Which Way, L.A.?
Iran and Nuclear Weapons; A 'Mystery Man' for LA
Austin Beutner is Mayor Villaraigosa's latest pick to head the Department of Water and Power. Today's Daily News calls him a "man of mystery." Can a banker and financier run a public utility? What about increased utility rates and "green" power? We talk with Beutner. On our rebroadcast of To the Point, in a Top Secret memo, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said there's no long-range plan to deal with Iran if it learns to make nuclear weapons. Gates denies it was a "wake-up call."
By Warren Olney • • 52m ListenArguments over rates charged by LA's Department of Water and Power have been central to what Mayor Villaraigosa calls the undermining of "civic unity." Now he's put a Wall Street banker in charge of the DWP. We ask Austin Beutner about his qualifications to run a public utility, how the DWP can be made accountable to the public that own it, his plans for converting to "green energy" and what they might cost. On our rebroadcast of today's To the Point, in a Top Secret memo, Defense Secretary Robert Gates said there's no long-range plan to deal with Iran if it learns to make nuclear weapons. Gates denies it was a "wake-up call." So, what was he up to? And what are the options?
Banner image: Mayor Villaraigosa announces nomination of Austin Beutner as Interim General Manager of the Department of Water and Power. April 19, 2010
