More of Daniel Wiseman's DWP Videos (Click here)
DWP ON WEDNESDAY AGENDA: At L.A. City HALL, on WEDNESDAY, April 2, 2008 @ 10:00 a.m., the CITY COUNCIL will continue to hear and may approve/reject/continue CF 07-3247 (Power) and CF 07-3248 (Water) "base rate increases.
Here are copies of the 9 Amendments to City Council Files 07-3247 (DWP's Power Base Rate Increase proposal) and 07-3248 (DWP's Water Base Rate Increase proposal) in "pdf" format. Go to YouTube (MyNeighborhoodCouncil and dwisemanmd) to view videos Re: arguments describing (FOR & AGAINST) the DWP RATE INCREASES and these amendments,
They are part of the "whole" package of rate increases, proposed infrastructure improvements and proposed improved Water & Power Reliability Programs.
However, unless the City Council considers CF07-3248 (Water) first and separately from CF07-3247 (Power) of this very complex group of proposals they can't deal effectively with them.
Sometimes it seems as if the City Council would rather consider and "approve" the whole package and then move on to other matters. Approval of the DWP rate increase proposal(s) would be contrary to the specifically expressed wishes of 66 of the 75 NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS who are members of the NC-DWP Memorandum of Understanding OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE (OSC).
One argument posed by several City Council Members is that approval of the DWP base rate increases will assure the City of the desparately needed money which comes from the Power Transfer ($ 180+ million every year) and the Water Transfer ($ 30+ million, perhaps, every year). It would distract the NCs and the Public from considering the justification for the 10% Power Utility Tax (surcharge, $ 260+ million every year). These funds go to the City's General Fund where they may be used for a variety of non-water and non-power uses.
Right now, the City is $ 150+ million short of fully funding its current (FY2007-2008) Budget which goes to June 30, 2008. A $ 450+ million short-fall is predicted for next year (FY2008-2009) starting July 1, 2008. The $ 420+ million which comes from the DWP ($ 180 + $ 30 + $ 260 = $ 420) is desparately needed. However, it is the wrong money, coming from the wrong source. The DWP was created over 100 years ago to "deliver the best possible water and power to the people of Los Angeles at the lower possible cost." It WAS NOT created to provide funds to the City's General Fund for non-water and non-power uses.
Many people in the NEIGHBORHOOD COUNCILS have become much more knowledgable of the DWP and CITY BUDGET. They will be at City Hall, next Wednesday. It will probably be an important event for the entire city:
1. Do the NCs really have the ability to advise the City and have their advice heard, respected and/or followed?
2. Has the City Council taken all aspects of and all the alternatives to this important issue into consideration?
3. Will the Newspaper & Electronic Media be there and give full coverage to this "story?"
4. Will the best interests of the People of the City of Los Angeles be served.
BETTER STILL... Will you be there in City Hall?
Will you make your presence known to the City Council & to the DWP?
Will you make your own Public Comment on the issue? Write a story on the issure?
Daniel Wiseman[And Zuma Dogg would like to remind Eric Garcetti, once again...it's Dr. Wiseman, not Mr. Wiseman -- even though you refuse to acknowledge this after all this time, you small man.)
Posts
