ACTION ALERT: Urge LA City Council to Reboot DWP

In the coming days, Los Angeles City Council will vote on the largest power rate increase in DWP history — more than 20% over five years, totalling almost $1 billion by 2026.  While BizFed hasn't taken a position on the rate increase itself, our Board voted yesterday to strongly support the proposal to reboot DWP as outlined by Mickey Kantor and Austin Beutner, Los Angeles 2020 Commission co-chairs. The good news is that, this Friday, LA City Council's Rules Committee will consider a City Charter Amendment measure sponsored by Councilmembers Fuentes, Wesson, and O’Farrell that is substantially similar to their recommendations.  Can you please do these two things right now support a reboot of DWP? 1. Click here to email LA City Council with the following message:

"As a Los Angeles voter, I urge you to cap the amount of money — both the “transfer” and the utility tax combined — that is paid by DWP ratepayers to City Hall, use a portion of any new revenue from rate increases should to subsidize the power bills of low-income customers, create a truly independent oversight and rate-setting body for DWP, and allow DWP to do its own hiring rather than be subject to a bureaucratic civil service process.  These reforms would transform DWP into a stronger, more efficient utility — and one free from unnecessary political influence."

2. Plan to join us Friday to testify in support of rebooting DWP:

WHAT: LA City Rules Committee Special Meeting WHEN: Friday, February 19, 1 p.m. WHERE: LA City Hall, 200 N Spring St, Los Angeles - Room 340 RSVP: Rachel Horning, rachel.horning@bizfed.org