Board extends contract amid protests
The Saint Paul Board of Water Commissioners voted July 14 to renew a five-year contract with Israeli cybersecurity company Waterfall Security Solutions after an hours-long public hearing that board President Chris Tolbert described as the most well-attended meeting in the board’s history.
The public chamber was crowded with residents and organized groups opposing and supporting the renewal. Activists from Women Against Military Madness (WAMM) mobilized for the meeting; more than 50 people delivered testimony opposing the contract, the group said. Supporters also appeared, carrying signs and urging the board to maintain the cybersecurity agreement.
Arguments on both sides
Opponents told the board they object to Waterfall because of its alleged ties to the Israeli military and argued public tax dollars should not fund companies they say enable human rights abuses. Proponents framed the contract as a matter of essential infrastructure protection and warned that canceling the agreement would be political and could cross into antisemitism, according to attendees.
- WAMM: organized calls, petitions and regular attendance at board meetings for over a year.
- Opposition testimony: more than 50 speakers delivered statements against the renewal.
- Supporters: showed with pro-contract signs and contested claims connecting the contract to broader politics.
“They may have a few people who are pro-genocide, but these are all people who are against genocide. I also have a picture of a child who was recently killed,”
The remark was delivered by WAMM member Debra Larson during testimony, expressing the visceral nature of objections from opponents.
Board action and next steps
After public comment, board Vice President Nelsie Yang, who also serves on the St. Paul City Council, attempted to reduce the contract term from five years to two years so the board would have an earlier opportunity to revisit the agreement. Yang’s amendment failed to receive a second and did not proceed. The board then moved to approve the five-year renewal.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Contracted vendor | Waterfall Security Solutions (Israeli firm) |
| Contract length | 5 years |
| Public speakers opposing | More than 50 |
| Notable board action | Failed amendment to shorten contract to 2 years |
The decision leaves in place the utility’s relationship with Waterfall for a multi-year period. Board members did not, during the meeting, adopt a revised timeframe for review, meaning the contract will remain in force unless altered by future board action or other legal or administrative steps.
Local stakes and wider context
The Board of Water Commissioners governs the public water utility serving St. Paul and surrounding suburbs; decisions about cybersecurity vendors touch on both system reliability and the ethical scrutiny of municipal contracting. For local residents, the vote determines the vendor responsible for protecting critical control systems. For the city and region, it highlights tensions over how municipal procurement intersects with international politics and community advocacy.
The meeting underscored growing civic engagement in utility governance and the complex choices boards face when security needs and public protest collide. Board members who opposed the amendment signaled a preference for stability in vendor relationships; opponents said the contract’s length and the vendor’s affiliations warranted closer scrutiny.
Future meetings may revisit the contract either through formal board proposals or continued public pressure. Meanwhile, the decision takes effect under the existing renewal terms approved July 14.
