Council needs to listen to the people

Letter to Glendale News Press

On the eve of July 4, 2013, a group of concerned citizens met at Glendale Central Library because Glendale City Council was planning to raise the electric rates of the people without their consent.

On Aug. 6, 2013, our City Council, without the expressed approval of the people, raised our electric rates 29.1% over the next five years, because our politicians since 2000 depleted approximately $250 million from Glendale Water & Power and decided to use that money for non-utility usage.

Today, practically nothing is left in our utility company. Why did we need another electric rate increase and another $60-million bond obligation? Why did we transfer the $250 million to the General Fund to pay for the bloated unfunded and unsustainable salaries and pensions of the city union workforce? The concerned people formed the Glendale Coalition for Better Government and in February reluctantly filed a lawsuit against the city of Glendale.
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Earlier this year, another group of concerned citizens formed the Tax Limitation Committee. These citizens are currently circulating a petition throughout the city to repeal the city’s 7% Utility Users Tax on water, electricity, natural gas, phone and cellphones. These citizens are upset because the utility tax is being transferred to the General Fund for non-utility usage.

When our elected officials do not want to listen to the people, but are beholden to the city unions as well as large developers, then a citizens’ revolt is a natural reaction.

TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION

Transcript of council speech.       
                             

Good evening ladies and gentlemen. On the eve of the 4^th of July 2013, a group of concerned citizens met at Glendale Central Library, because Glendale City Council was planning to raise the electric rates of the people, without their consent. This action was in violation of Proposition 26 of the State Constitution. On August 6, 2013, our City Council without the express approval of the people raised our electric rates 29.1%, over the next five years, because our politicians since 2000 depleted approximately $250 million from Glendale Water and Power Company and decided to use that money for non utility usage. 

Little over a year ago a GWP meeting was held at the Glendale Police Station Headquarters.  Our new City Manager, Scott Ochoa, informed the people’s attorney, Professor Harry Zavos, that the utility company had about $150 million in 2005. 

Today, practically nothing is left in our utility company. Mr. Ochoa and Mayor Weaver, where did the people’s money go? Why did we need to have another electric rate increase last year plus another $60 million bond? Why? Did we transfer all that money to the General Fund to pay for the bloated salaries and pensions of our Union City workforce? 

Mayor Weaver, why did you have to tell Professor Zavos if he did not like the way GWP was being run he should sue the city? Mayor Weaver, why did you tell this speaker a couple of months ago if I did not like the way the city was being run … I should just leave? Mayor Weaver, in all due respect, did the people elect you king? I thought we had elected you as a council person accountable to the people.

Last week the GLENDALE COALITION FOR BETTER GOVERNMENT fought back and reluctantly filed a lawsuit against the City of Glendale for the illegal transfer of millions of dollars from Glendale Water and Power to the General Fund to be used for non GWP purposes.

Glendale Coalition for Better Government welcomes members of the community who are looking for integrity, accountability, responsiveness, and transparency in city government. The COALITION is an all volunteer, non partisan, non-profit organization.  Their website is www.GlendaleCaCoalition.Org. 

Earlier this year, another group of concerned citizens formed THE TAX LIMITATION COMMITTEE. These citizens are currently circulating a petition, throughout the city, to repeal the city’s 7% Utility Users Tax on water, electricity, gas, phone and cell phones. These citizens are upset, because the taxes that Glendale Water and Power say they need is being transferred to the city’s General Fund.  Last year alone, about $21 million was transferred from our utility company. Subsequently, to add insult to injury our City Council members claim Glendale Water and Power needs more money to run its utility company and continues to increase rates on water, electricity and new bond obligations.

When is enough….. enough? Why is GWP being used as a CASH COW in violation of the city Charter?

As struggling families and small merchants try to survive in this economy the question being asked is...Where is all that money going?

Prior to the American Revolution against the British in 1776, the cry heard throughout the 13 colonies was “taxation without representation”. Now, in the city of Glendale a different cry is being heard when citizens have to reluctantly revolt and sue their local government or seek a petition to repeal  miss -used taxes.

When our elected officials do not want to listen to the people, but are beholden to the unions as well as large developers, then a citizens’ revolt is a natural re-action.

A few merchants where one can sign the Petition to Repeal the City Utility Users Tax are:

Adams Square:
     Cristi Cleaners, Adams Kabob House

Kenneth Village:
     Jerry Armen Realtor, Georges Cucina’s Restaurant

Montrose/Glendale:
     Trotta Floor Covering, Dominos Pizza, Quiznoz, Twigs and Things

South Glendale:     Antique Car Wash, Braun Brakes
Chevy Chase Canyon:     Boris Auto Repair, Mike Mohill

Statue serves as an important reminder

Letter to Glendale News Press

Recently there has been a great deal of controversy about the Korean comfort-women statue located at Glendale Central Park and its message about man’s inhumanity to man. Some people say Glendale should not get involved in international politics; some say otherwise.

I find it appalling that the people who have filed a lawsuit against the city have said that “many comfort women acted willingly as prostitutes and the military was not directly involved in any coercion.” These are the same tactics that the Turkish lobbyists use to deny the Armenian Genocide by claiming the Armenians were siding with the Russians during World War I.

Can one just imagine if one’s wife, sister or girlfriend offered their body to a military officer? The real question is why, if at all, these Korean women offered their virginity? Did they offer it for survival?

Recently, I read in the Los Angeles Times of Alice Herz-Sommer, the oldest living Holocaust survivor, who died at age 111. Sommer lost her husband and family members to the Nazis of Germany. In her biography she said “practice the Chopin etudes,” a voice told her as her mother was carted away. “They will save you.” Because of her special talent at the piano, she entertained her Nazi guards in order to survive the gas chambers.
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Like Sommer, the comfort women did what they did in order to survive.

The Korean comfort-women statue is a small way to remember man’s inhumanity to man.