Water, power rates to rise
Socking Angelenos with higher water and power bills beginning this summer, the Los Angeles City Council gave initial approval Wednesday for the Department of Water and Power to raise rates to fund improvements to the city's aging utility infrastructure.Kerry Cavanaugh in the Daily News.
The decision came after more than three hours of debate and staunch opposition by dozens of neighborhood council members who warned that the higher utility bills will strain already struggling households.
But several council members said they were convinced the city must invest in its infrastructure quickly, particularly after Firefighter Brent Lovrien was killed last week in a Westchester explosion triggered by a faulty 60-year-old power cable.