Residents for an Independent Sanitary District

Dear Residents,

The protest period has ended, and now our focus shifts to securing the necessary legal representation to protect the interests of the East Palo Alto Sanitary District (EPASD) ratepayers. As you may know, the San Mateo County Superior Court has paused the takeover of EPASD to allow for a hearing on August 16, 2024. This hearing is a crucial step in our fight against the City of East Palo Alto's proposed takeover, which poses significant financial and governance risks to our community.

We, the Residents for an Independent Sanitary District, urgently need your financial support to ensure we have the best legal representation possible. Our goal is to raise funds to cover the costs of legal counsel who will represent our case in court, highlighting the abuse of discretion by the City and protecting our community from unjust rate increases and loss of local control.

• Financial Impact: If the City takes over EPASD, sewer rates are expected to more than double, from $600 to over $1300 per year. Additionally, existing ratepayers will bear the costs of new sewer infrastructure required for large-scale developments.
• Loss of Representation: Menlo Park residents in the EPASD service area will lose their vote on sewer-related matters, resulting in taxation without representation.
• Legal Battle: We have a significant, but not impossible, burden to prove that the Local Agency Formation Commission (LAFCo) has abused its discretion under the law. Your contributions will help us build a strong legal case.

• Donate: Financial contributions are critical at this stage. Please consider donating to the Residents for an Independent Sanitary District FPPC #1457038.