Looking for the "feel good" liberal movie of the year? Look no further than Measure H on the San Francisco Ballot, coming this November 4th.
A ragtag group of freedom fighters known as the "Board of Supervisors" fights an uphill battle for green energy against the evil forces of PG&E. Along the way, they are faced with opposition from rogue supervisors, the shadowy and elusive Frau Feinstein, and their arch nemesis Great Overlord Gavin Newsom. The Board concocts and ingenious plan to pass their green energy initiatives by asking citizens to help them authorize a "study" to determine whether the City should be responsible for providing clean energy from renewable sources. Time is running out for the Board. Can they pass Measure H before PG&E and its cronies destroy all hope for the City?
Sadly, like any bad, D-rated movie, Measure H fails to deliver. Proponents of Measure H say that the proposal only authorizes a study, and will not cost taxpayers a cent in higher taxes. What they fail to mention, is that once the study concludes that there is a benefit for the City to be the sole energy provider to San Francisco residents, the Board of Supervisors will be free to follow through with those findings "without voter approval." It's true. Sure, it will initially cost you as a taxpayer, absolutely nothing to authorize the study. But once the study is over, so is the party. According to the City Controller, the cost to build power plants and distributors could be in the billions. And the PUC intends to pay for those costs by issuing bonds; bonds that would not be subject to voter review. Bonds that would increase the cost to San Francisco's residents dramatically.
But all good things come with a price, correct? It would be silly for me to assume that we could have clean, green energy without investing significant funds into the reasearch and development of alternative energy sources. Point duly noted. However, it is naive to think that our problems will be solved by putting our energy needs into the hands of the City, and telling PG&E to take a hike. Consider another City-run institution: MUNI. We all know that the City runs a tight ship with MUNI, right? I have yet to board a train or bus that was running on time. You won't find any MUNI schedules at our house. Predicting the arrival of a MUNI bus/train is impossible. I'd have an easier time predicting Paris Hilton's BFF of the week. Putting the City in charge of our utilities is a step backwards for energy independence.
There is a better way for us to achieve cleaner, greener energy. The City and the State both need to work with PG&E to meet renewable energy standards in a concrete, effective manner. PG&E is already working to produce more renewable energy to the tune of of a 20% increase by 2010. With the national focus on a greater need for renewable energy, it is without a doubt that PG&E will follow the trend and work towards meeting that need. After all, energy is energy, and there is money to be made, whether it is renewable or non-renewable.
Bottom line, your time and money is better spent elsewhere. Measure H fails to deliver.
2 comments:
I was just sitting with my kids during the news tonight and showing them how to pause the TV and look at who the sponsors are on various propositions. Guess who's behind the No on 7 "Another energy scheme" ads...SCE et al. Between the misinformation, propaganda, and your Measure R "too good to be true" scam, it's a wonder people even bother to go to the polls anymore. And, actually, unless it's a Presidential election, a great number of people don't vote (this election will be different, though!) Pretty sad state of afffairs. And truly sad that it's everyday folks like you and me that get screwed by clauses such as the "no voter approval needed" nonsense. Way to go for bringing this to the forefront, Miss Z!
Any time a ballot measure tacks on "no voter approval needed" to the end of the wording, I know I'm in for a lot of trouble. I have the feeling a lot of voters will not bother to go down the entire length of the ballot, and just vote the top ticket items, like President and maybe the Congressional race. With so much on the ballot this year, and so much at stake (Measures 4 and 8, anyone?) we can't afford not to vote. It's a crazy cycle isnt it?
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