I watch many of the hearings on Channel 13 and it is truly sad to see that so many people take the time to testify and it seems like it goes on DEAF ears. For example, on 6/7, Living Social was up for 25 million + in Tax, and maybe other Credits to entice them to stay here. Understanding that they have lots of employees, income and a projected growth and projected taxable income and all the other positive reasons for us to encourage their presence here in the District, the atmosphere projected by Jack Evans (Chair) and Michael Brown was that the decision was already made.
It was a shame to see, when some testified to the many flaws in what was being proposed and suggested enhancements to securing the "performance based" "proposal", the Dismissal in the faces of our City Council Members. Suggestions were made to enhance and protect the District's interest and no questions were asked by the CM's. What a "dog and pony" show!!
We all know that this is the way it is. The disrespect is horrible and it is a mockery, simply a disgrace as to the actual worth of our testimony. It always seem like the decision is already made and I would not be surprised if Campaign support and "constituent funds" are not part of this brokering deal.
I say this to say that we need to focus on identifying the core of our issues and putting systems in place to nullify the abuse of our CM's. For instance, for this scenario, we need a separate committee to analyze the overall testimony to help make the decisions. One that no one knows who is on the committee until it is done. Like how we Vet a Jury of just 2000 or so that maybe any 13 can be chosen from to analyze any testimony at any given time and there can be Criminal Charges attached for "Jury" Tampering. Take this out of the Council Member "vote" and from under the influence of the Corporations and get this into a more fair process.
Thanks for all the work on this Pepco issue!! Please fwd to Eckington@yahoogroups.com, crm_112@yahoo.com, bloomingdale@yahoogroups.com and other groups in the Ward.
Rob Ramson
On Wed, Jun 13, 2012 at 8:20 AM, Kathleen Rand Reed, MAA <therandreedgroup@verizon.net> wrote:
--Ward 5 Friends and Families:
I don't know about all of you, but as a researcher, I am just in awe of the incredible job Albrette "Gigi" Ransom does in getting the raw, unrefined, undigested data from so many disparate sources and returns it to all of us as relevant, usable information. Both Gigi and I often laugh about what news junkies we are, but here's one Ward 5'er that's greatly appreciative of Gigi's efforts. Way to go, girl! Thanks Kathy, ditto for being there.
Kate Reed
P.S. I, too, was disgusted at the way Noel was treated. I have gone to OPC several times to "beat back" the overstep in utility greed and their way of treating their own consumers. Noel and her able staff, especially Herbert H. Jones, Consumer Division, were always at the ready to either negotiate a compromise or as the word goes -- "just say 'No'." Whether we in the U.S. or our Ward like it or not, we're deeply into a "corporatocracy" (see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Corporatocracy) and as consumers our pockets are to be picked, but that's it, folks. After that, we're dismissed. I for one will lean in and write, call and give a blast out on social media. Let the executives eat dirt.
KRRKathleen Rand Reed, MAA
President/CEO
The Rand Reed Group
P.O. Box 55181
Washington, DC 20040-5181
Tel: 202-907-6949
therandreedgroup@verizon.net
West Coast: 2405 NW Irving Street, Suite 18
Portland, OR 97210
http://www.cusag.umd.edu/people.html
University of Maryland, College Park
Anthropology DepartmentOn 06/13/12, Gigi Ransomcom> wrote:--Kathy,Thanks for being there and informing the community on this matter. I had other business yesterday so wasn't able to attend. Pepco needs to get this right before any "new and justified" rate increase. Over the years, Pepco has requested and received rate increases for the same issues, increase reliability, improve customer services, and other improvements but didn't do which was confirmed by their annual reports.Though doing a little better, can't justify such a huge rate increase at this time which includes ratepayers taking on the responsibility for paying their employee benefits which is Pepco's responsibility as a price of doing business. I'm sharing this some others can send the mail to brenda.westbrook@dc.gov, Secretary of the DC Public Service Commission expressing their outrage on this matter as you state below.That's the least and most effective thing to do that will add to protecting the rights of the ratepayers for quality services and management of Pepco.
Albrette "Gigi" Ransom
Commissioner, ANC 5C12
ANC 5C-Financial & Corresponding Secretaries
Chair, ANC 5C Legislation & Public Policy CommitteeFrom: "khenderson029@aol.com" com>
To: Eckington@yahoogroups.com; crm_112@yahoo.com; ward5@yahoogroups.com; bloomingdale@yahoogroups.com
Sent: Tuesday, June 12, 2012 11:32 PM
Subject: [ward5] Re: [Eckington] Pepco Reps Hope You Are Distracted
The Public Service Commission hearing on Pepco's outrageous request for 42.5 million dollars ended at approximately 12:30 today. It sure was interesting to watch Senior Vice President William Gausman stumble over questions related to Pepco's reliability. When asked several times to identify the "bang for the buck" benefits customers would receive from Pepco's reliability improvement/enhancement projects, he could not. Other responses included phrases like "I don't have a hard mathematical answer..." Mr. Gausman did admit that the some of the 42.5 million dollars Pepco is asking for will be used to give raises and bonuses to designated executives. Imagine that?
If we sit back and say nothing Pepco will gouge us to pay their executives more without improving reliability. Montgomery County officials stood up for their residents and fined Pepco for poor reliability. What about DC officials? For starters, join me in asking our Councilmember to oppose Pepco's outrageous 42.5 million dollar increase. Remember all of the power outages in Eckington and spoiled food? The Public Service Commission will rule on this outrageous increase when the record closes on July 9, 2012. Send Commission Secretary Brenda Westbrook an email saying NO to the outrageous 42.5 million dollar increase; her email address is brenda.westbrook@dc.gov The mailing address is 1333 H Street NW, WDC 20005. We should not allow Pepco to get another increase; they just received one in March 2010. Tell Pepco to get their hands out of our pockets!
Kathy Henderson
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
-----Original Message-----
From: khenderson029@aol.com
Sender: Eckington@yahoogroups.com
Date: Tue, 12 Jun 2012 04:38:37
To: <eckington@yahoogroups.com>; <crm_112@yahoo.com>; <khenderson029@aol.com>
Reply-To: Eckington@yahoogroups.com
Subject: [Eckington] Pepco Reps Hope You Are Distracted
Tuesday morning the Public Service Commission will entertain another day of Pepco's outrageous request for a 42.5 million dollar increase. Pepco's representatives hope you are distracted by the recent Council dust up, your vacation plans, the heat or anything but their request. Pepco has received three increases within the last four years; the last increase kicked in in 2010.
So many of us complained about this outrageous increase that the Public Service Commission took the unprecedented position of asking Pepco to justify their request. They can't. Pepco service reliability is at an all time low. Montgomery County has already fined Pepco for unreliable service and DC should do likewise. If we don't stand up to Pepco now they will continue to dig deeper into our pockets. They used free-flowing cash and campaign contributions to derail Elizabeth (Betty) Noel's nomination to the Public Service Commission. Ms. Noel is a champion advocate for rate payers. Betty Kane is a Pepco ally and Lori Lee's term ends this month, underscoring a three-member panel with one missing and no one to fight for consumers.
Don't turn a blind eye to Pepco's outrageous 42.5 million dollar increase. Say NO and say it loudly. Call the Public Service Commission at 202 626-5100 and tell the Commission members to vote NO on Pepco's attempt to gouge consumers. The hearing starts at 10:00 am. At 1333 H Street NW.
Kathy Henderson
Sent on the Sprint® Now Network from my BlackBerry®
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R. Ramson
3744 12th Street, N.E.,
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202-438-5988
"We must become the change we want to see" - Mohandas Gandhi-
(Together, for a Brighter Tomorrow)
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