The `truth' behind Measure M

On the March ballot, you will see Measure M. The measure reads as follows:

“Shall the measure authorizing the city of Woodland to accept at least $300,000,000 in federal and state contribution, or up to 99% of the project costs, to provide flood control for the city of Woodland and authorizing construction of the Lower Cache Creek Flood Risk Management Project, as outlined in the measure, be adopted?

At first, you may think, “Hey, why not accept a bunch of cash? What's the harm?” Let me tell you why.

This money does not exist. The city of Woodland was relying on a state bill to fund the project, but it FAILED in 2023 leaving Woodland to pay. If the money is not there, the city will use countless millions of OUR MONEY to build the floodwall through taxation! What is this floodwall anyway?

This is the same floodwall the Woodland voters twice voted down. In fact, in 2022, the Yolo County Superior Court ruled that the city was violating the voters' decision by continuing to take action when the citizens had decisively said, “No Floodwall or Any Like Structure.” Yet here we go again.

The city is now attempting to authorize its floodwall by cloaking it in promises of a blank check from the feds and state that doesn't exist. Think of how hundreds of millions of our tax dollars could better be used to help our community than one that favors developers by allowing them to build in a floodplain, creating urban sprawl, and destroying small family farms.

So basically, Measure M should really read:

“Shall the measure be adopted that would authorize the city of Woodland to build a floodwall, which the citizens of Woodland have already voted down twice, of which they have not secured the $300,000,000 funding to build but can always tax the citizens later?”

Without a straight answer from the city on what Woodland might really pay for the floodwall, vote No on Measure M and urge fellow citizens to do the same.

— By Cathy Mullanix,

Woodland