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# Santa Monica City should seek public’s opinion
- URL: https://www.smdp.com/santa-monica-city-should-seek-publics-opinion-editor/
- Published: 2008-07-08T15:00:00.000Z
- Updated: 2026-10-24T20:05:50.000Z
- Author: Guest Author
- Tags: Opinion, Santa Monica, #archive-import

*By Phil Harnage*

Dear City Council members, I wish to protest the egregious rate increases being considered by the city. I think rates should be considered on a year-by-year basis, and reflect the actual cost of water and wastewater services rather than projections which may or may not be accurate.

I also wish to protest the way in which this has been handled. Because so few people know about it — after all, how many people actually read the stuffers in their utility bills? — I doubt you will get more than a handful of letters, whereas if you were to put this on a ballot, everyone would have a chance to make their voice heard. Even opening the door to e-mail, phone or in-person protests would make the process much fairer to the citizens who have to bear the burden. It’s not like we have a choice, either. One can go without food, gas or shelter, but not water.

I feel the City Council has let its constituents down by slipping these increases through without an adequate public forum to find out what those who pay the bills really think.

*Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on July 8, 2008.* [Read the original PDF.](https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/smdp%5Fbackissues/070808.pdf?ref=smdp.com)