Los Angeles DWP in Crisis
By Nicole Belle Friday Jul 27, 2007 1:31pm(Guest Blogged by Julia Rosen)
Our infrastructure is aging across the country, case in point the explosion in New York the other week. In Los Angeles, the workers at the Department and Water and Power have been warning for years that the DWP is just not prepared to respond to a heat wave, let alone a major disaster like a heat wave. They have no idea where the weak points in the system are, and equipment is decades past life expectancy. The DWP is vastly undermanned and it is putting the power supply and safe drinking water for millions at risk.
The workers have produced a video to draw public attention to the issue before it is too late. As one worker so bluntly puts it: "The infrastructure is on it's last legs. It is ready to take a dump."
The time to fix it is now, before the next disaster strikes. Watch the video and pass it along.
Go here for more information.
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Ummm...link? What IS DWP? Has the world gone mad? Lol.
I'll second that, what is DWP???
"Dames With Penises?"
It's Driving While Popular. That's why so many airhead celebrities get busted drunk driving.
DWP = Department of Water and Power
DWP
Drunk While Partying
Cracks me up when C&L gets all anagram-happy.
Los Angeles Department of Water & Power
Nicole seems to be in a bizarre head space this morning. Or is it evening? Or is it Yesterday, Today? Or Tomorrow?
Okay, I'll be the one. DWP is the Department of Water and Power. Should be the DoWaP. So what is the crisis? Why no story?
I was little late I see.
Doo-wop is in crisis in L.A? Nooooooo.....
Los Angeles
Arthritis Index
Today: Moderate
Oh wait we are entering a Full Moon phase today.
The Honorable Jerry Brown, Attorney General
Attorney General's Office
California Department of Justice
Attn: Public Inquiry Unit
P.O. Box 944255
Sacramento, CA 94244-2550
Please write to AG Jerry Brown (the former governor) and ask him to prosecute Sequoia, Diebold, and Hart for CONTRACT FRAUD, seeking refunds and damages for their laughably faulty equipment,
and also to open investigations into the business ties of Registrars of Voters in California who have abused their offices LOBBYING for these illegal votefraud machines, and for their violations of the California constitution and relevant voting rights statutes. Thank you.
Refer him to the study: http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/elections_vsr.htm
READ THE SUMMARY (it's quite shocking): http://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/voting_systems/ttbr/red_overview.pdf
Doo-wop? I'm still watin' to find out who put da' Ram in da' Ram-a-lam-a-ding-dong.
No, it was the cats from the previous post that are messing things up around here :-)
If Nicole shows up with her nose bandaged...
http://www.dailykos.com/story/2007/7/25/182615/397
hehe Let me be the first to guess. The icecaps on the mountains where they get their water are melting/receding and drying up. No more wawa for LA. If I’m right do I get a prize??
jones @ 9:
DoWap? Is that like Doo-Wop?
I agree, as a musical form, doo-wop has been in a crisis for years. At least since the British Invasion.
jones @ 9:
More:
http://www.knbc.com/news/13697966/detail.html
I had that crisis once - the dwp, dwp, dwp of excess stomach acid.
Moderator, can't this just be deleted until it is a proper entry?
[Only a couple people have that power. Sitemonitors aren't either of them...I let Nicole know-hey we all make mistakes and it's on track now-Sitemonitor]
Under the republican war machine, America's infrastructure is falling apart due to lack of maintenance and funding. (Bridges falling apart, roads crumbling, sewer systems collapsing, steam lines exploding etc.) Get used to it all you supporters of republicans.
Tom @ 22:
It's lunch out there.
I assumed that DWP was a reference to BushCo.
Drunk With Power
Tom @ 22:
LINK AT 20.
You can thank Cheap Labor Capitalism for this mess.
WHAAAAA! BUT I DON'T WANT TO PAY TAXES! whaaaaaa!
just thought I would give the repugnacan rebuttal.
You gotta love how they have to hide their identities or they'd be fired...
As BushCo continues to lead America to hell in a handbasket our national infrastucture is crumbling. We need a lot of stuff fixed but the Black Hole that is Iraq will keeps sucking us dry.
The best we can do is to rid our gov't of that party that believes gov't will always fail because it's impossible to make something succeed if you think it absolutely will not succeed.
Sorry folks, I should have added (DWP) after the Department of Water and Power at the top. Thanks to Paul in LA and conservNOT for the links.
I really wouldn't want to own property in the Southwest of the US. In 20-30 years time, there are going to be many ghost towns in that part of the country. Where all those refugees are going to resettle is beyond me as the rest of the country will not want them.
ckerst @ 29:
And just cutting taxes for the very rich will solve this and any other problem.
That is devastating clip, DWP and the LA politicians should be held accountable!
It seems that this is not just L.A's problem, but an issue that our whole country is facing for the future. It will cost more in taxes, but it will also create more jobs that can't be outsourced.
If my state wasn't stupid enough to vote for Arnie, the DWP might be more likely to get funding.
That isnt the problem Nicolle. The problem is people have been taught that taxes are stealing, or a way to make them pay for bums who wont work, or fill in the blank. People (some at least) either dont give a damn about civil society - including embracing the least of us - or they dont understand the role of government/taxes in creating and maintaining civil society.
Educating people is the solution.
IMO, you either sign on and agree to be an actrive 'paying' member of civil society - which cares for infrastructure and the least of us etc - or you should be excluded from civil society.
Think about it, what group complains about mexicans - nonamericans - coming here and using 'our' schools and hospitals that 'we' pay for? If they arent will to pay themselves in the form of taxes ... how are they any different from those they criticise?
... and this, someone - taxpayers - built the system ... someone - taxpayers - will fix the system ... at higher cost than if it had been maintained to begin with === more money.
With the exception of those that will never pay ... period - call them conservatives - once people understand what their money is used for they will derive a sense of satisfaction from being a part of the socieity that built and maintained civil society. (The amount and use of the tax money needs to be tracked)
My solution - as aluded to above - regarding those that wont participate ... conservatives ... is to privatize. That is, privatize those that wont 'sign on' ... meaning ... charge them per use fees for infrastructure etc. Sign on and pay taxes or dont sign on and dont use the fruits of civil society unless and until you pay a per use fee. The per use fee should follow pricing models from the private sector with a payback builtin for those that did sign on and payed taxes.
(unedited)
Another one of the bastard children of California's "Prop 13" is coming home. Back in 1978, Calif. voters approved an initiative that lowered property tax rates and locked in the reduction. Any increase in taxes (or new taxes) must be approved by 2/3 of the voters. We regularly see tax initiatives lose with more than 60% approval, but less than the magic 2/3.
During the 80's and 90's, we had the state government loot the coffers of local governments to make up for budget shortages.
Local governments responded as best they could by enacting "fees" for services and postponing investment in infrastructure. "If it ain't broke, don't fix it" became policy.
"Decades past life expectancy?" Lemme guess - three decades?
Watching the video made me suddenly very sad, as I thought of Steve Gilliard and how he would be all over this kind of story, stressing (rightly) that you have to pay the folks who keep the power, the water, and the subways going a decent wage. Fuck giving millions to some prick who shuffles money around the stock market - how about paying a wage/guaranteeing a benefit package that attracts people to work on the line crews. When the heatwave strikes and the power goes out, what would you rather have: 1000 whiny-ass titty babies in mansions complaining that their jacuzzi won't work, or 1000 guys working their asses off to makesure that elerly people have air conditioning?
What is so stupid about the greedy conservatives is things are going to get so bad that in order to pay to fix the problems, there is going to have to be confiscation of wealth, not just taxes on income.
There's also a battle going on between DWP and the union workers (International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 18) on who should be installing water mains. With DWP management claiming privatization is cheaper. Except that there was a 5.5% rate increase (over 2 years) last year. So it doesn't appear to be cheaper for the public.
Trying to find more information on this; but supposedly DWP construction budget was slashed back in 1999 as the agency prepared for energy deregulation. I would say that that decision needs to be revisited.
The curse of Enron lives on.
Southern California is the RED part of the State, about 85% Republican.
Meanwhile in Northern California, where PG&E is the Utility, the system has been being upgraded for the last 20 years.
Cities like San Francisco have their 500KVA lines that supply the city are underground in protected vaults.
I spent the last 15 years of my Engineering career upgrading the PG&E infrastructure, and they are far ahead of much of the nation, Northern California is mostly BLUE.
So that gives a view of the why of the situation.
Thing Fish @ 40:
your correct that ENRON was the start of all this.
Don't you people realize that we have a war to fight? Plus we are looking to expand our wars. Our money and effort must go to the middle east, not to OUR cities and states. WAKE UP folks. Remember New Orleans? Our prioreties are not in America any more. Think Iraq, Iran, etc. :(
Alternet has an article about a coming depression which is interesting and depressing. Says 7 years ago WE contributed 52% of world's goods. Down to 16% after bushco. Infrastructure has been deteriorating for decades. Corporations are given tax breaks for going overseas. "What happens when they don't need US?" Elect a whole new house and senate. Reps. you don't have to call and email constantly to represent US. Anybody who said"Impeachment is off the table...We don't need to impeach, too much important work to do." They don't need to be reelected.
dwp problem????????????? in that city??NAWWWW say it aint so......no worries ...they'll get the next admin to take care of it.So they can blame the dems for raising taxes....meanwhile...we can expect the same results as Katrina.Living in Calif,when Katrina hit,I knew that if we got hit with an earthquake we would be screwed...18 more months...keep your fingers crossed
Guess I am as equally concerned with the "absolute waste" of water/elec.
in the Las Vegas region, tho I have not been there in years and years, nor
do I intend to ever return. But, that city has water pumped to it from other
States and keeps it's "city ablaze" 24 hours each and every day, so if some
body is truly interested in wanting to conserve and/or at least make an effort
to correct the population boom out West, then "turn out the lights" in Vegas
and stop building, each year, more and more and more golf courses that
require watering. That is truly Sin City and should be closed down.
Doggiebobo @ 46:
By the way, I am NOT a bitter gambler, for I did not and do not gamble when in Vegas.
BUT, I did see when there last the total and complete waste of water in the fountains
at the many Casino's and the "glitter of lights" of that city....and just recently, they commenced building another pipe line from the States of Utah and Colorado so as to pump water into Vegas...which is already receiving water from the State of Calif.
Sorry dudes.
Sorry to La, New Orleans or any place else that needs to get its infrastructure upgraded.
All our resources are needed for our glorious war of Liberation for the Iraqi people and our eternal war on terror.
And after we win Iraq, our priority will be to rebuild the Iraqi infrastructure. Iraq will be our shining beacon of democracy and tourism.
Yes, after the rebuilding, grateful Iraqi's will be renting deluxe hotels to us for $10 a day and wherever we go flowers will be thrown at us.
So you can see that the petty provincinal infratructure needs in the US of A needs will have to wait. I hope everyone understands.
Well yes, it's true, but Warren Buffett, Larry Ellison and the lessers amongst the over $250,000 a year income club wouldn't have benefited from that awful budget surplus we'd accumulated back when King George took over. They needed relief first. Let the others eat cake.
Oh wait, I think I'm confusing my kings.
http://www.asce.org/reportcard/2005/index.cfm
well, our mayor is too busy bangin hot news anchors to really worry about infrastructure in any case
If you're gonna close Las Vegas then let me know if you find my ass. I lost it at the blackjack tables in the Luxor.
on a slightly trivial note... did anyone notice the voice over sounds like it might be Alec Baldwin?
After a major earthquake hit LA Bush would be spotted playing a guitar and Dick would tell LA citizens to go F#*%k themselves. Isn't Republic run government great?
I remember when Poppy Bush went to South Central LA to view the scene of the Rodney King riots. His limo convoy just sped thru the area and didn't stop.
Arsenio Hall commented that the people holding up fingers as he drove by weren't trying to tell him that he was #1.
Why would I care about LA-LA Land? Would it be possible to ignore such important infrastructure for so long if it weren't for cronyism and corruption? The silent taxpayers get the short end of the stick every time.
good for you blue buddha,
we can get snarky about the minor CnL error of ommision, but the truth is ALL of the united states infrastructure is failing. That should be the real target of attention.
That steam explosion in manhattan is just another symptom.
Organizations as mention in buddha's link educate the public to take appropriate action....
Focusing on Webos, Blogos or Typos, muddies the water to the point no clarity on action is achieved.
we will reap what we sow
duncanidho @ 58:
Exactly! Taxes = Bad! Infrastructure doesn't need to be maintained! We're shocked when things fail "all of a sudden" and "without warning"
The only thing that will get people off their butts is education...even then, people will balk at the pricetag since so much maintenance has been deferred for so long (billions of $ in my state alone).
Public buildings are in really bad shape -- espcially firehouses police stations, 911 call centers, and schools.
I worry that it will take a large, subduction zone "urban renewal earthquake" to get us started. Then we'll have another 100 years befoer our next infrastructure crisis.
Could this PSA be considered as helping the "terrorists"?
repugs are twisted
Peptic Skeptic @ 43:
The same thing happened in NZ -- privatized the power, the old Auckland Electric Power Board employees screaming that vital infrastructure was not being maintained (fired) and then Boom! the Central Business District (CBD) was without power for 10 days running. Oh, and EVERYBODY was paying more for power that was substantially less reliable. It was a bloody mess, and it's only getting worse -- after privatization was supposed to "introduce the efficiencies of the free market." My arse.
Ron @ 35:
Like the railroads? Get those guest workers on it, pronto!
duncanidho @ 58:
Ah, c'mon...it was Saturday morning. The rest of the week we're much more serious! You're right, of course. But damn.
Smack_dab @ 33:
Well, that's nice, but here's a clue: LOS ANGELES IS NOT THE SOUTHWEST.
No one in California considers this region the southwest. The southwest is, btw, TEXAS, NM, ARIZONA.
*Please make a note of it.*
(While you're at it, you might want to notice that the Northwest Territory was not in Oregon or Washington).
AbbeyHoffmansGhost @ 57:
Concern for your IQ? Desire not to be considered an IDIOT?
Anyone who thinks it's clever to refer to Los Angeles as 'la-la land' died thirty years ago, and no one wants to tell them.
So your handle is perfect for a low-IQ IDIOT with trite expressions for the nation's second largest city.
Peptic Skeptic @ 42:
Wow, what a stinking LIE. You ever been to Sacramento, or Fresno, or Stockton, or what is clearly the Republican eastern part of the state, but which are in NORTHERN California?
Los Angeles is as BLUE as you are.
Uhh. See all this fixin, well we aint got the time for it. Did I say time? Well ehh. See I mean, we aint got... There are security risks that we have to deal with on a almost everyday basis and huh. What? Heh, yah I meant to say that the infreestructure in Irack is better all the time. I mean it is better! All the. All. All the time. ALL OF THE TIME! OK?! Yeh that is, uhh I, uhh the problems we have with internal infrusstrictin is; soluable. I mean it aint dissolvable. Yah no? I mean I can see a time in our lives when we can come up with a answer for problems like this. Darn shame they ain't now eh, hehehe (nod wink wink).
DWP is full of bad karma ... this is just another ripple in their pond. Blood water, blood oil, similar stories, this agency has a bad track record, but if the water comes out the tap, who cares?
What did the DWP do with all the money they made gouging electricity on the spot market back in the olden days of California blackouts and Governor replacements? Tell them to use that to fix infrastructure.
Los Angeles heatwave... brings back memories of Predator 2.
duncanidho @ 58:
I got a bachelor's degree in Civil Engineering in 1998, and the jobs for CE were the lowest paid for engineers. I wound up working in military intelligence for five years because the CE jobs in Ohio were gutted, unless you wanted to become just another part of big box stores or McMansion developments. Now that it's obvious that our infrastructure is has disintegrated, I regret changing careers. :(
Paul in LA @ 14:
Thank you Paul. You have hit the nail on the head. Unfortunately when California was forked over to the incurable greedy; the results were set on an unstoppable path of death. I am a seventh generation native Californian who has moved out of the state. I have been gone for 15 years now and made a much better life for myself. It is sad to see millions of people continue to go in circles from the stores to the restaurants, to work and to home, and never ever see what is happening all around them. Los Angeles as a major megalopolis is on track to becoming the next Mexico City.
Sad.
I bet nobody will EVER be held accountable. They never are.
So, y'all believe what the video propaganda says? WHAT IF: IT's NOT TRUE ?
Consider this: The Union at DWP has been running the show for years. They want more members (translation: more dues) so they want more hiring, so they invent a crisis? Hmmm.
BTW, the DWP IS NOT tax supported! Quite the opposite -- they GIVE the city politicians a hefty chunk of cash every year in a futile effort to keep the politicians out of the way. So, what happens? The politicos want more $, so the utility can't pay a decent wage to hire quality linemen to do quality work.
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