Los Angeles, CA Veteran newsman and long time editor Ron Kaye describes the role of the Department of Water and Power and current city leadership that has presided over the rapid decline of the nation's second most populous city. From 1982 to 2008 as Editor of the L. A. Daily news Kaye acquired first hand knowledge of the inner workings of Los Angeles, a city that was at one time thought of as "the shining city by the sea."
DECLINE CAUSED BY FAILED LEADERSHIP
As a long time observer of city politics who supervised all the
LA Daily News reporting for decades Ron Kaye notes that politicians and powerful public employee unions have orchestrated the city's decline while furthering their own interests. He cites the decaying infrastructure, evidenced by frequent broken water mains, absent street maintenance, neglected public parks, facilities, tree trimming, uprooted sidewalks that go untended while at the same time hefty public pensions and new public job programs have gobbled up the dwindling public purse.
PUBLIC UTILILTY IS TOOL FOR FAT CAT DONORS WITH SOLAR INVESTMENTS
Ron Kaye describes how the LADWP is being used by fat cat investors with political connections to the Mayor who claims L A will be the "greenest" city by using questionable "Roof Top" solar energy panels that have proven unable to generate power for even a city block. He points to the "short sighted" policies of Los Angeles politicians that have resulted in unsustaninable goals, implementing new fees and fines as the basic city services now must be performed by residents who have already paid for those services.
DVDS AVAILABLE ON WHOLE SERIES
The interview with Kaye is part of an on-going Full Disclosure Network® cable television series covering the politics and policies behind California's urban decline. The series is featured on community cable channels throughout California and in major U. S. Cities and on the Internet. DVDs of the full half-hour programs are available upon request.
Segment #1 "City of L A: America's Decline & Fall"
Americans Decline and Fall is symbolized by what is happening in the City of L A where the Department of Water and Power has been exploited by public employee union leaders and politicians resulting in inefficiency and higher rates.
Segment #2 Transfer of Wealth via the Department of Water & Power
Income and expenditures for the Dept. of Water and Power. Increase of discounts for low income persons, then rate increases, then expand "hardship" discounts passing on the cost to homeowners, small businesses and renter controls
Segment #3 "LA Dept. of Water & Power Leads The Government Expansion"
How to save City workers jobs? Raise the rates of Department of Water and Power to keep the spending going.
L A City Council is looking for revenue rather than serving the public. Ron Kaye exposes government policies that are self serving for government and not the people. Rev. Jeff Carr the Chief of Staff for LA Mayor is running the rate increase policy as are other General Managers in the City.
Segment #4 "Corruption Institutionalized in Los Angeles"
Leaders have no integrity and that is corrupting the L A City Government. Ron Kaye describes how the city workers are honorable but are sinking into the corruption because of the lack of integrity at the top. The system in LA is "Go along to get along" where people are feeding on grants and must go along with City Hall. Where are the "Ethics" or is there just "Municipal Socialism" by providing vast sums of money to advocates for homeless is not helping the homeless. Non profit bureaucracies are the beneficiaries. Green Energy is nothing more that "feel good" propaganda when the programs have not even been implemented and are impractical.
Segment #5: "Solar Power= 28% Risky Rate Increase to Consumers"
Ron Kaye former LA Daily News Editor, describes how the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power has bought into a "Solar Power" scheme to buy Chinese solar panels to line the Owens Valley floor and is unproven, risky and costly but will benefit the public employee unions in the Department.
Segment #6 Partisian Politics has failed America and LA: Ron Kaye
Ron Kay describes the failure of the two party system that is no longer functioning. He says a rebellion can reclaim our democratic system and describes how to do just that. The debate on public policies has been taken over by self serving politicians. He says it is up to the people to turn around their cities, starting in L A. He says L A is the leading edge of the American economic crisis.
Comments to date: 9. This is page 1 of 1.
John Cook Greenville, SC
Posted: 04:19 am [PST] on June 29 2010
Sad and incredible, too!
Marty Rowland New York City
Posted: 03:00 am [PST] on June 19 2010
I'm skeptical about any report that begins with an attack on unions and workers who are the lifeblood of LA's infrastructure systems. I studied LA's water system in my doctoral research of Tampa Bay's water system; it's impressive what the city built. The typical problem with infrastructure is that it is under valued and stored capital within the system is siphoned for too long and not allowed to be run sustainably. It's too easy for people and the political structure to think in 20 year timespans, that allow for this shortsightedness. There will always be people who are too powerful to be forced to pay their fare share of society's burdens, who think they are above the little people - unions? Give me a break. The money flowing out of a city the size of LA could and should be captured to 1) upgrade all infrastructure, 2) expand and upgrade the educational system, and 3) give all union workers a 20% pay raise. But Full Disclosure will not identify or expose the people I refer to. I'd be happy to discuss this with you. Call me at 347-368-4186
Ben Dover Los Angeles
Posted: 07:24 am [PST] on June 15 2010
Ah, so many people think that "Voting them out" will take care of the problems. Do we not learn from history? They lie, we vote, and we get screwed.
The corruption is far too deep to kick them to the curt one at a time. We are talking about every level of our State Government that needs to be stopped. From our Governor all the way down. Then you have the big business to knock down. What the hell did everyone think was going to happen? We don't have a choice in most of these matters. (Considering that DWP is the only choice in Los Angeles for water and power) They build a nice empire and slowly take over, then they close the trap on us. We have no say, and this is just one example of the strength and control ONE big business has over us. What about all the rest?
Keep dreaming. Voting isn't going to help.
Mentioning Richard Fine isn't going to help either. Every sector of the government has been contacted about the illegalitites of the Richard Fine mess, and not ONE would step in. In fact, they even covered it up more. Our legal system can destroy documents filed with the court for "protection" which would prove our cases against the courts. How is that legal? Oh, to go on about the corruption in the court...but why. When our Judicial System turned into the septic system that it is, and no one in the Government will step in and fix it, that tells me, we have already lost the war.
The rest that don't know it's been lost, are still flopping around on the floor, not realizing they've been shot. It's OVER. There is nothing left here. Move out, and let them self distruct. That is the only thing to do.
Once they have demolished themselves, because there won't be anyone else to demolish, we can come back and rebuild.
Obummer is a disgrace. Lied to the public, lies to the public, and will continue to lie. Great talker, crappy do-er. Some leader.
Michael Papas Chatsworth
Posted: 09:23 am [PST] on June 14 2010
Mr. Kaye's report on the DMP is little more than schocking and shows how corrupt the LA Times has become. It used to be a beacon of truth, now it panders to the rich and noisy. Thanks for the info.
Bonnie Riverside Ca
Posted: 07:36 am [PST] on June 14 2010
L.A. city council the mayor and Police leaders are so corrupt that do you really expect anything to run smoothly?
I hope Arizona cuts power to them.
They deserve it.
Fred Sottile Rancho Dominguez
Posted: 08:31 pm [PST] on June 13 2010
Ron kaye is right about the DWP. Demonstrate your displeasure by throwing the bums out. In fact, I say go one step further and actually contact political contestants to incumbent candidates and explain to them that you will support them either financially or through activity based upon the DWP debacle or any major issue in your own county if you are not from Los Angeles. While you're at it, mention Richard Fine. This should be done at every level of political endeavor. Whether it be mayor, councilman, Assemblyman, Senator but most importantly Judges. Yes, go to candidates for judge who oppose an incumbent and tell them that you wish to help "Throw out the trash" and thereby will donate money, make phone calls, walk the precinct or whatever is within your ability. Just that you will “turn them on” to the issue of voter disatisfaction is huge, but most importantly, you demonstrate to them that there is a movement out there that is real. That is what you can do to help and you can do it right in your own back yard. I don’t care it you are from New York City or Two Egg Florida. Go to your dude or dudette who is running for anything to unseat an incumbent and make that person a believer. In other words, don’t just vote bums out, tell them why.
Mike LA
Posted: 02:25 pm [PST] on June 13 2010
The voters deserve the government which they elect. Most LA voters are ignorant and apathetic. (i.e don’t know and don’t care). In March 2009 LA had an excellent mayoral candidate – Walter Moore who received almost 72,000 votes (if I remember correctly, only about 8% bothered to vote), Villaraigosa won with 55%, a total of about 152,000 votes. Few thousands additional votes for Walter Moore would have forced a run off election in May, in which Walter Moore would have exposed Villaraigosa, and the MSM would not be able to ignore him.
Similarly, in CD-5 David Vahedi lost to Paul Koretz by under 700 votes. Koretz was endorsed by 40 unions, the Sierra Club, etc. etc. Vahedi was endorsed by numerous homeowner associations, and Richard Riordan. Koretz is now famous for comparing Arizona SB 1070 to the beginning of Nazi Germany. The voters deserve the government they elect.
I wish I could be optimistic ....
-- "That men do not learn very much from the lessons of history is the most important of all the lessons of history."
(Aldous Leonard Huxley (1894 - 1963) )
Already gone Not in California
Posted: 02:42 pm [PST] on June 13 2010
People should really stake a stand. It is time for a revolution. Can't do it you say, I say you can if you really are fed up. How do we do it? MOVE OUT OF LOS ANGELES.
Perhaps California altogether.
California wants to protest against Arizona...We need to protest against them. So pack your stuff and move. Do not shop, live, visit, frequent, or support anything that belongs to Los Angeles County. Move your and if you own a business there, you can get better rates in another State, why do you think so many LARGE companies have relocated? Why don't the movies shoot more pictures in Los Anegels/California. Because it's too expnesive. Other states make more enticing offers.
So if you are truly sick and tired, and you want to send a message that you will not take it, then move out. Then they won't have people to force to pay astronimical taxes, pay for these pensions, pay for the outrageous salaries of the elected officials who haven't given a damn about the people screamning for change.
Oh, and you say, wait for the election? Why? Every other election has been the same. Some politicial full of hot air and empty promisies to change the world. It aint gonna happen people, so get the F-out of dodge.
Stop paying them to destroy your families, and your children's families, and so on and so on.
joebanana so. cal.
Posted: 01:42 pm [PST] on June 13 2010
And law enforcement does nothing. The federal government couldn't care less. We have a violent future I'm afraid.