Los Angeles Measure B Opponents Lack Substantial Arguments Against Proposal

The voters in the City of Los Angeles will be considering Measure B on the March 3, 2009 Los Angeles election ballot.  This measure has become quite controversial over the past few weeks because of sensation developed by the measure’s opposition.  They make many claims arguing against the measure because of political fallout related to the approval of the measure for the election.  These arguments include discussion of corruption and deceit on the part of Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power and the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Union.  Aside from the personal attacks on the individuals responsible for the proposal, Measure B’s opponents fail to make any substantial arguments against the proposal having to deal with the goals of the proposal or the process of implementation.

Read our endorsement of Measure B.

Read the official language on Measure B.

Let’s review a few of the opposition arguments:

1.  Villaraigosa and the IBEW are making a power grab.

First let me clarify that I am a registered Republican and did not vote for Antonio Villaraigosa, nor do I have any association to any union (in fact I have written about my concerns with unions on many occasions and I endorse Walter Moore for Mayor of Los Angeles).  Despite not choosing Villaraigosa as my pick for Mayor, I still choose to support him in situations where I feel he is doing what is best for the City.

The Measure B opponents claim that Antonio Villaraigosa is making a backroom deal with the IBEW Union.  I have no knowledge of this.  Here is what I do know– it doesn’t matter to me who installs these solar panels.  I want the City of Los Angeles to have 400 Megawatts of solar power which Measure B plans to create.  Even if the IBEW increases their political influence in the City, does it matter?  The cost of getting that solar power is adding more IBEW jobs to the Department of Water and Power, and that is a fair trade to me.

2.  The Proposal Circumvented the Normal Initiative Process

This one is true.  The normal process for putting an initiative on the ballot was skipped for Measure B.  Why was this done?  Well I can only speculate, but I imagine it was probably to keep hands out of the cookie jar and to streamline the process.  The more approvals that are needed, the less likely the measure would ever make it to ballot.  Ratepayer advocates or environmentalists would use political sway to amend the proposal to make it suit their needs, whatever they are.  This might be considered similar to the previous argument in my rationalization of supporting it.  I may not like how the Mayor went about this, but I understand it and believe that the goal of developing Solar Power is more important than making sure the normal crowd of opinions feel that they were given an opportunity for input.

3.  There is no plan for implementation of Measure B

There is a plan for implementation of Measure B, in fact there are guidelines for the development of the plan written in the Measure’s language:

Sec. 23.157. The Green Energy and Good Jobs for Los Angeles Program Plan.
(a) The Board shall develop and adopt a Plan to implement the requirements of this article. The Board shall present the Plan to the Council and  Mayor within 90 days of the effective date of this ordinance.
(b) The Plan shall, at a minimum, contain the following:
(1) Proposed time lines and benchmarks for the phased implementation of a Green Energy and Good Jobs for Los Angeles Program that produces at least 400 MW of electric generation capacity by 2014 from solar power installations installed pursuant to this article.
(2) Proposed incentives, lease payments, rebates, loans, credits, or other assistance available to program participants.
(3) Proposed financing of initial Program start-up and continuing costs that gives the Department the necessary flexibility to submit a thorough and diversified financial plan to the Board and Council, which factors in existing resources, cash capital, state and federal grants, tax subsidies and revenue bonds.
(4) Proposed timeline for development and implementation of an academy to train Department employees and other persons hired or contracted to install solar power installations. The Plan shall include provisions, consistent with hiring and contracting provisions described in Section 23.167, to begin installation, operations, maintenance, and repair of the solar power installations while the training academy is implemented.
(5) Proposed citywide outreach program to recruit, hire, and train Department employees and other persons hired or contracted to install solar power installations sufficient to satisfy the requirements of this article. The Plan shall expressly provide for making such outreach, recruitment, training, and hiring programs available through the City consistent with Section 23.160(b )(3), and include proposals for monitoring the effectiveness of such efforts.
(6) Proposed outreach programs to identify, communicate with, and educate potential program participants about the availability and benefits of participation in the Program.
(7) Any such other information as is necessary to adequately inform the Council of the financial, human, and capital resources necessary for timely and efficient implementation of the Program.

The plan is vague.  It says that the LADWP will develop a plan meeting certain minimum requirements and have the City Council approve it.  This is really as specific as you would want the plan to be.  This allows the administrators within the city develop the specifics and gives some flexibility to them to determine the best way to implement the new law within certain guidelines.  What we don’t want is a law that is too specific and hinders those charged with implementation of the law from being effective at their job.

4.  The Measure writes a “Blank Check” to the LADWP

The measure does allow the City to take out bonds or generate other revenues (increase rates) in order to fund the project if it goes over budget.  From the language of the measure:

SEC. 23.159. Financing.
Within 90 days after the Council adopts the Green Energy and Good Jobs for Los Angeles Program Plan or the Plan is deemed adopted, as set forth in Section 23.158, the Department shall submit a thorough and diversified financial plan to the Board and Council, which factors in existing resources, cash capital, state and federal grants, tax subsidies and revenue bonds. The Department shall also inform the Board and Council of any potential rate impact associated with the financial plan and if a rate adjustment is needed to support the Program.

This means the city council will receive a budget from the LADWP regarding how the City will pay for the plan and how the rates will be affected.  The good news is the the LADWP says they can absorb the initial costs and that the cost of solar power is expected to be cheaper than our current fossil fuel sources in the long run– meaning rates should remain stable.

This language might also create a mandate on the part of the LAWDP to justify increased expenses or face lawsuits from ratepayer advocates.  The burden of proof in justifying cost is on the part of the LADWP, not ratepayers.  This means that as long as the City has responsible ratepayer advocates rates should remain fair and the project should remain within budget.

Support Measure B

Any plan as large as Measure B to develop renewable energy will have significant opposition, but the benefits of Measure B are great and shouldn’t be muddled in the conspiracy claims of the opponents.