I got a shout-out!

[Bob78164]

For the last year and a half or so, I've been working on getting a measure introduced into and then passed through Los Angeles City Council. It was item 22 on yesterday's agenda. Nithya Raman, who represented my neighborhood until redistricting moved us into a new district, was kind enough to give me a shout-out when talking about the proposal.



The motion passed 13-0. The discussion of the item starts around 2:04 and lasts for about 5 minutes. --Bob

[BackInTex]

Nice! Too bad the carmera didn't pan over to you, award show style, to show you and your nod of gratitude for being recognized.


I like Nithya Raman. She is very articulate and precise with her language without having the usual politician "I'm better, I'm important, and in charge" presence. She seems very likable.

I think the proposal is a good one, but one that should have a scheduled end of life where all multi-family properties are individually metered. While your proposl will provide the clarity for renters to understand how their bills are calculated, there is still no accountabilty for someone who uses in excess compared to others, no real incentive to conserve, which I find odd given the state's stance on energy stewardship.

[Bob78164]

Nice! Too bad the carmera didn't pan over to you, award show style, to show you and your nod of gratitude for being recognized.


I like Nithya Raman. She is very articulate and precise with her language without having the usual politician "I'm better, I'm important, and in charge" presence. She seems very likable.

I think the proposal is a good one, but one that should have a scheduled end of life where all multi-family properties are individually metered. While your proposl will provide the clarity for renters to understand how their bills are calculated, there is still no accountabilty for someone who uses in excess compared to others, no real incentive to conserve, which I find odd given the state's stance on energy stewardship.

You're absolutely correct about the conservation effect. But this was my very first foray into trying to get legislation enacted, so I deliberately decided to start small.

The issue with requiring properties to be individually metered is who will pay for installing the meters. A lot of low-income tenants almost certainly can't afford to, and the California Apartment Association (the landlords' lobbying group) remains a potent force in California politics, even though its influence is diminishing both in Los Angeles and statewide. I'm having a hard time seeing public funds being spent for that purpose, but maybe that is how things end up shaking out.

Yes, I'm a big fan of Nithya, even if one of her degrees is from the "wrong" school (MIT). There was a piece in the New York Times in late 2021 that quotes me extensively on the subject of why my neighborhood should remain in her district. I think I linked it here when it was published.

We lost that fight, but during the 2022 campaign I also developed a strong relationship with Katy Yaroslavsky (our newly elected Councilwoman) and her staff, so it all worked out. --Bob (Caltech '82)