The notion of me writing an op-ed is ridiculous. I’m just not the type. I tend to be the person in motion while someone else eloquently writes deep thoughts or funny stories. I’m also not the one who runs for office or tries to win a popularity contest. I don’t enjoy the spotlight and definitely don’t think that I am the holder of all truth.
I guess all those ideas that I have of me or who I am are wrong. Evidently here I am, finishing up the first month of being an elected official, and writing this op-ed…
This has been a unique adventure and I have many of you to thank for it. The weight of your votes does sit heavily on my shoulders and I take that privilege seriously.
Politics seems like such a dirty word to me that when my husband called me a politician the other day, I was honestly offended. I realize that I have a very negative notion about politics and politicians and I don’t think I’m the only one. With your help I would like to change that.
I started this journey with the idea that there is a place at the table for all of us, and I continue to believe so even more after my first month. The notion that only people that look like the current water board are the only ones qualified to make decisions for us needs to go away. Just like in all other aspects of our life, representation matters. Pluralism of ideas and points of view are crucial to make well-rounded decisions that work for ALL of us. We desperately need to diversify.
On many of my endorsement applications I was asked the question “who are your biggest obstacles?” It was customary to write “your opposition.” However I believe that WE, with our preconceived notions about politics, are our biggest obstacle. Whether it’s the idea of who should run to knowing what is on the ballot, to what offices are up for election – that lack of knowledge makes it feel like this is only something certain people can do. We can’t vote on things we don’t know about, and we rely on hearing about an issue if it’s really important. The truth is important things are happening around us all the time, and we often don’t hear about them. Most board meetings in our city only have a handful of people show up. Over 300,000 people live here and only a handful show up.
On those rare occasions that more show up – real change can happen! I’ve seen the impact that public participation can have.
During my time in office, one of my top goals is to make sure we are all more informed. Whether it’s making sure information is released, explaining the issues in a clearer way, or making sure it’s in a language accessible to all. I will be doing my best to make it all more available to you.
It’s time to pay attention, and it’s time for all of us to reclaim our water. We live in a time where climate change is real and needs to be addressed accordingly. We can also do better when it comes to conservation, and our agency’s resources can and should be put to use by the public. Not to mention we have contamination in our water that needs to be dealt with.
On my part, I will continue to write these pieces. I will post on social media and I will communicate with you all what I see and do. I need you to do your part as well. Show up to meetings. Contact me, email, text, call. Hold me accountable. Ask me those questions. I won’t always know the answers off the bat, I’ll probably have to ask around and read up. But I promise to always be YOUR voice and be completely honest.
You can reach Beth Braunstein at her email, bbraunstein@scvwa.org, or on her cell: (310) 717-1963.
Disclaimer: the above was written by Beth Braunstein herself and not on behalf of the board.
Director Beth Braunstein, I am relieved as can be that you, along with Director Kathye Armitage, are now working together in one of our three water boards. I have so far attended two meetings with both of you in attendance, and the second one was with you and Director Armitage in an actual Board meeting (with the public invited to participate from time to time), and I loved your questions and responses, because they were the same that I had in my head. It is time for change, and I understand you’ve apparently got an uphill “battle,” so to speak, but we’ve all got to join in to help get our water cleaned up and with no more compromises or hesitations or whatever other excuses there may have been to keep us from a natural right. I do encourage citizens to start attending each and every meeting, if only to LEARN everything possible about what is going on with our water, and what MUST BE DONE. I think you’d quickly feel a need to want to become involved. Director Braunstein, thank you for a fantastic op-ed that has me eager to move on to the next meeting, if only because of the two of you much-needed newcomers!
I am so proud to have worked with you Beth and equally as proud to have you representing my interest on the Water Board. I know that you will have our best interest in mind. I know that you will be honest and transparent. Congratulations and go get them!
At the last meeting of SCV WATER all of the Directors voted to put an emergency item on the agenda which resulted in a 15 million dollar “buy out of the leased photovatalic solar panels from our friends at Goldman Sachs. Not a single Director seemed to think it was important to review the appraisal that suddenly appeared at the last minute and was the precursor for the urgency declaration. The public did not have the information in advance that this would be on the agenda for open session and no opportunity to review the appraisal before the vote.