California is burning, and at the heart of this story are Stewart and Lynda Resnick, billionaires who own The Wonderful Company (Fiji Water, POM Wonderful, and Wonderful Pistachios). The Resnicks wield unprecedented control over California's water supply, a resource that belongs to the people, not billionaires. And yet, their water-intensive crops (almonds, pistachios, and citrus fruits) flourish even during the state's worst droughts, while communities struggle to keep taps running. Here's how they rob California of its water: The Kern Water Bank: A Public Resource Turned Private Wealth In a move that can only be described as a heist, the Resnicks acquired control of the Kern Water Bank, an underground reservoir, one of California's most valuable water resources. Once a public asset, it's now privately managed by the Resnicks, who decide who gets water and when. Water-Intensive Crops in a Drought-Stricken State California's almond industry alone guzzles about 10% of the state's agricultural water. Add to that pistachios, citrus, and bottled water production like Fiji. The Resnicks' crops thrive while rivers run dry and small farmers are driven out of business. Political Power and Policy Manipulation Through massive political donations, they've gained outsized influence over California's water policies, ensuring that their empire continues to grow, even as the state suffers. Greenwashing Their Way to Goodwill The Wonderful Company has invested heavily in philanthropy and sustainability campaigns. They mask their environmental destruction through "green" initiatives and donations. No individual or corporation should have the power to control a resource as vital as water. It's a public good, essential for life, and yet the Resnicks have turned it into a private commodity, prioritizing profit over people and the environment. The Resnicks have turned a life-sustaining resource into a private profit machine, choking the state's rivers, draining its reservoirs, and prioritizing their crops over communities. California's water belongs to its people, not billionaires. No family should have to choose between clean drinking water and letting pistachios flourish in the desert. No corporation should hold the key to a state's survival.