By Bruno
L.A.’s Watchdog
I occasionally drink from the toilet bowl so I may
be biased but how stupid – and arrogant – can our public servants get? Consider this story today from our ever-shrinking Dog Trainer:
“Three years after Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said city departments should not spend taxpayer money on bottled water, several municipal agencies have increased their purchases of it, according to a report released Tuesday.”
We’re facing a $1 billion deficit in LA and these knuckleheads are buying something that you can get for free from the city they work for? So it’s not bottled. Can’t they use a glass, or buy a canteen?
The Dog Trainer went on to say City Controller Laura Chick, who, by this time, most city employees hope drinks from a toilet bowl or drowns in one, found that 13 city departments spent more than $184,000 last year on bottled water.
Chick warned them in 2005 that she was watching this liquid waste and what did our city employees do? They bought even more!
“The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power provides us with some of the cleanest, healthiest and best tasting drinking water in the world,” Chick barked in a statement. “There is no reason why the city should continue purchasing large quantities of bottled water.”
I’d say there’s no reason. Chick’s “report” was one of those infamous cheap hits from her that the media love – and city employees absolutely despise. (She’s not the most popular watchdog in the City Hall kennel.) That being said, you’d think they’d be smart enough to stop walking into her traps.
(Memo to incoming City Controller Wendy Greuel: conduct the same study next year. I’ll bet you a steak bone you’ll see why Chick loved these in-depth studies.)
In 2008, the biggest purchase of bottled water was made by the city’s Department of Public Works, which spent nearly $70,000.
Chick found. Los Angeles World Airports purchased more than $31,000 of bottled water, while the Los Angeles Police Department and the Department of General Services each spent nearly $20,000; significant increases over four years ago.
The mayor, presumably working day and night to figure out new hikes in fees, rates and taxes, didn’t respond immediately.
Villaraigosa spokesman Matt Szabo said the mayor’s office is still reviewing Chick’s report. Think he drinks tap water? Yeah, right.
Grrrrrrrrr.
Ever since I read about the island of plastic waste that is as large or larger than Texas floating somewhere in the Pacific, I have sworn off water and soda in plastic bottles.
Oh look, this article says there are two Great Garbage Patches in the oceans:
http://science.howstuffworks.com/great-pacific-garbage-patch.htm
We all, Republicans and Democrats alike, have to change our evil ways when it comes to plastic. Plastic is killing our world. We lived fine without plastic bottles for many, many years. We lived without plastic grocery bags very well. We lived without plastic baggies. We used waxed paper, tin foil and Tupperware to keep food fresh.
Wouldn’t it be great if some leader(s) could take a leadership role on this issue in Southern California?
Save the world—stop buying bottled water.
Ron,
I have to tell you – I was in the Environmental Department of the City of Los Angeles one day (it’s in the City Hall down town). And I asked if they had water. I was brought a real coffee mug – with apologies – they were trying to not use bottled water.
So believe it or not, there are actually some environmentally oriented people that work in the City.
I’m sure there are some people working in the city offices who are aware of this problem, but golly, wouldn’t it be great if the city council passed legislation attaching a pollution fee to bottled water? Or lobbied Coca Cola or Pepsi and asked them to put purified water in aluminum cans and not plastic bottles?
After all, if a big city rep. approached a big corporation they might listen. But they certainly won’t listen to “crazy” Green Peace or any whacked-out environmentalist. L.A. has to give them a profit motive for changing their packaging.
March 18, 2009
LOS ANGELES
DWP approves tougher water rates to cut usage
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power commission unanimously approved new water rates Tuesday that will penalize residents if they don’t cut water use by 15%.
Many low-income users should not see a rise in rates, while some homeowners with large lots who don’t conserve can expect bills to jump $11 a month, according to the DWP. The rates will go into effect June 1 unless the City Council blocks the move.
L.A. Times
http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-new-briefs18-2009mar18,0,6655954.story
Bottled water is nickels and dimes compared to the waste in city government. Every department is bloated with layers and layers of useless and unnessary management. The budget crisis is an excellent opportunity to pare it down by at least 30%. The politicoes will first cut libraries and parks as a punishment to the public, who will react by allowing them to tax them even more. Don’t buy it. The fat needs to be cut this time.
We’ve all known for a long time that the mayor and council are putting something in the water they drink that’s probably not legal and screws up their thinking.
Grrrrr.
Your friend,
G.