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TELECOM hom page 7.............................................. protections; loss of control over local rights-of- Electric Energy Deregulation Deja Vul way; loss of funding for public, education and government stations ("PEG") and I-NET systems City officials should continue to remind their (Internet systems for schools, libraries and other legislators of what happened with electric energy government organizations); reduced franchise deregulation. It provides a useful example of what fees and other concerns. can happen when a complicated bill is passed without sufficient scrutiny. Remember that legisla- Sen. Escutia has long expressed a deep tion - like AB 2987 - was sold to legislators with concern about protecting communities from arguments that it would foster competition, and economic red lining - something that the League that competition would produce lower rates for and other organizations are deeply concerned consumers and greater consumer choice of would in fact occur with AB 2987. services. Legislative and Grassroots Lobbying As we all now know, electric energy deregula- Intensifies tion was a disaster for California. It did not reduce rates; it did not create greater consumer choice. The League is intensifying its grassroots And it left the state vulnerable to rip-offs from lobbying and media outreach efforts on this bill. energy producers and suppliers that had only their City managers are being urged to get involved with profits in mind. this issue, and encourage their council members to do so as well. The League's regional staff is What You Can Do reaching out to identify local groups with whom city officials can work in coalition to send the Visit the League's website (www.cacities.orc;.J/ message to legislators that AB 2987 is a badly ab2987) to download a sample letter to send to flawed bill. Sen. Martha Escutia, talking points, fact sheets and other materials you can use in talking to And these efforts are paying off. Increasing legislators about this bill. The materials are also numbers of organizations and individuals are helpful to help recruit organizations and individuals visiting the "No on AB 2987" page on the League who will be directly impacted by this poorly drafted website (www.cacities.org/ab2987) to get informa- measure. Be sure to join the coalition the League tion about the bill, and to download the coalition is building on this bill; there's a form on the sign-up form. The names on the growing list of website you can download and fax to the League. coalition members will be updated weekly. At the statewide level, the League is working to build a coalition with other statewide and regional organizations around our shared concerns with the bill. The League is reaching out to media around the state to brief them on cities' issues and concerns with the bill. These affiliations will become increasingly helpful as the League works for amendments to a bill intended to foster compe- tition and choice for consumers, but which carries For more information on this and many untended consequences for cities. other League issues, visit www .cacities.org. PAGE 8 - PRIORITY FOCUS Visit the league's Official Website--www.cacities.org June 2, 2006 - Issue #22