When DWP general manager David Nahai resigned recently, Deputy Mayor S. David Freeman was named to fill his place in the interim. With water mains breaking on an almost daily basis, the challenge to meet the Mayor's goal to get 20% of DWP's power from renewable sources by 2010, conflicts with the union on how to best get that done, and the city council calling for an in-house rate-payer advocate -- his plate is full.
After years of debating and several months of tough negotiations in the Legislature and Governor’s office, it appears that a broad deal on California water policy might be on the horizon. The framework includes further mandatory conservation for urban water customers; strict limitations and overuse fines for farmers; and increase in water rates from local water agencies. While more pain and sacrifice will be needed from just about every Californian who uses water, will it lead to long-term stability?
It’s become an unfortunately familiar story: a large investment bank accused of massive fraud against a retirement fund. However in this case the two retirement funds in question, CalSTERS and CalPERS, happen to be California’s two largest pensions and the accused bank, State Street, is one of the world’s leading providers of financial services for institutional investors. Attorney General Jerry Brown is suing State Street for committing “unconscionable fraud” against CalSTERS & CalPERS, and hopefully recouping some $200 million in the process.
To the lay consumer, the Energy Star label signals environment friendliness, energy efficiency, and an all around fuzzy warm feeling that you’re doing something to curb your carbon footprint. But the latest internal audit from the Energy Department has concluded it doesn’t properly track whether specific appliances meet the required specification for energy efficiency. What steps will be taken to regulate it and who calls the shots?
Up until now it has been a scary but abstract concept: that the huge national debt of the U.S., fed by growing annual budget deficits, will soon start to impact the economy and all facets of life. According to a new report by the GAO, the promised harsh reality of a multi-trillion dollar debt is already here and the consequences of borrowing will start to catch up to the American way of life. With fiscal challenges that will persist long after the return of financial stability and economic growth, how can we pay off our national debt?
There have been a lot of bad headlines out of the oceans these days: from huge islands of floating trash in the Pacific to several wild fish stocks that are on the verge of collapse, it would seem that our oceans the sea life within them are in a desperate situation. And yet the oceans aren’t a lost cause, according to the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s “State of Seafood” report. As farmed seafood overtakes wild-caught seafood as the most consumed, can we strike a balance with ocean conservancy and global fishing?
The internet radio service Pandora has, for several years now, peddled its music magic— choosing music you might like based on music you do like. But until now, little has been known about its selection process. In his recent article, Rob Walker reveals the founder who’ll go to impressive lengths to drown out peer pressure in the interest of musical merit -- and the methods behind the Music Genome Project
Patt Morrison is known for its innovative discussions of local politics and culture, as well as its presentation of the effects of national and world news on Southern California.
