Bring it on -- we beat you at the polls and we'll beat you in the mail!
That's my attitude to the latest audacious plan of the mayor and City Council to rob the public because they have failed in their sworn duty to serve the people.
This gang of 16 has stolen the trash fee they tripled to supposedly hire more cops so they could fund their sweetheart contracts with unions, contractors and consultants.
They have violated the law by stealing $30 million a year from water service charges to pay inflated salaries. And when they still ran out of money, they turned the entire DWP into a cash cow that squeezes every resident and business already struggling to make ends meet.
And still it's not enough.
So now they want to corrupt the election laws by holding an unprecedented citywide mail-in election to skirt the taxpayer protections in the state Constitution to gouge even more money out of the public to cover up the $530 million budget deficit they created with their irresponsible actions.
They have nothing but contempt for the law and the people of LA.
On Monday, the mayor's cronies on the Board of Public Works approved a plan to seek a four-fold increase in the storm-water pollution fee to pay the salaries of workers engaged in cleanup projects that are funded by a $500 million bond issue voters approved five years ago.
The increase would free up nearly $25 million to pay the six-figure salaries of the Public Works board and to cover up the waste and inefficiency and misguided policies.
And they don't even want to allow a public discussion.
Today, the City Council put the measure on Budget and Environment committees' agenda as a special item for Friday with the intent of hurriedly rushing it to the council next Tuesday so that ballots can be sent to the city's 788,620 properties owners by June at a cost of $450,000.
It's Measure B all over again and the fate will be the same.
This has as much due process in it as an armed robbery on the street: Give me your money or your life.
This is nothing but a betrayal of public trust, a dirty trick, more poisonous to the health of the city than the polluted runoff.
It allows them to win approval of the increase from $23 to $99 per property (a fee charged regardless of value or size) with a simple majority rather than the otherwise required two-thirds majority.
We already are paying $500 million for the infrastructure of this because we want clean waterways as much as we want clean water to drink and clean air to breathe.
We want those just as we want safe streets, good schools, healthy neighborhoods and good jobs. But we're fed up with being robbed and deceived time after time.
Let them clean up the mess they have made of city government before they come asking for anymore money. We are willing to pay but we're not willing to be robbed.
If City Hall doesn't understand the mood of the people struggling financially in these terrible economic tmes, they will have to learn the hard way.
That's my attitude to the latest audacious plan of the mayor and City Council to rob the public because they have failed in their sworn duty to serve the people.
This gang of 16 has stolen the trash fee they tripled to supposedly hire more cops so they could fund their sweetheart contracts with unions, contractors and consultants.
They have violated the law by stealing $30 million a year from water service charges to pay inflated salaries. And when they still ran out of money, they turned the entire DWP into a cash cow that squeezes every resident and business already struggling to make ends meet.
And still it's not enough.
So now they want to corrupt the election laws by holding an unprecedented citywide mail-in election to skirt the taxpayer protections in the state Constitution to gouge even more money out of the public to cover up the $530 million budget deficit they created with their irresponsible actions.
They have nothing but contempt for the law and the people of LA.
On Monday, the mayor's cronies on the Board of Public Works approved a plan to seek a four-fold increase in the storm-water pollution fee to pay the salaries of workers engaged in cleanup projects that are funded by a $500 million bond issue voters approved five years ago.
The increase would free up nearly $25 million to pay the six-figure salaries of the Public Works board and to cover up the waste and inefficiency and misguided policies.
And they don't even want to allow a public discussion.
Today, the City Council put the measure on Budget and Environment committees' agenda as a special item for Friday with the intent of hurriedly rushing it to the council next Tuesday so that ballots can be sent to the city's 788,620 properties owners by June at a cost of $450,000.
It's Measure B all over again and the fate will be the same.
This has as much due process in it as an armed robbery on the street: Give me your money or your life.
This is nothing but a betrayal of public trust, a dirty trick, more poisonous to the health of the city than the polluted runoff.
It allows them to win approval of the increase from $23 to $99 per property (a fee charged regardless of value or size) with a simple majority rather than the otherwise required two-thirds majority.
We already are paying $500 million for the infrastructure of this because we want clean waterways as much as we want clean water to drink and clean air to breathe.
We want those just as we want safe streets, good schools, healthy neighborhoods and good jobs. But we're fed up with being robbed and deceived time after time.
Let them clean up the mess they have made of city government before they come asking for anymore money. We are willing to pay but we're not willing to be robbed.
If City Hall doesn't understand the mood of the people struggling financially in these terrible economic tmes, they will have to learn the hard way.
Ron Kaye is the former editor of the Los Angeles Daily News where he spent 23 years helping to make the newspaper the voice of the San Fernando Valley and fighting for a city government that serves the people and not special interests.
Twice in recent years, Los Angeles Magazine listed Kaye among the city’s most influential people, specifically in the area of politics. Kaye has been variously described in the media as the “accidental anarchist,” “the Patrick Henry of the San Fernando Valley” and a “passionate populist.” He is now committed to
carrying on his crusade for a greater Los Angeles as an ordinary citizen. Previously, Ron worked at the Los Angeles Herald Examiner,
Associated Press, Cleveland Plain Dealer and The Australian as well as papers
in Fairbanks, Alaska and Yakima, Wash. He also wrote for Newsweek magazine, The Guardian in London and the National Enquirer.
Ratepayers are already paying out $550 million dollars per year to Bureau of Sanitation for the sewer service charges. This money is supposed to go for the infrastructure of the sewer system and filtration plants.
Instead it's been going to high paid Public Works Bureau of Sanitation salaries, wasted programs, and high non-bid sub contractors. Laura Chick has not reported on any audit of Bureau of Sanitation. I have requested Wendy Gruel to do so when she takes office as Controller. Let's see if she becomes transparent and reports on exactly where this sewer service charge revenue is really going?
In the mean time they have the audacity to raise from $28 to $99 per property taxes of single family homes. The administration has the nerve to spend $800,000 to mail out a vote on this issue. What a waste of money. My answer is Vote NO on Stormwater tax increase. Use the money Bureau of Sanitation has already collected from the sewer service charges. The last ten years represents $5.5 billion dollars. The sewer systems in Los Angeles are crumbling and need work. I ask you Board of Public Works Commissioner Cynthia M. Ruiz and Bureau of Sanitation Director Enrique C. Zaldivar Enrique where has all of these billions of dollars gone???
California Utility Services 1-800-400-1727 can get you a DWP Water Sub Meter. You can reduce your sewer service charges up to 80%. Stop your cash from going down the drain. We do it all for you. We get you a DWP water sub meter, LADBS permit, and install by licensed and bonded plumber. We check your water line configuration for free. Make sure you will benefit and pay yourself back quickly. We have thousands of satisfied customers. We are professionals that get it right the first time.
CALL NOW 1-800-400-1727
visit www.cautilityservices.com or email: leonard@cautilityservices.com
Conserve Water ask about our water audit. We offer all plumbing services.
Poster 1 wrote: "California Utility Services 1-800-400-1727 can get you a DWP Water Sub Meter. You can reduce your sewer service charges up to 80%. Stop your cash from going down the drain. We do it all for you. We get you a DWP water sub meter, LADBS permit, and install by licensed and bonded plumber. We check your water line configuration for free. Make sure you will benefit and pay yourself back quickly."
Thanks for the info. I will call.
Question: Do I already have that when I got an ag rate for my property?
$24 Million Dollars.
Can Los Angeles Gangs Be Redeemed With Mayor's $24 Million Dollar Program?
According to Sgt. Valdemar, a retired L.A. Sheriff and Gang Specialist, indicates that by paying gang members will assist the gang members in furthering their organized crime.
Full Disclosure “the news behind the news”
http://www.fulldisclosure.net/Programs/530.php
Issues Wire.com
http://issueswire.com/releases/Gangs_OrganizedCrime/Intervention_Enforcement/prweb2008634.htm
At the Friday afternoon special meeting of the Budget and Energy & Environmental Committees, public comment was confined to one minute. Eventually, the Committees voted out this poorly documented and presented "plan" without recommendation, but not after many, well deserved, on point critical comments.
The members were not pleased with the Bureau of Sanitation or the mayor who are putting them in a position to make a rushed decision on a 20 year, $8 billion project without adequate information. Of course, the excuse was the mayor just realized the severity of the problem! Is the $25 million that this tax will raise absolutely necessary or can it be delayed a year?
The rush to pass this new tax is that it will help finance Santitation operations with off balance sheet taxes and the issuance of new debt.
Members were concerned whether this measure would pass given the more conservative nature of the property owners. Rightfully so.
This last minute attempt to raise taxes is another example of the Mayor's lack of understanding of the City and its economics, confirming the view of The Los Angeles Times.