By Cody Petterson
We're still stunned, angry, and, frankly, disgusted that the franchise process is moving so quickly with no effort at, or opportunity for, public engagement. A mere seven days elapsed from when the JVJ Pacific Consultings report and proposal was released to the public to when it was voted on by the Environment Committee, and another brisk three weeks from the Environment Committee to the full council. And this is all occurring in the midst of a global pandemic which already inhibits significant public participation. A mere four weeks to debate how to give away our city's most valuable asset, an asset that provides San Diego Gas and Electric (SDG&E) with a million dollars of profit per day, straight from the budgets of working families to the cash-choked pockets of SDG&E shareholders. It's insane. Who is representing San Diegans? And if our representatives aren't representing San Diego's 1.4 million residents and ratepayers, who are they representing? Who's sitting at the table in the community's seat? We now have a week to let the mayor, council, and those who have taken the community's seat at the table know we won't accept another "San Diego Special," i.e. four weeks of backroom deals and you're good to go. Please call your councilmember today and ask them to send the franchise resolution back to Environment Committee for the public process it deserves. Ask them to take the proposed agreement back to the communities they represent. Ask them to give meaningful consideration to the formation of a city-owned public utility, which promises democratic oversight, greater control over our transition to 100 percent renewable energy, and significant savings for ratepayers. And beyond asking, call your councilmember today and TELL them two specific things:
District 1: Barbara Bry (619) 236-6611 barbarabry@sandiego.gov District 2: Jennifer Campbell (619) 236-6622 jennifercampbell@sandiego.gov District 3: Chris Ward (619) 236-6633 christopherward@sandiego.gov District 4: Monica Montgomery (619) 236-6644 monicamontgomery@sandiego.gov District 5: Mark Kersey (619) 236-6655 markkersey@sandiego.gov District 6: Chris Cate (619) 236-6616 chriscate@sandiego.gov District 7: Scott Sherman (619) 236-6677 scottsherman@sandiego.gov District 8: Vivian Moreno (619) 236-6688 vivianmoreno@sandiego.gov District 9: Georgette Gómez (619) 236-6699 georgettegomez@sandiego.gov Click here to examine the city's current 50-year franchise agreement with San Diego Gas and Electric, dated Dec. 17, 1970. Photo by Tommy Hough
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Green Thoughts
The blog component of San Diego County Democrats for Environmental Action welcomes content from SDCDEA members, guests and leadership. Archives
June 2023
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