Darkness at Noon

Meanwhile, as the politics of scarcity move forward, so do the politics of supply. The new generation Davis predicts for the summer is falling short, so new energy-construction czar Dick Sklar, a former U.S. ambassador to the Balkans rebuilding effort, has convinced the governor to let diesel generators run to keep the lights on during Stage 3 power alerts. This could lead to major air pollution and public-health impacts. Customers with the largest diesel generators would be paid well -- 35 cents per kilowatt hour -- with no review from the PUC.

As the clock ticks down on the troubled deal to bail out Southern California Edison, with no solution yet emerging, Davis is back to trying to get angry alternative power generators, most of them stiffed by the utilities from November to April, to come back online and increase production for the summer months. His newly appointed emissary, former L.A. Assemblyman Richard Katz, told them that they would have to get on board the Edison bailout. This did not endear him to the alternative generators, many of whom loathe the big utility and hope it goes bankrupt.

One thing that has been accomplished is that Davis has moved decisively to remedy any shortfall of spin controllers and Edison alumni. He has replaced his recently departed communications director, former San Jose Mercury News political editor Phil Trounstine (who told the Contra Costa Times that he would not continue advising Davis as a friend, but would be “moving on with my life”), with two Clinton-Gore damage-control experts, Mark Fabiani and Chris Lehane. The two men, who have been working for Edison promoting the bailout deal, will each be paid $15,000 per month, which is more than Davis makes. Davis also hired former Gore deputy chief of staff Nancy McFadden to replace staff director John Stevens, who told friends that working with the governor had left him “disappointed.”

With all this, is it any surprise that L.A.‘s soon-to-be-on-the-loose, super-rich mayor is thinking of running for governor? Dick Riordan gave an interview late last week to the National Journal in which he acknowledged that he is seriously contemplating a campaign. And several Riordan friends have said in the last few days that he is indeed thinking very seriously about taking on the wounded Davis. “He got a great response to his endorsement of Antonio Villaraigosa and had a ball doing it,” one says. Another, however, doubts he will, because of his age and preferred lifestyle-tempo.