Bell Gardens voters reject water system sale in landslide
Bell Gardens, CA — As a blue wave of Democratic victories swept across the country, Bell Gardens voters made waves of their own Tuesday, rejecting Measure W in a landslide.
Early election results show nearly 75% of voters opposed the proposal to sell the city's water system and groundwater rights to a private company.
According to unofficial election results released by the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk at 3:11 a.m. Wednesday, Nov. 4, 74.78% of voters opposed the measure, compared with 25.22% who supported it.
The "No" side received 3,267 votes, while the "Yes" side received 1,102—a difference of 2,165 votes.
Measure W would have allowed the city to sell its municipal water system and groundwater rights to Golden State Water Co. for $41 million. The sale would have required approval from the California Public Utilities Commission and a final vote by the City Council.
City staff recommended the sale, citing aging infrastructure and mounting costs. The city's only groundwater well has been shut down since September 2021 due to PFAS contamination, forcing Bell Gardens to spend about $1.28 million a year on imported water. City officials estimated another $15.3 million would be needed to build a treatment plant, water storage reservoir, and pumping station.
The City Council voted 3-2 in June to put the measure on the ballot. Mayor Miguel De La Rosa, Councilmember Francis De Leon Sanchez, and Mayor Pro Tem Isabel Guillén supported the move, while councilmembers Jorgel Chavez and Marco Bárcena opposed it.
Supporters argued the sale would strengthen the city's finances and shift the cost of maintaining the water system to a private company. Opponents warned of higher water bills and the loss of local control.
Some residents had voiced strong opposition to the sale on social media ahead of Tuesday's vote.
"Eso nunca se vende. No excusas. Su trabajo es arreglar las cosas no venderlas" ("You never sell that. No excuses. Their job is to fix things, not sell them"), wrote Instagram user @cr9one on BG Noticias.
"You never sell water rights," Carlos Vasquez wrote on the Bell Gardens News Facebook page.
Election results remain unofficial until certified.
