Blissful apathy! On Nov. 27, the County Board of Supervisors approved a 25% water rate increase for the 7700 Malibu and Topanga residents of District 29. With 51% of recorded protests, this could have been avoided, but only 169 owners (2.19%) bothered to respond. The strategies of the Department of Water and Power are a subtle tale of surreptitious “Machiavellism.” We are told to conserve water, and many of us do so diligently. Thus, the water rate is hiked because less water is being used and the profits decrease.
Our water bill always includes an additional fee for “Repair and Maintenance” which I would consider a sensible measure. Yet, the whining litany of “repairs, maintenance and not enough money” goes on. We had few weeks to protest by email, mail or by attending a public meeting, but obviously the citizens of Malibu Lalaland have little concern for this new fee, which adds nicely to an electricity hike following installation of smart meters, and the new parcel tax to fund the Santa Monica Schools which interestingly can afford 70-foot flood light poles to cater to our pampered children.
Finally, Los Angeles County put the icing on the cake with a “clean water fee” to mitigate flood problems. That will be our fourth fee/tax for this year, without counting Proposition 30. But there is still time to attend the public hearing, or send in our protest. Of course, it will take a lot of effort to sign the form provided, print our name, and check that little square, and Oh! I forgot! We have to pay for the envelope and the stamp, and mind you we have to get it to the post office, or maybe our mailbox. But then, we would also have to raise that little red flag! I am exhausted already, just to think of it.
Martine Jozan Work