Monthly Archives: April 2009

Water Conservation: The More You Pay, the Less You Get — DWP Gets the Money, You Get the Bill

Posted on April 14, 2009 by

Last Wednesday, the City Council spent most of an hour describing a litany of DWP failings when it comes to managing our water supply and then voted unanimously to disapprove a “water shortage” rate hike intended to make up for … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Community Activists, Hot Topics, Los Angeles | Tagged , , | 6 Comments

CONFLICTED: Jonathan Parfrey as DWP Commissioner and Green LA Leader

Posted on April 13, 2009 by

When Jonathan Parfrey was named by the mayor to replace Nick Patsaouras on the DWP Commission four months ago, he vowed to give up his role as a lobbyist on environmental issues with the Liberty Hill Foundation and advocate for … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Los Angeles | Tagged , , , | 7 Comments

Contempt for Voters: DWP, Mayor Ignore Rejection of Measure B

Posted on April 13, 2009 by

“A proprietary department of the City of Los Angeles, the Port is self-supporting and does not receive taxpayer dollars.” — April 2, 2009 press release from the Port of LA announcing the DWP will give a “$3.5 million up-front cash … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Los Angeles, Solar Energy | Tagged , , , , , | 12 Comments

Spinning Antonio: Is the Mayor Tough Enough to Turn LA — or Himself — Around

Posted on April 12, 2009 by

Editor’s Note: If the mayor wants to restore his damaged credibility, he should start by naming DWP Committee President Soledad Garcia to the Board of Commissioners of the DWP so ratepayers will have a voice in policy.Evidence is mounting that … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Hot Topics, Los Angeles | Tagged , , , , , , , | 5 Comments

Antonio’s Song and Dance, Part Two: “It’s All About Me”

Posted on April 10, 2009 by

“We are so vain that we even care for the opinion of those we don’t care for.” — German novelist  Marie Von Ebner-Eschenbach. Faced with an admitted budget deficit of $530 million that is rising rapidly and doubling and tripling … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Hot Topics, Los Angeles | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments

Naked City: Dirty Deals and

Posted on April 9, 2009 by

The Operators Behind MTA’s Rail Car Deal Beth Barrett in the LA Weekly goes behind the scenes of Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa’s back room maneuvering to keep a $300 million deal for new rail cars in the hands of the Italian … Continue reading →

Posted in Los Angeles, Naked City | 27 Comments

WATER UPDATE: Council Rejects Rate Hike — For Now

Posted on April 8, 2009 by

Reflecting the intensity of community concerns, the City Council voted unanimously Wednesday to reject the DWP’s water shortage rate hikes but agreed to revisit the issue next week. It was clear from the debate that the DWP’s legacy of failures … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Community Activists, Los Angeles | Tagged , , , | 8 Comments

ACTION ALERT: Hosing the Public: The Mad Rush to Hike Water Rates Again

Posted on April 8, 2009 by

In the name of conservation, the City Council meeting is set today to approve yet another water rate increase to feed the DWP and pay the soaring salaries of its IBEW workers. So much for all the talk about openness … Continue reading →

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Antonio’s Song and Dance — Money, Money, Money

Posted on April 7, 2009 by

Editor’s Note: The chart below shows just how LA’s dire financial condition will begin a catastrophe that will force the city into bankruptcy in a few years if dramatic steps are not taken now. The charts, part of a presentation … Continue reading →

Posted in City Hall, Hot Topics, Los Angeles | Tagged , , , , , | 7 Comments

Real Solar Energy Efforts and the DWP’s Dirty Little Deal with the IBEW

Posted on April 6, 2009 by

“As a matter of fact we have an agreement with the IBEW that (under) the 20 percent by 2010 (renewable energy) standard, 40 percent will be owned or will be optioned to be owned (by the DWP) in recognition of … Continue reading →

Posted in Hot Topics, Los Angeles, Solar Energy | Tagged , , , , , | 6 Comments