Water, Water Everywhere...

In protest of Arizona's stance enforcing existing laws against illegal aliens, the City of Los Angeles City Council voted to ban travel by city employees to the State of Arizona. The ban is expected to reduce Arizona's travel and tourism industry's $18 billion income by about $58 million.

I suggest Arizona call a meeting in Phoenix of the parties to the Colorado River Compact, the multi-state agreement that polices water rights shared by western cities, states and water districts to the Colorado's bountiful flow. Los Angeles is the compact's largest beneficiary. It pulls more water from Arizona's portion of the river than any other user.

Arizona should say, "No mas, no mas."

UPDATE: Apparently this message resonates. An elected commissioner of the Arizona Corporation Commission, which regulates Arizona utilities supplying 25% of LA's electricity, has volunteered to turn out the lights in LA.

All it would take is once for politicians everywhere to become a little more serious about their comments and votes.

Dear Mayor Villaraigosa,

I was dismayed to learn that the Los Angeles City Council voted to boycott Arizona and Arizona-based companies — a vote you strongly supported — to show opposition to SB 1070 (Support our Law Enforcement and Safe Neighborhoods Act).

You explained your support of the boycott as follows: “While we recognize that as neighbors, we share resources and ties with the State of Arizona that may be difficult to sever, our goal is not to hurt the local economy of Los Angeles, but to impact the economy of Arizona. Our intent is to use our dollars — or the withholding of our dollars — to send a message.” (emphasis added)

I received your message; please receive mine. As a state-wide elected member of the Arizona Corporation Commission overseeing Arizona’s electric and water utilities, I too am keenly aware of the “resources and ties” we share with the City of Los Angeles. In fact, approximately twenty-five percent of the electricity consumed in Los Angeles is generated by power plants in Arizona.

If an economic boycott is truly what you desire, I will be happy to encourage Arizona utilities to renegotiate your power agreements so Los Angeles no longer receives any power from Arizona-based generation. I am confident that Arizona’s utilities would be happy to take those electrons off your hands. If, however, you find that the City Council lacks the strength of its convictions to turn off the lights in Los Angeles and boycott Arizona power, please reconsider the wisdom of attempting to harm Arizona’s economy.

People of goodwill can disagree over the merits of SB 1070. A state-wide economic boycott of Arizona is not a message sent in goodwill.

Sincerely,

Commissioner Gary Pierce

H/T to Ed Morrissey over at HOT AIR

A meeting is in order. I suggest it be held in Phoenix.