Wednesday, May 19, 2010

LA Mayor given a heads up


Dear Mayor Villaraigosa,

I was dismayed to learn that the Los Angeles City Council voted to boycott Arizona and Arizona-based companies — a vote you strongly supported — to show opposition to SB 1070 (Support our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act).

You explained your support of the boycott as follows: “While we recognize that as neighbors, we share resources and ties with the State of Arizona that may be difficult to sever, our goal is not to hurt the local economy of Los Angeles, but to impact the economy of Arizona. Our intent is to use our dollars — or the withholding of our dollars — to send a message.”

I received your message; please receive mine. As a state-wide elected member of the Arizona Corporation Commission overseeing Arizona’s electric and water utilities, I too am keenly aware of the “resources and ties” we share with the City of Los Angeles. In fact, approximately twenty-five percent of the electricity consumed in Los Angeles is generated by power plants in Arizona.

If an economic boycott is truly what you desire, I will be happy to encourage Arizona utilities to renegotiate your power agreements so Los Angeles no longer receives any power from Arizona-based generation. I am confident that Arizona’s utilities would be happy to take those electrons off your hands. If, however, you find that the City Council lacks the strength of its convictions to turn off the lights in Los Angeles and boycott Arizona power, please reconsider the wisdom of attempting to harm Arizona’s economy.

People of goodwill can disagree over the merits of SB 1070. A state-wide economic boycott of Arizona is not a message sent in goodwill.

Sincerely,

Commissioner Gary Pierce


Dear Mayor Villaraigosa,

I don't know if you had time to read the constitution, but here is just a little part of it. Maybe your boycott is a wee bit unconstitutional......

Article I, Section 8, Clause 3 of the US Constitution says........
“The Congress shall have power To regulate Commerce with foreign Nations, and among the several States, and with the Indian tribes;

That means that a government entity, such as Los Angeles, doesn't have power to regulate commerce with activities such as a Boycott. But I think LA would like to have lights. It would get real hot in LA with 25% less power in the summer.

Sincerely,

A blogger.

3 comments:

  1. Will the last person leaving Los Angeles please turn out the lights?... uh, on second thought, you don't need to bother.

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  2. I assume LA pays the Arizona utilities handsomely for the power they use. Do you think they have other customers lined up to fill the void if Commissioner Pierce were foolish enough to play this game.

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  3. The point being made by the Commish was "Don't be an ass Mr.Mayor"

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