Damning with faint praise (October 12, 2015)

In an address to the Victor Valley Chamber of Commerce members, Assemblyman Jay Obernolte made a few off-hand comments about the proposed hostile takeover of Apple Valley Ranchos Water Company by the Town of Apple Valley. The next day, these comments were headline material (Assemblyman discusses benefits, pitfalls of water system acquisition, Daily Press, October 8, 2015).

Adopting a balanced tone mastered by few outside of the world of politics, Obernolte urged Apple Valley residents […] to weigh both sides. He also related the fact that Big Bear spent 2½ times what it should have for its water system in 1989, and that ratepayers will still be paying off the debt until 2019.

Apple Valley Mayor Pro Tem Barb Stanton was quick to spin Obernolte’s remarks as good news for takeover advocates.

Anyone paying attention, though, would see that Obernolte — intentionally or not — damned the Town’s proposal with faint praise.

Greg Raven is Co-Chair of Apple Valley Citizens for Government Accountability, and is concerned about quality of life issues.