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Thursday, January 29, 2009

The Final Word on Measure B and the DWP MOU from Soledad Garcia

Dear Colleagues,

Many emails have been circulating on Section 6.2 of the MOU as to whether 14 days advance notice to DWP is applicable to Measure B. The Oversight Committee did not initiate clarification because it is already a ballot initiative. Additionally, DWP denies having any accountability for Measure B. The DWP gives full credit to the Mayor and to the City Council.

In my opinion, NCs that have not voted to oppose Measure B, should decide for themselves if they wish to extend DWP a courtesy notification by adding one day to the normal 72 hours, as advance notice to the DWP Liaison.

As Chair of the NC/LADWP Oversight Committee, I seek the continued implementation of the MOU through established MOU channels. Likewise, should the DWP wish to change the Document, there is an established MOU procedure. Disagreements with DWP's interpretation of the Document and lack of compliance will continue to be brought before the MOU Oversight Committee and submitted to the LADWP.

Sincerely,


Soledad S. Garcia
Chair, NC/DWP MOU Oversight

NC/DWP MOU Oversight Committee

Labels: , ,

9 Comments:

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Let Me Help You with the Facts, Jim

By Todd Royal

(Note: This is a response to the Jim Alger commentary in CityWatch “Attacks on IBEW Union Ridiculous.”)

Jim I respectfully say to you, “please get out of the political activist business”. No one is attacking nurses, police, firemen, teachers, single mothers, or whoever else you can dream up to be another victim. Neighborhood Councils are suppose to have been notified by the LA DWP based upon our Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU means we and our neighborhoods should’ve been notified about a multimillion dollar solar initiative that has no track record, transparency or accountability. Those are the facts.

Maybe Jim you believe in the benevolence and efficiency of government but as one who is having the largest development in Los Angeles’s history – the Metro Universal Studio Project – shoved down Studio City’s throat, you’ll forgive me for wanting transparency, the proper notification of Neighborhood Councils and wanting to know the true cost of the solar project.

Now let’s get to the facts about “demonizing”, “scoring cheap political points”, “special interests”, “big labor unions” and “corporate interests” in regards to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). In 2006 Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said in the Daily News, “Accountability and transparency are fundamental to good government”. Really? Then let’s have hearings, the release of Eric Garcetti’s report about this solar initiative, who wants these solar panels and why – and the list could keep on going. I’ve read the report and there is a section that implicitly states our rates can and probably will go up to pay for these solar panels.

Now here are the facts about the IBEW as it relates to this project. The IBEW has already given thousands of dollars to put this measure on the ballot and plans on dumping hundreds of thousands more to see it passed. The IBEW at taxpayer expense will have a solar academy funded for them to train new and existing IBEW members. And lastly it isn’t a coincidence that the IBEW are some of the best paid city workers and in a recession they received a 5.9% raise last year. If the Mayor and City Council get this initiative passed then they can count of numerous fundraisers, campaign flyers distributed and who knows what else courtesy of the IBEW.

Civic leaders, political activists and ordinary citizens should ask questions and receive as much information as possible to make informed decisions. In this era of trillion dollar deficits and a recession that could last years do we want ratepayers hit with higher bills to pay for a solar program that may or may not deliver the energy Los Angeles needs?

Not this way that’s for sure.

(Todd Royal is a board member on the Studio City Neighborhood Council and Chairman of the Transportation Committee. He can be reached at troyal@scnc.infoThis email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it )

CityWatch
Vol 7 Issue 9
Pub: Jan 30, 2009

January 30, 2009 12:13 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

WE DON'T CARE ANYMORE! Seriously Higby, 3 days of this pissing contest? No one cares anymore. She has an "opinion", he has an "opinion" the DWP has an "opinion" NONE of which are "the final word."

Measure B is going to pass. Get used to it.

January 30, 2009 1:03 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Soledad Garcia is not authorized to speak on behalf of the Oversight committee. But Higby will post anything and everything thaat pushes his opinion down everone's throat.

January 30, 2009 1:06 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

OK so Garcia, Alger, and all the NC folks hold the opinion the MOU shouldn't apply.

On the other side the DWP says it does but has reduced its requested notification from 14 days to 4.

Alger recommends to NC's that should they comply with the DWP's request they should give them 4 days notice and explains how to go about it.

Garcia says the NC's could "extend a courtesy" to the DWP and give them 4 days notice.

So what the hell is the problem? They're all saying the samd F*$!ing thing. How much hair-splitting are we going to do here, and for how many more days?

Zuma Dogg recorded a plane crash yesterday and got his mug on NBC - much more interesting than this crap.

January 30, 2009 1:27 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Just when you thought it was not possible for anyone to do this, Jim Alger has probably achieved an approval rating lower than Governor Blago.

January 30, 2009 8:58 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

8:58 In your wet Dreams. Jim has been the only person to provide honest, direct guidance to our Neighborhood Council. He is not advocating any position beyond us following the rules, which we appreciate.

As he stated in his email, "opinions" don't matter, he merely stated the actual FACTS. I don't understand why Soledad didn't straighten this out 3 or 4 months ago. Instead, Alger has been left to clean up the mess and then gets berated by jack-asses like you for taking the time to do it.

January 30, 2009 11:55 AM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Gee who do you think 11:55 is? Jim Alger for Council Chairman?

January 30, 2009 5:23 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Let Me Help You with the Facts, Jim
By Todd Royal

(Note: This is a response to the Jim Alger commentary in CityWatch “Attacks on IBEW Union Ridiculous.”)

Jim I respectfully say to you, “please get out of the political activist business”. No one is attacking nurses, police, firemen, teachers, single mothers, or whoever else you can dream up to be another victim. Neighborhood Councils are suppose to have been notified by the LA DWP based upon our Memorandum of Understanding (MOU). The MOU means we and our neighborhoods should’ve been notified about a multimillion dollar solar initiative that has no track record, transparency or accountability. Those are the facts.

Maybe Jim you believe in the benevolence and efficiency of government but as one who is having the largest development in Los Angeles’s history – the Metro Universal Studio Project – shoved down Studio City’s throat, you’ll forgive me for wanting transparency, the proper notification of Neighborhood Councils and wanting to know the true cost of the solar project.

Now let’s get to the facts about “demonizing”, “scoring cheap political points”, “special interests”, “big labor unions” and “corporate interests” in regards to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW). In 2006 Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa said in the Daily News, “Accountability and transparency are fundamental to good government”. Really? Then let’s have hearings, the release of Eric Garcetti’s report about this solar initiative, who wants these solar panels and why – and the list could keep on going. I’ve read the report and there is a section that implicitly states our rates can and probably will go up to pay for these solar panels.

Now here are the facts about the IBEW as it relates to this project. The IBEW has already given thousands of dollars to put this measure on the ballot and plans on dumping hundreds of thousands more to see it passed. The IBEW at taxpayer expense will have a solar academy funded for them to train new and existing IBEW members. And lastly it isn’t a coincidence that the IBEW are some of the best paid city workers and in a recession they received a 5.9% raise last year. If the Mayor and City Council get this initiative passed then they can count of numerous fundraisers, campaign flyers distributed and who knows what else courtesy of the IBEW.

Civic leaders, political activists and ordinary citizens should ask questions and receive as much information as possible to make informed decisions. In this era of trillion dollar deficits and a recession that could last years do we want ratepayers hit with higher bills to pay for a solar program that may or may not deliver the energy Los Angeles needs?

Not this way that’s for sure.

(Todd Royal is a board member on the Studio City Neighborhood Council and Chairman of the Transportation Committee. He can be reached at troyal@scnc.infoThis email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it )

CityWatch
Vol 7 Issue 9
Pub: Jan 30, 2009

January 30, 2009 5:24 PM  

Anonymous Anonymous said:

Todd Royal is an idiot. He starts his entire statement with a falsehood; "Neighborhood Councils are suppose to have been notified by the LA DWP based upon our Memorandum of Understanding (MOU"

No they weren't. The MOU requires DWP to notify NC's before the DWP takes action, not the City Council. The fact is the MOU oversight group dropped the ball and didn't make any of this an issue months ago. Now, Alger came in and had to fix their mistakes. I hope he does run for chair, the last and only fights the NC's ever won against DWP was when Jim Alger was running them.

January 30, 2009 9:58 PM  

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