Class Act(ion) vs. DWP

Jessica P. Ogilvie's story of households who battled DWP bills opened the floodgates to thoughtful residents in a fighting mood. HwoodCa warns, “Let's remember we elected the mayor to help the DWP rip off as many people as possible while pretending not to be in DWP's pocket.  He's not going to do anything to upset the union.”

LovesDaisies recounts a $1,300 summer bill, fully $1,000 higher than past summertime bills. “The DWP … won't return my phone calls. I smell a class-action suit. Anyone?” Dwezy, apparently looking for a gold star, says residents must “learn to read their meters. If the estimated [amount due] is a lot less than the 'read' I see on my meter, I prepare to pay more on my next bill. OR I'll just do the math myself and pay extra so that it evens out.”  

But Anon1 says DWP creates horrors that no upright, meter-reading resident can fix: “I turned off the water to my house (the main line) for 10 hours and the meter continued to run. DWP said there's nothing they can do about it, but I can submit it to their investigations team, which would take 6-8 months. I'm charged $400-$500/month for water (I have no dishwasher, no clothes washer, etc).”

JJGahris1 has a solution to DWP's arrogance and incompetence: Launch an uprising. “The current system of this 'city-owned' monopoly on water, power and trash is corrupt. There is no oversight and therefore no accountability or transparency. LADWP goes against everything America was created to prevent. California is not China. … Go to the news, stage protests, write the mayor and city council, start petitions, post fliers everywhere.“

Foodies' Map of L.A.

Our story “10 Best Chinese Restaurants in Los Angeles” set off a debate. Alec.Baldwin noted, “Sadly, even the best Chinese food outside the SGV isn't in Chinatown anymore.” Soyarra's fine with that: “I'm just glad no one whined, 'What, nothing on the Westside?' As if.” Shonstar, from Hong Kong, says such lists should be challenged, suggesting his own: 1. Dim sum: Mission 261 on Mission Road (for elegant) and Ocean Star (for crazy Hong Kong); 2. Spicy: Hunan Chili King on Valley Road (lamb cilantro and spicy stir-fry fish); 3. Chicken: Savoy Kitchen for Hainan chicken; 4. Happy Kitchen on West Valley. No one knows what's going on in here or what they're saying, even Mandarin speakers. It's all great; 5. Feng Mao, Northern Chinese skewers. Pork cilantro is tops. The one on Olympic in K-Town.”

Correction

Last week's Film Reviews included in “Ongoing” a review of the film Goodbye to Language. That film opens in L.A. on Jan. 23. We regret the error.

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