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.