“Water decisions”

Monterey Herald, Aug. 13, 2025

The Monterey City Council meeting on Aug.5, was a shameful display of division and distraction, squandering time on a pointless “us vs. them” debate over Mayor Tyller Williamson’s letter to the California Public Utilities Commission. The letter, which urged reconsideration of the thoroughly litigated future water needs projection for the Monterey Peninsula, was not only misguided but also a flagrant abuse of power. In an outrageous breach of protocol, Williamson sent this letter on official City letterhead, signed as mayor, in direct violation of the city’s governing ordinance. This reckless act demands accountability.

Williamson’s blatant bias is indefensible. As a member of the Monterey One Water (M1W) Board, he has shamelessly prioritized M1W’s interests over the welfare of our community, dismissing the expert testimony presented in the CPUC proceedings. His refusal to apologize or rectify this egregious overstep compounds his misconduct, eroding public trust in his leadership.

The council’s discussion, fueled by public comments, devolved into a petty dispute over competing water projections from California American Water and M1W. The experts have already settled this matter: Cal Am’s higher water needs projection is the standard we must meet.

— Brian Higgins, political director, Monterey County Republican Party