Couple of tidbits:
- You’ll remember last week I talked to City Councilwoman Donna Frye about water rates and her concerns about the city’s practice of billing residents monthly for their water use as opposed to bimonthly.
I made sure to ask an interesting question and I forgot to report the answer: Would her support of the mayor’s plan to boost water rates today be contingent on dealing with her concerns about the frequency of billing.
“Yes, absolutely,” she said.
- Now, consider that in the context of a new mobilized opposition to the water rate increase from labor groups and the Utility Consumers Action Network. Add the skepticism from new U-T columnist Gerry Braun. Is there a chance this thing could tank? Probably little, but what a blow that would be for the mayor.
- Speaking of Sanders, isn’t this an awkward move for the mayor? What does he gain by supporting a presidential candidate so early? I think he can only lose.
Why?
Well, anyone who supports John McCain for president around here probably already supports Sanders. After all, for now, Sanders is the only Republican who has expressed interest in being mayor for the next four years. Well, actually, he’s the only person of any stripe to do that. But unless we hear something soon from a potential rival, he appears to be ready to get all the traditional Republican support.
So, seeing Sanders smiling and waving with McCain wouldn’t be a big deal for McCain’s San Diego supporters. But there are probably a lot of people who support Sanders but are inclined to go for a different presidential candidate.
So, all the mayor does is anger those people.
If the mayor wants to take stands on issues of more national and statewide importance, there are plenty of other more vital debates going on right now. Why doesn’t Sanders stake out a position on the governor’s health care plan, for instance? Or how about the war?
Well, he really wouldn’t have anything to gain and he likely wouldn’t have much effect on the debate.
Exactly.
- By the way, back to water rates, I loved the U-T’s house editorial on the subject this weekend. It was filled with reasons why residents shouldn’t support a new water rate increase but then it said this:
But there’s no choice: Pipes still break and hefty federal and state fines loom if their mandates aren’t met.
Now that’s a hearty endorsement.