Colorado River Cut Proves Scottsdale Can’t Afford to Dismiss the Experts
Updated: Oct 27
SCOTTSDALE - Scottsdale City Council candidate Raoul Zubia today responded to news that the city anticipates a 17% cut to its Colorado River supply as soon as January, a reality he says he has warned about throughout his campaign.
According to ABC15, city officials say residents won’t feel an immediate impact because Scottsdale isn’t using its full allocation. But the same report confirms that options to secure new water range from a few million to hundreds of millions of dollars, that Scottsdale is considering new infrastructure to import water from the Harquahala Basin, and that, in the words of Councilwoman Maryann McAllen, “water rates may go up.”
Thanks to the gaslighting of Barry Graham, there is currently no funding in the budget for advanced water purification infrastructure.
Scottsdale relies on the Colorado River for roughly 70% of its water, more than any other Arizona or California city of its size or larger. This year, Graham led the bone-headed effort to pass a budget that omitted $233 million for water projects, including recycling, despite warnings from experts, residents, and former city leaders.
"Dismal of facts is not a water plan; it's an abdication of duty,” said Zubia. “Scottsdale residents deserve leaders who plan for the cuts we know are coming and who listen to the people who study water for a living.”
Zubia has earned the support of water professionals and leaders, including CAP Board Member Ylenia Aguilar, Ben Graff, and former Arizona Attorney General Terry Goddard.
The contradictions from Zubia's opponents are comical. At a recent candidate forum, Michelle Ugenti-Rita criticized Zubia for trusting experts, saying all she needed was "using her brain," while her running mate, Barry Graham, who has helped spread water disinformation for months, is now citing expert opinion on water issues.
“You can’t have it both ways,” Zubia said. “Either we listen to the experts or we don’t. I always have.”
ABOUT RAOUL ZUBIA:
Raoul Zubia is a lifelong resident of Scottsdale, a proud graduate of Coronado High School, and a candidate for Scottsdale City Council. Raoul is running to secure our water, defend our neighborhoods, protect our Preserve, and restore respect to City Council. Raoul believes that Scottsdale deserves leaders who listen, work together, and focus on results. He is deeply concerned about the Council’s direction. Councilmember Barry Graham’s vote to cut vital water resources and put political infighting ahead of solutions is not what Scottsdale deserves. Raoul knows that residents are tired of the drama and feeling unheard. They deserve leaders who listen and solve problems. He is ready to bring results-driven leadership back to City Hall.
