LAFCO suspension tabled
THE LOCAL AGENCY Formation Commission, the key vehicle promoting
public power in city hall, on May 23 tabled a motion to suspend operations
in spite of an effort by Pacific Gas and Electric Co. and its allies
to close it down (see "Don't
Kill LAFCO," 5/21/03).
Ken Cleaveland, director of government and public affairs for the Building
Owners and Managers Association, had sent an e-mail to LAFCO and the
San Francisco Board of Supervisors urging them to discontinue LAFCO
"until better economic times allow us to continue." Cleaveland
told the Bay Guardian that BOMA became involved after PG&E alerted
it to the motion to suspend. He suggested the supervisors divert LAFCO
funds to other city services, though most of the commission's money
has already been allocated.
Board president Matt Gonzalez, who placed the item on the agenda, said
he opened the discussion to explore how much money the city could save
if LAFCO suspended its meetings. The savings ranged from $50,000 to
$70,000, which commissioners acknowledged is minimal.
Bay Guardian editor and publisher Bruce B. Brugmann waved a
copy of Cleaveland's e-mail at the meeting and said BOMA and PG&E were
orchestrating the effort to suspend LAFCO. Brugmann said that during
a budget crisis and a mayor's race is no time to suspend LAFCO, because
public power could be a significant new source of revenue for the city.
(Matthew Hirsch)
