Environmental justice and quality must be balanced

In Peter Drekmeier’s Jan. 23 Opinion piece, “Water District lawsuit jeopardizes future projects,” he states the Santa Clara Valley Water District made a grave miscalculation. He’s clearly forgotten the environmental community includes environmental justice proponents.

The real grave miscalculation is his threatening to sink flood protection and local funding measures that protect Santa Clara County’s underserved communities, such as those impacted by poverty, who need reliable water.

In many communities, it is easier to find a bag of Cheetos than a carton of strawberries. This will worsen with drought and increased flood risks.

Santa Clara County’s most vulnerable residents can’t afford solutions that make this problem worse. I’m glad the water district is considering the environmental justice impacts of its decision. Santa Clara County residents value both priorities — environmental justice and environmental quality. There’s a balanced way to achieve both.

— The Rev. Jethroe Moore, president, San Jose/Silicon

Valley NAACP, San Jose