Iraq's Confusing Election; LA's Confusing DWP Rate-Hike Debate
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Mayor Villaraigosa took another hit today from the Los Angeles City Council, but Department of Water and Power ratepayers will take a hit, too. We get reaction from downtown business interests and environmentalists. Also, will dropping five days from the school year be a hardship on working parents? On our rebroadcast of today's To the Point, much-awaited parliamentary elections have divided Iraq between two strong leaders with similar goals but no desire to compromise. Can either one form a government before violence increases again? Will US troops be able to pull out on schedule?
Banner image: LA DWP's Pine Tree Wind Farm, the nation's largest municipally-owned wind farm, delivers 120 MW of clean, renewable energy to Los Angeles, eliminating 200,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually. © Los Angeles Department of Water and Power
Main Topic
Can Democracy Survive in Iraq? ()
The party of former Prime Minister Iyad Allawi won two more seats in this month's parliamentary elections than the party of current Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki. Maliki has called the outcome a "fraud," and demanded a recount. Today, Allawi claimed that Iran is trying to prevent him from forming a government.
Guests:
- Ned Parker: Baghdad Correspondent, Los Angeles Times, @nedparkerlat
- Laith Kubba: Spokesman, former Iraqi Prime Minister al-Jaafari
- Michael O'Hanlon: Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution
- Meghan O'Sullivan: former Deputy National Security Adviser on Iraq and Afghanistan
Links:
Main Topic
City Council Approves Modified DWP Rate Hike ()
LA Mayor Villaraigosa has been accused of stumbling badly in his attempt to raise rates on electricity in the midst of a recession. Last week, the City Council unanimously turned down a series of four increases he said were needed to keep the DWP in business, invest in renewable fuel and avoid steep fines for not converting from coal to renewable energy. The Mayor embraced a compromise and this afternoon the Council voted on that.
Guests:
- Rick Orlov: City Hall Bureau Chief, Los Angeles Daily News, @Rickorlov
- Carol Schatz: President/CEO, Central City Association
- Martin Schlageter: Director, Coalition for Clean Air
Links:
Reporter's Notebook
Shorter School Calendar Has Parents Breathing Sigh of Relief ()
Superintendent Ramon Cortines says this weekend's agreement to save jobs by cutting school days demonstrates "a partnership" between the LAUSD and its unions. Some 1800 teachers, 100 administrations and 300 librarians, nurses and counselors will keep their jobs. Class sizes will stay the same, but more instruction will have to be crammed into less time with five fewer school days this year and seven next year. What does it mean for parents?
Guests:
- Tanya Anton: Parent, Community Magnet Charter School
Underwriters
Which Way L.A.? is made possible in part by the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, the Nathan Cummings Foundation, and the John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation, which supports study and research into policy issues of the Los Angeles region.
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