:07.250 --> 00:26:08.959
They're very passionate
about it,

00:26:08.959 --> 00:26:14.250
and mainly they are afraid of the loss
of their water rights,

00:26:14.250 --> 00:26:16.500
their loss of ownership
of that utility.

00:26:16.500 --> 00:26:21.166
I mean, it's one of the best-run, well-funded--
has money in the bank,

00:26:21.166 --> 00:26:23.083
has good infrastructure--

00:26:23.083 --> 00:26:24.959
Our water company is perfect.

00:26:24.959 --> 00:26:28.750
Now, everybody's
up in arms.
Everybody's ready to fight.

00:26:28.750 --> 00:26:31.500
Mm-hmm.
All righty.

00:26:35.999 --> 00:26:38.875
[ Woman ]The purpose of
tonight's meeting is...

00:26:38.875 --> 00:26:42.250
the approval of the service
contract for wastewater, water,

00:26:42.250 --> 00:26:47.625
and storm water utilities--Stockton and O.M.I.-Thames
Water, Stockton, Inc.--

00:26:47.625 --> 00:26:50.542
and approving a notice of
exemption under the California--

00:26:50.542 --> 00:26:54.999
[ Woman #2 ]We're the bellwether
of the state and the nation.

00:26:54.999 --> 00:26:57.667
The people are
looking at Stockton...

00:26:57.667 --> 00:27:00.999
because if Stockton
goes into privatization,

00:27:00.999 --> 00:27:06.999
the other cities, states
will go in that direction.

00:27:07.166 --> 00:27:12.792
[ Gaines ] You're always going to find controversy
in these types of projects.

00:27:12.792 --> 00:27:15.750
We've had a team here,
assisting the city...

00:27:15.750 --> 00:27:18.500
in helping them
to answer those questions.

00:27:18.500 --> 00:27:21.999
They should have
no concerns at all.

00:27:22.166 --> 00:27:25.999
[ Ruhstaller ]It's amazing
that Stockton has drawn...

00:27:25.999 --> 00:27:27.250
everyone's attention here.

00:27:27.250 --> 00:27:31.999
People do not know,
or really care about, water,
until, you know,

00:27:31.999 --> 00:27:35.999
they turn on the tap
and it goes dry, or they flush
and it doesn't go away.

00:27:35.999 --> 00:27:37.959
And that's the scary thing.

00:27:37.959 --> 00:27:41.000
"Whiskey's for drinkin',
and water's for fightin' over."

00:27:41.000 --> 00:27:45.458
Ah, it's gonna be
a good one. [ Chuckles ]
That'll be a fun night!

00:27:50.999 --> 00:27:54.792
This contract
before you tonight
is incomplete.

00:27:54.792 --> 00:27:58.041
You do not have all
the information to make
an informed decision.

00:27:58.041 --> 00:28:01.792
The public morale has been dashed as one company C.E.O.
after another,

00:28:01.792 --> 00:28:05.999
one Wall Street analyst after another said one thing
and acted out another.

00:28:05.999 --> 00:28:08.999
We'll safeguard the water
of Stockton.

00:28:08.999 --> 00:28:11.750
You have the absolute
commitment of our company,

00:28:11.750 --> 00:28:13.999
and you have the commitment
of Thames Water...

00:28:13.999 --> 00:28:16.875
to deliver
this contract effectively.

00:28:16.875 --> 00:28:20.291
That's also, as the president,
my personal commitment to you.

00:28:20.291 --> 00:28:24.999
It is clear that
the decision to privatize
has been made covertly,

00:28:24.999 --> 00:28:26.917
without a public vote.

00:28:26.917 --> 00:28:29.208
I don't think the people
at home realize how many
hundreds of people were here,

00:28:29.208 --> 00:28:34.417
and that it's all filled up
back here and downstairs,
and that it was hard to hear.

00:28:34.417 --> 00:28:38.750
City council members,
by signing this contract
without the vote of the people,

00:28:38.750 --> 00:28:41.792
you will be betraying the people
you supposedly represent.

00:28:41.792 --> 00:28:45.000
Water is life.nThis company, O.M.I.-Thames,

00:28:45.000 --> 00:28:47.291
wants to profit from our water.

00:28:47.291 --> 00:28:48.999
Water for life,
not for profit.

00:28:48.999 --> 00:28:53.291
I'm ashamed that we followed this path
and have gone down the road...

00:28:53.291 --> 00:28:57.000
of making something happen
that was not consensus-building,

00:28:57.000 --> 00:29:01.709
not citizen-involved--It was basically
handed down as a dictate.

00:29:01.709 --> 00:29:05.999
The is not the principle
of an all-America city.

00:29:05.999 --> 00:29:08.542
Okay.nCouncil member Giovanetti.

00:29:08.542 --> 00:29:11.250
Thank you.

00:29:11.250 --> 00:29:15.166
I'm prepared to approve
this contract tonight, ahead...

00:29:15.166 --> 00:29:18.166
of the so-called vote
of the people.

00:29:18.166 --> 00:29:22.875
There comes a time when
the people become so involved
in an issue...

00:29:22.875 --> 00:29:26.709
that it is important that they
be heard by way of the ballot.

00:29:26.709 --> 00:29:31.999
As a Christian,
I've always felt that
prayer is very powerful.

00:29:31.999 --> 00:29:35.542
And when this process began,
I've always prayed...

00:29:35.542 --> 00:29:37.999
for guidance
in what I should do.

00:29:37.999 --> 00:29:40.667
It says it
in the Constitution...

00:29:40.667 --> 00:29:44.083
that you will
elect representatives
to vote...

00:29:44.083 --> 00:29:46.250
and to make decisions
that are best for you.

00:29:46.250 --> 00:29:51.375
We have not been elected
to babysit and maintain the city
until a vote can be taken...

00:29:51.375 --> 00:29:53.792
by the citizens on major issues.

00:29:53.792 --> 00:29:57.959
I do not feel they are
too dumb to understand.
I never said that.

00:29:57.959 --> 00:30:00.999
And, you know, the people
who founded this republic...

00:30:00.999 --> 00:30:06.875
obviously didn't
think the people were
too dumb to run it.

00:30:07.083 --> 00:30:09.999
Neither Gloria and I,
or anyone on this council,

00:30:09.999 --> 00:30:11.999
believes that
the people are too dumb...

00:30:11.999 --> 00:30:14.917
to resolve, or to understand
the issue.
[ Yelling ]

00:30:14.917 --> 00:30:18.999
-That's not what we said.
- All right. Quiet down.

00:30:18.999 --> 00:30:22.542
[ Clapping, Cheering ]
Officers,
close the door, please.

00:30:25.417 --> 00:30:27.041
Tonight, I want to thank
the council...

00:30:27.041 --> 00:30:32.999
for their indulgence and their endurance
and their hard work...

00:30:33.667 --> 00:30:36.709
to come up with whatever
their answers are tonight.

00:30:36.709 --> 00:30:40.999
Do I believe that this should
go to a vote of the people?

00:30:40.999 --> 00:30:41.999
Absolutely not.

00:30:41.999 --> 00:30:48.959
That's for no more reason
than I can think any government
by initiative is good.

00:30:51.625 --> 00:30:56.917
There's been
a motion and a second.
I'm calling for the question.

00:30:59.999 --> 00:31:02.709
Please cast your votes.

00:31:02.709 --> 00:31:07.999
Carries 4-3. Thank you all
for all your hard work.

00:31:13.375 --> 00:31:17.500
[ McDonald ]It was very disheartening.
Very disheartening, you know?

00:31:17.500 --> 00:31:20.125
They're circumventing, uh,

00:31:20.125 --> 00:31:22.375
what people have
fought and died for:

00:31:22.375 --> 00:31:24.999
the right to vote
on these issues.

00:31:24.999 --> 00:31:30.542
And, um, you know,
I for one will never
give up my right to vote.

00:31:36.875 --> 00:31:40.999
[ Man ]It is possible to provide
access to all people...

00:31:40.999 --> 00:31:42.999
in a sustainable way.

00:31:42.999 --> 00:31:46.667
And, furthermore,
either in La Paz, in Manila,

00:31:46.667 --> 00:31:50.458
in Buenos Aires,
in Johannesburg,

00:31:50.458 --> 00:31:52.999
more poor people are
getting access to water--

00:31:52.999 --> 00:31:56.999
I'm Wenonah Hauter
with Public Citizen
in the United States,

00:31:56.999 --> 00:32:01.999
and I don't know whether
to laugh or cry at the happy
talk we've heard today.

00:32:01.999 --> 00:32:07.125
What happened in Atlanta is,
Suez's affiliate, United Water,

00:32:07.125 --> 00:32:10.999
got the contract,
fired half the staff--

00:32:10.999 --> 00:32:14.959
The water was brown.n The repairs hadn't been made.

00:32:14.959 --> 00:32:18.750
So I'd like a specific
answer on Atlanta, and how,

00:32:18.750 --> 00:32:23.291
if privatization
doesn't work there,
it can work anywhere.

00:32:23.291 --> 00:32:25.291
[ Applause ]

00:32:25.291 --> 00:32:27.667
Bill Alexander, Thames Water.

00:32:27.667 --> 00:32:30.333
I'm not personally
involved with Atlanta,

00:32:30.333 --> 00:32:34.792
and my company would not go
anywhere it was not welcome,

00:32:34.792 --> 00:32:37.999
not go anywhere it would not
make a difference,

00:32:37.999 --> 00:32:42.291
not go anywhere which is not
sustainable over time.

00:32:43.917 --> 00:32:47.792
[ Speaking Spanish ]

00:32:57.750 --> 00:33:00.999
Your question was, how will
the World Bank...

00:33:00.999 --> 00:33:03.291
avoid the errors that it made
in Cochabamba,

00:33:03.291 --> 00:33:06.333
and let me just give
you the background
for our involvement--

00:33:06.333 --> 00:33:11.291
[ Briscoe ] The private sector can make money out of things
like water supply services.

00:33:11.291 --> 00:33:16.542
Other people believe that the private sector should
never be in this business.

00:33:16.542 --> 00:33:19.291
What exactly is the role
of this institution?

00:33:19.291 --> 00:33:21.166
Is it to win
a popularity contest,

00:33:21.166 --> 00:33:24.500
or is it one to be
of service to clients
who have to--

00:33:24.500 --> 00:33:26.542
They can't walk away
from those issues.
They have to live there.

00:33:26.542 --> 00:33:30.709
...absolutely fake.
We again and again see you come
in with World Bank funding...

00:33:30.709 --> 00:33:34.999
that's paid by my tax dollars--
I don't want that funding
to go to you guys.

00:33:34.999 --> 00:33:37.834
[ Briscoe ] For the activists, because the outcome's
not what they want,

00:33:37.834 --> 00:33:40.999
they will complain about
process not being appropriate.

00:33:40.999 --> 00:33:44.999
We experienced
a lot of problems.
Now I can teach you.

00:33:44.999 --> 00:33:49.000
[ Briscoe ]What does it mean to say,
"Water is a human right"?

00:33:49.000 --> 00:33:51.333
Those who proclaim it so...

00:33:51.333 --> 00:33:57.166
would say it is the obligation
of the government of "X" to
provide free water to everybody.

00:33:57.166 --> 00:34:01.417
Well, that's a fantasy.

00:35:23.709 --> 00:35:28.125
[ Speaking Indian Language ]

00:35:35.208 --> 00:35:39.542
[ Singh Speaking Indian Language ]

00:39:23.999 --> 00:39:27.999
There it goes.
The American democratic process.

00:39:38.166 --> 00:39:41.083
[ Man ] It's an enormous thing to do.

00:39:41.083 --> 00:39:43.999
Now we only have 30 days
to file a referendum...

00:39:43.999 --> 00:39:48.375
and to gather the required
number of signatures.

00:39:49.208 --> 00:39:51.125
Strategic places,
like on corners--

00:39:51.125 --> 00:39:55.875
Yeah, we're all out today. Mom
is doing something else, so--

00:39:55.875 --> 00:40:01.250
- Anything yellow sticker
is where we're gonna go.
- I think it's way up here.

00:40:01.250 --> 00:40:03.125
1242? Yeah. 1242.
Here's Little Creek here.

00:40:03.125 --> 00:40:06.917
[ Woman ] You oughta know that. You went to Lincoln.
See? Here's the preschool.

00:40:06.917 --> 00:40:09.000
This is where we went to school.
This is where we lived.

00:40:09.000 --> 00:40:14.375
First thing you need to know is
that it's a pretty big document.

00:40:14.375 --> 00:40:16.999
This is the document
you will carry...

00:40:16.999 --> 00:40:19.959
with you today
to collect 120 signatures.

00:40:19.959 --> 00:40:23.583
Then they're gonna
go through, and they're gonna
check every signature.

00:40:23.583 --> 00:40:25.999
Any questions at this point?

00:40:25.999 --> 00:40:28.625
Okay. You got that.
11239.

00:40:28.625 --> 00:40:31.041
11239.

00:40:31.041 --> 00:40:33.709
Seventeen.

00:40:34.542 --> 00:40:36.750
11153.

00:40:36.750 --> 00:40:40.291
Next time around,
you'll be able to move
a little faster.

00:40:40.291 --> 00:40:42.792
Hopefully there won't
be a next time.

00:40:42.792 --> 00:40:45.625
I work for a union.
There's always a next time.

00:40:45.625 --> 00:40:49.750
Okay. Got ya.
Okay. Good luck. May
the force be with you.

00:40:49.750 --> 00:40:53.250
- Can I put one
of those signs in my yard?
- Talk to Diane.

00:40:53.250 --> 00:40:56.083
She's doin' the yard signs.

00:40:56.083 --> 00:41:00.208
The doughnuts
are at the union.
[ Laughs ] Yeah.

00:41:00.208 --> 00:41:04.999
What we're doin' today--
Good morning, Marietta--
is we're tryin'...

00:41:04.999 --> 00:41:09.792
to get enough signatures to qualify this referendum
for the ballot.

00:41:09.792 --> 00:41:12.500
If you'd like to sign,
we'd love to have you.
All righty.

00:41:12.500 --> 00:41:16.000
- Bye-bye.
- Bye.
- He's a charmer, huh?

00:41:16.000 --> 00:41:18.500
Yes, he is.

00:41:19.333 --> 00:41:22.959
[ Dog Barking ]

00:41:24.375 --> 00:41:26.709
Okay. We'll check
next door. Thank you.
All right.

00:41:26.709 --> 00:41:28.875
[ Man ]
Will you come back?
Sure. We'll come back.

00:41:28.875 --> 00:41:32.375
Are you Mr. Cezares? [ Speaking, Indistinct ]

00:41:32.375 --> 00:41:34.458
Is that where the stink
comes from too?

00:41:34.458 --> 00:41:39.041
Well, it doesn't always
smell real good.

00:41:39.041 --> 00:41:40.375
But I don't know
personally...

00:41:40.375 --> 00:41:46.166
if either public or private
can change the smell
of wastewater sometimes.

00:41:46.166 --> 00:41:48.333
That's just a by-product.

00:41:48.333 --> 00:41:51.917
Did we catch you
at a bad time?

00:41:51.917 --> 00:41:55.166
I'm pretty well informed
on it. The address?

00:41:55.166 --> 00:41:58.875
Thank you.
I appreciate it.

00:42:01.999 --> 00:42:05.125
♪♪ [ Calliope ]

00:42:05.709 --> 00:42:08.999
Okay. This is 1030.

00:42:08.999 --> 00:42:12.999
I'm tired of privatization
because I keep thinking...

00:42:12.999 --> 00:42:15.291
consumers are
taking it in the shorts.

00:42:15.291 --> 00:42:18.959
Whoop.
There's my avocado.
Sorry.

00:42:18.959 --> 00:42:22.333
[ Stocking ]I really believe
that the Citizens' Referendum...

00:42:22.333 --> 00:42:26.625
and gathering using
volunteer signature gatherers--

00:42:26.625 --> 00:42:31.834
that we've been able to do so far--
that is the proper way to go.

00:42:31.834 --> 00:42:33.542
Good morning.
[ Man ] Good morning.

00:42:33.542 --> 00:42:36.999
Dale Stocking
and my wife, Gail. We're
circulating a petition to--

00:42:36.999 --> 00:42:40.999
Mayor Podesto actually
raised a tremendous amount
of money...

00:42:40.999 --> 00:42:44.999
with O.M.I.-Thames
using something like $60,000...

00:42:44.999 --> 00:42:47.999
and tremendous amounts
of mailers.

00:42:47.999 --> 00:42:53.041
They brought in automatic telephone calls.

00:42:53.041 --> 00:42:59.875
A very expensive effort to
thwart our citizens' approach...

00:42:59.875 --> 00:43:03.208
to open government.

00:43:04.709 --> 00:43:08.375
[ Man On Recording ]
You have four messages.

00:43:08.375 --> 00:43:12.999
[ Podesto On Recording ] Hello.This is Mayor Gary Podesto.
I have a quick message for you.

00:43:12.999 --> 00:43:15.000
I've worked hard for Stockton
for many years.

00:43:15.000 --> 00:43:17.250
[ Woman On Recording ]Hi. This is Lori.nI'm sorry I missed you,

00:43:17.250 --> 00:43:22.999
but I wanted to let you knowMayor Gary Podesto knows it'll
cost taxpayers lots of money.

00:43:22.999 --> 00:43:27.041
- [ Beeps ]
-[ Woman #2 ] This is
Vice Mayor Gloria Nomura.

00:43:27.041 --> 00:43:30.875
I wanted to let you knowI am joining
Mayor Gary Podesto--

00:43:30.875 --> 00:43:34.417
[ Podesto On Recording ]Hello. This is Gary Podesto.
I want you to know the truth...

00:43:34.417 --> 00:43:37.333
about the petition to
overturn the city's contracts...

00:43:37.333 --> 00:43:40.917
for operation and maintenance of our water
and wastewater systems.

00:43:40.917 --> 00:43:45.667
Opponents are using misinformation, and in some
cases, downright lies.

00:43:45.667 --> 00:43:48.291
That's not right.nYou and I both know that.

00:43:48.291 --> 00:43:50.999
The truth is the contract
is good for Stockton.

00:43:50.999 --> 00:43:55.291
I hope you agree.
Thank you,
and have a good day.

00:43:59.542 --> 00:44:01.041
Hi, Mike.[ McDonald ] Bill.

00:44:01.041 --> 00:44:05.583
How are you?
You wanna help me with this?nAbsolutely.

00:44:06.041 --> 00:44:09.542
So what was the final total?
11,732.

00:44:09.542 --> 00:44:12.999
We got five hand trucks
at the City Hall.
Okay.

00:44:12.999 --> 00:44:16.083
Let's load 'em up,
go give 'em hell.
Let's do it.

00:44:16.709 --> 00:44:19.999
I'll see you there.

00:44:20.709 --> 00:44:24.166
[ Bill ] First time ever in my whole life I've done
anything like this, so--

00:44:24.166 --> 00:44:29.999
I feel good about what we've done. I wish
our numbers could be higher.

00:44:29.999 --> 00:44:35.417
In about 10 days, we'll know
whether or not we've qualified
and what our next step is.

00:44:35.417 --> 00:44:39.667
We've sort of banded together
as a group of residents,

00:44:39.667 --> 00:44:42.208
and we're gonna
be the watchdogs of the city.

00:44:42.208 --> 00:44:47.041
There are two 144s.[ Stocking ] One of the things
that we're finding out...

00:44:47.041 --> 00:44:53.417
or that I'm being exposed to
is the web, the global web,

00:44:53.417 --> 00:44:55.458
that is developing.

00:44:55.458 --> 00:44:59.709
And this privatization,
it could be a part...

00:44:59.709 --> 00:45:01.500
of an overall puzzle.

00:45:01.500 --> 00:45:06.917
[ Man ] As a businessman,
I recognize more clearly
than ever...

00:45:06.917 --> 00:45:09.166
the centrality of water
and development.

00:45:09.166 --> 00:45:11.500
Fifteen years ago,
no one talked about water.

00:45:11.500 --> 00:45:15.750
Today, water is firmly
on the agenda. That
is great progress.

00:45:15.750 --> 00:45:19.542
In recent years,
what we have seen is a kind
of a theft of the commons--

00:45:19.542 --> 00:45:25.125
the notion that absolutely
everything should be commodified
and put on the open market.

00:45:25.125 --> 00:45:26.999
And it is happening
very, very fast.

00:45:26.999 --> 00:45:34.250
Basically, we see this as an issue of human rights
versus corporate rights.

00:45:42.542 --> 00:45:46.500
[ Man Speaking In Indian Language ]

00:46:33.999 --> 00:46:37.375
[ Kids Screeching ]

00:46:39.375 --> 00:46:42.999
[ Man Speaking In Indian Language ]

00:46:49.999 --> 00:46:52.999
[ Babies Crying ]

00:46:54.999 --> 00:46:58.999
[ Man Continues Speaking in Indian Language ]

00:47:01.375 --> 00:47:05.083
♪♪ [ Man Singing In Indian Language ]

00:48:03.125 --> 00:48:07.083
[ Man Speaking in Indian Language ]

00:48:25.709 --> 00:48:30.000
[ People Chanting
In Indian Language ]

00:48:32.458 --> 00:48:37.500
[ Man Speaking in Indian Language ]

00:48:46.959 --> 00:48:50.083
[ Chanting Continues ]

00:48:50.083 --> 00:48:53.999
[ Man Speaking in Indian Language ]

00:49:29.458 --> 00:49:33.583
[ Woman Speaking
In Indian Language ]

00:49:36.000 --> 00:49:39.625
[ Speaking In Indian Language ]

00:49:47.500 --> 00:49:50.250
[ Speaking In Indian Language ]

00:49:50.250 --> 00:49:54.458
[ Man Speaking in Indian Language ]

00:50:37.041 --> 00:50:41.333
[ Podesto ] My reaction to the "fail" of the referendum
was bittersweet.

00:50:41.333 --> 00:50:45.458
Sweet in the respect
that maybe we can get
started now,

00:50:45.458 --> 00:50:47.250
and the ratepayers
will have some savings.

00:50:47.250 --> 00:50:51.709
Bitter in the sense
that it was so divisive
in going through this process.

00:50:51.709 --> 00:50:53.999
That always
has a lingering effect
on the community,

00:50:53.999 --> 00:50:57.959
and hopefully we can get
beyond that as we move forward.

00:50:57.959 --> 00:51:00.208
We didn't have the funding...

00:51:00.208 --> 00:51:04.500
to go out for a general,
paid collection.

00:51:04.500 --> 00:51:06.625
Where it broke down
was in the first two weeks.

00:51:06.625 --> 00:51:11.208
We just didn't have
enough committed individuals...

00:51:11.208 --> 00:51:12.999
dedicated to go out
and get 100 signatures.

00:51:12.999 --> 00:51:17.333
I wanna bring this up again.When you're talking about
fighting a fight like this,

00:51:17.333 --> 00:51:22.750
there hasn't been one case that
I witnessed in hearing all
these other people's stories--

00:51:22.750 --> 00:51:25.375
not only in North America,
but from around the world--

00:51:25.375 --> 00:51:28.041
that people have
won these battles
without civil disobedience.

00:51:28.041 --> 00:51:32.417
I think that there's ways to
run a more disciplined campaign
than what we've been doing.

00:51:32.417 --> 00:51:36.917
You know, running this
as a campaign that's gonna
be a smart campaign,

00:51:36.917 --> 00:51:38.999
that's dedicated to one goal,
and that's winning.

00:51:38.999 --> 00:51:42.083
[ Woman ] One thing I wanna say-- I wanna add on the list:
This group took the high road.

00:51:42.083 --> 00:51:46.083
-[ Woman #2 ] Yes, we did.
-We did not run in the mud
with the rest of them.

00:51:46.083 --> 00:51:50.917
This was always
a well-organized, grassroots,

00:51:50.917 --> 00:51:53.834
citizen-based effort.

00:51:53.834 --> 00:51:59.999
And I don't think you can find
a finer group of people to work
with, and I think we did great.

00:51:59.999 --> 00:52:01.041
We all know this isn't over.

00:52:01.041 --> 00:52:05.709
We know we've learned a lot;
we've got a lot to learn. But
we always took the high road.

00:52:05.709 --> 00:52:10.959
And I am very proud
to be a member
of this coalition.

00:52:11.166 --> 00:52:15.417
I'm not here to make you feel good. I'm gonna be blunt, and
I might hurt people's feelings,

00:52:15.417 --> 00:52:21.625
but the fact is, is that when you ran this thing and you
worried about the high road...

00:52:21.625 --> 00:52:24.333
and you worried
about your feelings, all right,

00:52:24.333 --> 00:52:27.500
you ran this thing
in a manner that would
have failed.

00:52:27.500 --> 00:52:31.208
So the difference is
a winning campaign is one
where you win.

00:52:31.208 --> 00:52:34.917
A losing campaign
is one where you lose
and maybe the day later,

00:52:34.917 --> 00:52:36.917
at least you can say,
"I feel good about myself."

00:52:36.917 --> 00:52:41.458
- Are we gonna have a campaign--- [ Stocking ] The nation is looking at California.

00:52:41.458 --> 00:52:47.083
What I'm telling people is when you hear
the first indication...

00:52:47.083 --> 00:52:49.834
towards privatization,

00:52:49.834 --> 00:52:52.583
start a community--n start a grassroots activity--

00:52:52.583 --> 00:52:57.667
and if it appears that
you are being railroaded
into something...

00:52:57.667 --> 00:53:00.750
or a small group
is in control of an issue,

00:53:00.750 --> 00:53:05.999
then the citizens immediately
have to move to an initiative
to bring--

00:53:05.999 --> 00:53:10.917
to require public participation
and a public vote.

00:53:13.000 --> 00:53:15.999
Well, this is it.

00:53:17.041 --> 00:53:19.208
Twenty-six years.

00:53:19.208 --> 00:53:26.709
[ McDonald ]The mood at the plant's
been very tense, very emotional.

00:53:27.500 --> 00:53:30.333
Today, the transition period
officially began.

00:53:30.333 --> 00:53:36.333
The employees turned in their I.D. cards. So they're
no longer city employees.

00:53:36.333 --> 00:53:41.375
And they received identification badges
for O.M.I.-Thames.

00:53:41.375 --> 00:53:43.792
We're not gonna
finish our careers together
like we started.

00:53:43.792 --> 00:53:47.999
- Thank you, guys.
- [ Woman Speaking,
Indistinct ]

00:53:47.999 --> 00:53:49.999
[ All Chattering,
Laughing ]

00:53:49.999 --> 00:53:53.083
Everybody gather round
for a second.

00:53:53.083 --> 00:53:56.417
See? You guys know
I'm a big old baby.

00:53:56.417 --> 00:54:00.999
A good friend
and a good supervisor's
gonna be leavin' us.

00:54:00.999 --> 00:54:05.834
We want you to know
this is a classic hat,
very beautiful Raider hat.

00:54:05.834 --> 00:54:09.500
[ McDonald ] They got people depressed about bein' split
away from one another...

00:54:09.500 --> 00:54:13.999
that's been together for years, bein' forced to
take another job that--

00:54:13.999 --> 00:54:17.500
You know, you always wanna
leave a job on your own terms.

00:54:17.500 --> 00:54:23.083
One of his biggest faults is he has a problem gettin'
to work on time.

00:54:23.083 --> 00:54:25.417
[ Scattered Laughter ]
He's always about
two hours early.

00:54:25.417 --> 00:54:31.999
We figured if we got him a nice little watch, maybe
he'd be able to tell time...

00:54:31.999 --> 00:54:37.041
and get to work on time.

00:54:37.041 --> 00:54:40.834
Everybody
needs a gold watch too.

00:54:40.834 --> 00:54:42.709
I love you, man.

00:54:42.709 --> 00:54:46.542
Thank you all.
I'm overwhelmed.

00:54:46.542 --> 00:54:48.750
This is totally unexpected.

00:54:48.750 --> 00:54:52.959
I didn't expect anything,
didn't want anything.

00:54:52.959 --> 00:54:58.417
You guys are just
a tremendous--
tremendous group of people.

00:54:58.417 --> 00:55:05.208
I can honestly say
that not only do I appreciate
being your supervisor,

00:55:05.208 --> 00:55:09.208
but your friend as well.

00:55:10.667 --> 00:55:13.166
I'm sad and I'm angry,

00:55:13.166 --> 00:55:20.333
but I'm happy that I got
all these wonderful people in
my life that'll always be there.

00:55:20.583 --> 00:55:23.542
And I just wanna
thank you all very much.

00:55:23.542 --> 00:55:26.999
[ Man ] Thanks a lot, Michael.

00:55:33.750 --> 00:55:37.417
[ Laughing ]

00:55:41.583 --> 00:55:48.792
You guys all
made me look good, man.
You made yourself look good.

00:55:58.041 --> 00:56:00.834
[ Man ] It has been possible to...

00:56:00.834 --> 00:56:04.375
provide access
to millions of people.

00:56:04.375 --> 00:56:08.041
So I would like to say
that when well-designed,

00:56:08.041 --> 00:56:12.917
public/private partnerships
deliver huge results,

00:56:12.917 --> 00:56:16.875
they can be
win-win-win projects...

00:56:16.875 --> 00:56:21.542
which benefit all parties,
including the old and poor.

00:56:21.542 --> 00:56:27.750
[ Man #2 ] Somebody has to pay for water, ladies
and gentlemen, and I think...

00:56:27.750 --> 00:56:31.667
we have come up
with some practical choices.

00:56:31.667 --> 00:56:35.999
We haven't covered everything,
as some of the speakers said,

00:56:35.999 --> 00:56:39.041
but in order to come up...

00:56:39.041 --> 00:56:42.166
with the investments needed
for the poor--

00:56:42.166 --> 00:56:46.709
And I agree 100% that we have to find ways...

00:56:46.709 --> 00:56:51.959
of serving the poor
in a way that they can
afford the water.

00:56:52.999 --> 00:56:58.792
Water for people, not
for profit! Water for people,
not for profit!

00:56:58.792 --> 00:57:03.999
- Water for people,
not for profit!
- [ Shouting, Indistinct ]

00:57:03.999 --> 00:57:08.291
Water for life, but not for war! Water for life,
but not for war!

00:57:08.291 --> 00:57:11.542
One, two, three, four!

00:57:11.542 --> 00:57:14.208
Billions for water,
but not for war!

00:57:14.208 --> 00:57:17.999
How will they increase
water resource availability?

00:57:17.999 --> 00:57:20.208
They keep talking about
"financial resource doubling."

00:57:20.208 --> 00:57:26.125
They don't talk about river flow
doubling, stream flow doubling,
well water doubling.

00:57:26.125 --> 00:57:29.999
That's what women talk about.
Enough is enough.

00:57:29.999 --> 00:57:33.542
I see this report
as nothing short of...

00:57:33.542 --> 00:57:37.542
an attempt
to package poverty
for money and for profit.

00:57:37.542 --> 00:57:41.083
[ Man Speaking Spanish ]

00:57:55.792 --> 00:57:59.792
[ Chanting In Spanish ]

00:57:59.792 --> 00:58:03.542
[ Speaking Spanish ]

00:58:13.999 --> 00:58:17.291
[ Continues Speaking Spanish ]

00:58:46.458 --> 00:58:49.917
[ Shouting In Spanish ]

00:59:09.999 --> 00:59:12.999
[ Chanting ]

00:59:12.999 --> 00:59:15.792
[ Man ] Water for lives!
[ Group ]
Not for profit!

00:59:15.792 --> 00:59:18.208
Water for lives!
Not for profit!

00:59:18.208 --> 00:59:20.999
Let the people vote!
Let the people vote!

00:59:20.999 --> 00:59:25.834
Then they really don't know
what's goin' on, and they
shouldn't have the right...

00:59:25.834 --> 00:59:29.999
to vote our water rights away.