Community Commentary:

It is reassuring that the Leader editorial (“Expect reaction over utility hikes,” May 16) addressing utility rate hikes acknowledges that “more people continue to see their job hours reduced, or worse, cut altogether.” Unfortunately, the editorial also implies that my voicing opposition to various utility rate hikes, particularly pertaining to water, is somehow a recent event when it asserts, “Yes, the populist tone is an easy one to adopt right now given all the public frustration.”

The fact of the matter is quite the opposite. I steadfastly opposed and consistently voted against utility rate hikes for the past three years, not because of any “populist tone,” or that it was an easy position to adopt.

I voted against the amounts and types of proposed rate hikes when our economic situation was much brighter than today, at a time when my vote was mocked by others because I was not convinced by objective information that they were justified.

Further, I adamantly reject the party line, sadly parroted in the editorial, that “After all, Burbank’s influence on rates at the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California is dwarfed by major stakeholders like Los Angeles and San Diego.” If such a sheepish, defeatist, might-makes-right mentality was invoked by our forefathers, the United States today would amount to 13 British colonies lining the East Coast. We must not forget, rather we should emulate, the stalwart leadership of former Burbank MWD Director Earl Blaise, who rose to the occasion as a single voice to become chairman of the MWD Board. This is a time for courage and leadership, not cowardice and capitulation.

The Leader editorial states, “To be fair, we don’t necessarily disagree with the water rate proposal.” Fair to whom? Before imposing draconian water conservation, rationing and fines on our ratepayers, many of whom, especially our seniors, are already struggling to make ends meet on fixed incomes, let us arm ourselves with facts.