Soy un perdidor

Look people, I grew up following the only football team in the Southeastern Conference that plays for a private school. I know a lost cause when I see one. When tradition, blue blazers, and a decent tailgate are involved, I can even get behind one. But this whole business with a referendum in Asheville over the fate of the water system doesn’t even come with a deviled egg. Y’all have got to drop this because it has become detrimental to your own good. Let us step back just a few steps before we go forward. First of all, it’s the “Asheville” water system because all of the independent water systems in the county chose to entrust their assets to Asheville back during the depression. The County kept the debt, the City got the hardware. The deal was, under state law, that it would stay just about the water and everything would be handled fairly. Somewhere along the way, it became about the system being a cash cow for Asheville, and a way for Weldon Weir to fund his bond-driven projects. In fairness, it became other things for the county too. All that got wrapped up into a water agreement. It was this agreement which the City broke a good six or more years back. They did not want it to be about the water anymore, they wanted it to be about the land. Specifically, they wanted to be able to use access to water to control growth outside of the borders of Asheville. From my perspective, that looks like having people for whom I cannot vote make decisions which are vital to the future of my home. Not democratic. Anyhoo, my opinion is not nearly so important as that of the Supreme Court of North Carolina, which affirmed that the original law (Sullivan Act 1) and two subsequent laws (Sullivan Acts 2 and 3) were perfectly legitimate pieces of legislation. One assumes potential subsequent pieces of legislation would be upheld by the Supreme Court as well. Legislation like the bill which will be taken up next year to transfer the water system to a regional authority to be managed by the same folks who take away your doo-doo. Given that it is likely to be introduced by a Republican in a Republican dominated legislature, the bill has a pretty good shot of succeeding. A resolution passed by the City Council tonight provides for a referendum of Asheville residents about whether or not to sell the water system. If the residents say no, and given all the rhetoric about “stealing” the water system it seems likely they will, then the City would be legally unable to negotiate the sale. This is where losing comes in. The water system is a goner. Asheville has played its hand poorly from the get-go. The folks behind the bill to transfer ownership probably want as little restriction on land as possible, and they will have an easier time with the water securely out of the hands of the City. If Asheville wants any say in the future of the water system, and thereby input into future growth on its borders, then it should not tie its hands with a referendum at this point. But if y’all just can’t let go, I understand. We might beat Tennessee this year too.