Metheny residents, with help from California Rural Legal Assistance, sought better drinking water -- Metheny wells have nitrates, arsenic and coliform -- out of the deal. Photo by David Bacon.
November 2010
Officials were surprised to learn that the Tulare County Local Agency Formation Commission had been named "Most Effective Commission" in the state.
But they were doubly surprised when they learned who had made the recommendation: California Rural Legal Assistance, an advocacy group that's been more likely to sue the commission than sing its praises.
"It's highly unusual," said Tulare County Supervisor Allen Ishida, a commission member. "We didn't know about it. It was totally unsolicited."