It appears that the “Climate Change Mitigation Strategist” on the California State Water Resources Control Board has stepped down, making a splash with a resignation letter that blames Governor Gavin Newsom and his administration, as well as his own colleagues, for California’s inability to manage its climate crisis.
It is still a mystery what this has to do water.
Starting at The Los Angeles Times:
Max Gomberg, who is currently the California State Water Resources Control Board’s Director, has seen the state struggle with droughts that were devastating and climate change.
Now, after 10 years of recommending strategies for making California more water resilient, the board’s climate and conservation manager is calling it quits. Reason: Governor Newsom no longer believes him. Gavin Newsom and his administration are willing to pursue the sorts of transformational changes necessary in an age of growing aridification.
In a resignation note posted online this month, Gomberg accused the governor of siding with defenders of the status quo and also faulted those in his agency who failed to push back.
“Witnessing the agency’s ability to tackle big challenges nearly eviscerated by this Administration has been gut wrenching,” Gomberg wrote. “The way some of you have simply rolled over and accepted this has also been difficult to watch.”
Here are some excerpts from Gomberg’s letter. It’s quite the read:
Because I believe that facing difficult truths and making tough decisions is a part of life, I share my thoughts. We live in dark, uncertain times because of the emergence of fascists and due to climate change which is rapidly decreasing the habitatability of many locations.
If “Climate Change” is a euphemism for Progressive leadership, then, Ja. 20 years worth of progressives have run the state to its knees and ignored the interests of state citizens. The state is becoming more inhabited. It is critical that water flow continues for rural and urban dwellers alike, as well as that it be stored and replenished. It has been neglected tenaciously despite the fact that climate change is causing it to be.
We are all allowed to be fascists if that is the case.
Unfortunately, the state does not plan to make drastic cuts in greenhouse gas emission reductions. Massive construction is needed to address the housing crisis. Rapidly and permanently decreasing agriculture will manage water loss to aridification. Law enforcement budgets are being reduced and resources reallocated to programs that increase safety and health. These are just a few of the many things that will be required to ensure a fair and sustainable future.
Is this what the water in fudge cakes has to do it with? “[P]ermanently reducing agriculture?” Sounds like language straight out of a Klaus Schwab speech.
This is something I believe many of you are aware at some point. Yet, you still think that being in the middle between industry and advocates (and others who defend status quo) is reasonable. It doesn’t. It makes you complicit.
He seems nice. Bureaucratic organizations like a “water resource board” are supposed to be the middle ground that brings those two together. This is a stupid statement.
He compliments his fellow travellers after knifing them above.
Too late.
My Water Board colleagues
Witnessing the agency’s ability to tackle big challenges nearly eviscerated by this Administration has been gut wrenching. It has been hard to see how some of you just accepted it. But, there are reasons to feel optimistic about your dedication to racial justice.
What does all this have to do the water management in a state that was once populated? Along with U.S. Secretary of Transportation Pete “Mr. Mom” Buttigieg’s Racist Roads, are we now trying to correct Racist Waterways?
Sacramento, is there anybody who doesn’t live in clown land?!
Asking for a friend…
In my ten years of service to this Board, I’ve had the pleasure of working alongside caring and dedicated people who have worked on many important policy issues. Our collective efforts have led to safe, accessible, and affordable water for the most marginalized, as well as a reduction in urban water waste and discussion about equity in the climate resilience debate.
Californians are subject to constant drought warnings and have to cut down on water consumption. However, the board has not done anything to conserve and store the water that the state receives. From my understanding, part of this Board’s job is to resolve and mitigate drought and water crisis, yet a reservoir has not been built in over 30 years (and we’ve voted for that to happen a number of times), and their Mini-Mes on local water boards keep voting down desalinization efforts.
It was not mentioned by Mr. Equity Water.
You will keep my support for all those who are willing to stand up for the environment and people against right-wing death cults, industry and other status-quo supporters. You can speak up, dissent, unite, and make use of all the resources at your disposal. And if you ever need a pep talk, I’ll be there.
This falls into the “Friends like these,” category. Gomberg simply insulted and called his fellow travelers inefficient and complicit. Why would anyone call Gomberg about anything else?
With appreciation and solidarity
Max
“Power concedes nothing without a demand. It never did and it never will.”
Ironic is the end quote. His resignation and his letter show that he has not been granted any power. He made demands, but got nothing back, even though he was in a position of power. So in essence, the resignation It isConcession
Gomberg, despite his delusions about the religion that climate change is real, was recruited by Newsom’s elite and experimentally minded wish-thinking group. Gomberg was a firm believer, and his goal is to promote climate consciousness as well as equity. It is the end of saving the world by all means. Water is a redundant tool in this effort.
Gomberg’s prior “work” was as senior analyst at the California Public Utilities Commission in the Office of Ratepayer Advocates. Think of it as a community activist group for poor communities who can’t pay their utility bills. With the price of utilities versus the actual service, I would say he didn’t do a very good job in that role.
Gomberg had been a student for many years before that. He holds a Masters of Public Policy (UCLA) and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Environmental Studies (University of Chicago).
He is simply a theoretical theorist with no practical experience beyond the classroom and boardroom. Is Gomberg a farmer or a driver in the Central Valley?
Doubtful. It is doubtful. Information flash: California’s farmers account for half the country and provide food and water to the United States as well as the rest of the world.
Get. A. Clue.
It takes a lot of effort and time to create a plan of action that will be meaningful. This is something we should all praise. Following through on these commitments is akin to allowing yourself to fall for conflict. You may need to look deep into your soul and discover your moral compass. You should not try to do this if you don’t know how.
Gomberg was a good man to step aside because he lacks a moral compass.
Gomberg really is hellaPissed is the fact that he wants more financial aid for the poor and marginalized, rather than just working to solve the water supply and distribution problems. From his letter, it is evident that Gomberg was most interested in the power to carry out his great ideas. But Newsom doesn’t share power, especially when he is skating a fine line between pretending to run the state and running for president.
Gomberg is not looking to solve the water crisis like Newsom. Instead, he wants the ability to limit Californians’ water consumption in order to combat climate change.
Oh. Well. Was he actually thinking Hair Gel? There is a lot of solid material on San Andreas that I can sell him.
The fish wrap record was set by his hurricane of an tome. The L.A. TimesConsidered him worthy to be interviewed.
In an interview with the Los Angeles Times, Gomberg said he went public with his criticisms after encountering resistance to a “long list” of proposals, including assistance for low-income ratepayers, ways of bolstering water conservation, new water agency permit requirements related to climate preparedness, and the addition of climate requirements to strengthen water regulation and management.
“We’re really, as a society at this point in time with climate change, in need of bigger, bolder action. And we’re not getting it,” Gomberg said. “Being in an agency that could be part of that, taking big and bolder actions, and being told that those options are not on the table, was intolerable.”
It’s all about the prestige of being part of this elite class, bragging rights and virtue signaling, and, oh yeah, saving the planet. California’s actual residents are not to be believed. Gomberg would have us denied water and starved to make the planet shake off our sanity.
Good riddance, Max Gomberg. Don’t let the doorknob hit you on the way out.
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