March 28, 2022: Blue Crown’s Thirst For Profit
You'll find this article squirreled away in the print version of the Los Angeles Tribune only, which means that relatively few of you will stumble across it. When deciding whether to react to this article, have a good think about whether your character reads the print newspaper, or if they can even read. Blue Crown's Thirst for Profit: The Environmental Impact of a Water Empire
Los Angeles, CA – In less than two decades, Blue Crown has transformed from a small water bottling company to a multinational behemoth with a dominant presence in the $500 billion bottled water industry. However, the company’s rapid rise has been marred by allegations of environmental exploitation and questionable business practices. Under the leadership of CEO Valerie Sinclair, a former Thaw Beverages executive, Blue Crown has been accused of prioritizing profit over the environment and the well-being of local communities.
In 2001, Blue Crown began extracting water from the San Bernardino National Forest, a practice that has continued despite California’s severe droughts in recent years. The company has allegedly relied on expired permits and legal loopholes to justify its water extraction activities, raising concerns among environmentalists and local residents alike.
The impact of Blue Crown’s water extraction on the San Bernardino National Forest has been significant. Local ecosystems have suffered as rivers and streams run dry, with wildlife populations declining due to the loss of essential habitats. Moreover, experts argue that the company’s actions may violate the public trust doctrine, which stipulates that certain natural resources, including water, are held in trust by the government for the benefit of the public.
In 2009, Blue Crown launched a new line of bottled water, advertised as being enhanced with vitamins and minerals for health benefits. Independent testing, however, has raised concerns about the purity of the water, with some samples found to contain trace amounts of unidentified substances. The presence of these substances in a product marketed for health-conscious consumers has cast doubt on Blue Crown’s commitment to transparency and consumer safety in the minds of some, whom the company dismisses as ‘cranks and activists’.
In 2013, amidst one of California’s most severe droughts, residents near the San Bernardino National Forest were shocked to discover that Blue Crown had continued to extract water from the already strained local sources. The company had relied on permits dating back to 1947, which had become a point of contention among local residents and environmentalists. Despite the growing concerns, Blue Crown managed to dodge any substantial repercussions by navigating the murky waters of legal loopholes and bureaucratic red tape.
One particular incident in 2017 highlights the devastating effects of Blue Crown’s water extraction on local ecosystems. A once-thriving fish population in a small stream running through the San Bernardino National Forest was nearly wiped out when the water levels dropped dramatically due to Blue Crown’s extraction activities. The stream, which had provided a critical habitat for several fish species, was reduced to a mere trickle, leaving many fish stranded in shallow pools and unable to survive.
In 2019, Robert Jeffries, a whistleblower within the ranks of the state’s regulatory agency came forward with allegations of bribery and corruption involving Blue Crown and several government officials. According to the whistleblower, certain individuals responsible for overseeing the company’s permits had accepted financial incentives in exchange for turning a blind eye to Blue Crown’s questionable extraction practices. The revelation only served to heighten public suspicion and distrust of both the company and the government officials meant to hold it accountable.
Among those implicated in the alleged bribery scandal was a high-ranking official in the state’s water resource management agency, who, according to the Mr. Jeffries, had received substantial sums of money from Blue Crown over the course of several years. “It was common knowledge within the agency that this official was on Blue Crown’s payroll,” the whistleblower claimed. “Everyone knew that as long as the money kept flowing, the company could get away with anything.” This official’s name has been omitted, since the journalist’s editorial supervisor has informed him that the Los Angeles Tribune’s liability insurance for libel has already reached its limit, this year.
In response to the allegations, a local environmental activist, Rachel Martinez, expressed her outrage: “This level of corruption is absolutely sickening. We’ve been fighting for years to hold Blue Crown accountable for the damage they’ve caused, and now we learn that the very people who are supposed to protect our environment are actually working against us.”
Despite the damning allegations, some have come to the defense of the accused officials, arguing that they have been unfairly targeted by opponents of Blue Crown. “These accusations are nothing more than a smear campaign against dedicated public servants,” said the District 8 Councilperson Chaquille Jefferson, a long-time friend of one of the implicated officials. “It’s easy to point fingers, but I know these people, and I don’t believe they would ever compromise their integrity for money.”
Blue Crown, for its part, has categorically denied any involvement in bribery or corruption. In a statement released by the company, Blue Crown spokesperson Tim Lawrence said, “These allegations are baseless and completely unfounded. Blue Crown has always adhered to the highest ethical standards, and we would never engage in any form of illegal activity.”
Sadly, Robert Jeffries died tragically last year when he was found in a flophouse in Downtown Hollywood, where he had apparently decided to take several different kinds of illegal barbiturates for the first time, injecting them one after the other into his arm, even with broken fingers on both his hands. His former colleagues were shocked and saddened by his untimely passing, yet at least for now the LAPD has ruled out the possibility of foul play. This journalist is not so sure.
Meanwhile, Blue Crown’s water extraction activities in the San Bernardino National Forest have raised questions about the company’s compliance with the public trust doctrine. A lawsuit filed in 2020 by a coalition of environmental groups and local residents accused the company of violating the doctrine by extracting water for private profit at the expense of public resources. While the case is still ongoing, it has brought the issue of corporate responsibility and the protection of natural resources to the forefront of public discourse.
Supporters of the lawsuit argue that Blue Crown’s practices undermine the public trust doctrine and set a dangerous precedent for the management of natural resources. “If Blue Crown is allowed to continue draining our public lands, what’s to stop other corporations from doing the same?” asks Grace Thompson, a local resident and plaintiff in the case. “It’s our duty as citizens to protect our natural resources, and this lawsuit is an important step in holding companies like Blue Crown accountable for their actions.”
However, not everyone shares the same sentiment. Some argue that the lawsuit is an overreaction, and that Blue Crown’s water extraction practices are necessary for meeting the water demands of the state. “We need to consider the bigger picture,” says Eugene Lowenstein, a water policy expert with the AquaClear Foundation, “While Blue Crown’s activities might be controversial, they also help ensure a reliable water supply for millions of Californians. We can’t simply shut down their operations without considering the potential consequences for our state’s water security.”
Blue Crown, for its part, maintains that its water extraction activities are both legal and environmentally responsible. In a statement released by the company, Blue Crown spokesweasel Tim Lawrence said, “We operate within the framework of the law and have always been committed to sustainable water management practices. This lawsuit is a misguided attempt to vilify our company, and we will vigorously defend our operations in the San Bernardino National Forest.”
In italics at the bottom of the article, there's a request from the author of this piece, (an extremely well known and liberal Los Angeles Tribune journalist by the name of Sandy Stachs) to call the listed number if you have any information about Blue Crown that you would like to share.