By Kevin Skoglund Santa Monica
Regarding Bill Bauer’s column concerning the increase in the water and sewage fees (“City must be dispensing servings of holy water,” page 4, June 2), I am constantly amused by the timing of these announcements.
For example, this year City Hall announces a 2 percent rent increase for the landlords, followed a few weeks later by a 10 percent increase in water and sewage fees. And the people who whine, moan and begrudge the landlords their 2 percent hike are strangely quiet about the subsequent 10 percent rate increase.
This was not an isolated incident. The various agencies realize they cannot hike rates by 10 percent in May and raise rents by only 2 percent in June. So each year, they first announce a small rent increase, followed a month or so later by some increased fee.
Next year, when it is time to calculate the next rent increase, will you remember these 10 percent per year water and sewage fee increases?
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on June 6, 2008. Read the original PDF.