L.A. City Council approves utility board appointment
The Los Angeles City Council on Friday unanimous approved the appointment of Eric L. Holoman, president of Magic Johnson Enterprises, to the board that oversees the Department of Water and Power.
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa selected Holoman, a former city pension board employee, to fill the DWP board seat vacated last month by Edith Ramirez, an attorney who recently joined the Federal Trade Commission.
The nomination of Holoman comes after a messy political fight between Villaraigosa and the City Council over utility rates. And although a resolution is being reached, animosity remains.
Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley also has opened an investigation to determine whether employees of the DWP misused corporate credit cards, officials familiar with the probe said. In addition, DWP Interim General Manager Austin Beutner said this week that the utility began the process of firing two workers in the wake of a report by KCBS-TV Channel 2, which said at least one worker drove a city vehicle while drinking from an open container of alcohol.
Council members told Holoman that one of his greatest challenges would be to restore the DWP’s credibility among its customers.
-- Phil Willon at Los Angeles City Hall
Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa selected Holoman, a former city pension board employee, to fill the DWP board seat vacated last month by Edith Ramirez, an attorney who recently joined the Federal Trade Commission.
The nomination of Holoman comes after a messy political fight between Villaraigosa and the City Council over utility rates. And although a resolution is being reached, animosity remains.
Los Angeles County Dist. Atty. Steve Cooley also has opened an investigation to determine whether employees of the DWP misused corporate credit cards, officials familiar with the probe said. In addition, DWP Interim General Manager Austin Beutner said this week that the utility began the process of firing two workers in the wake of a report by KCBS-TV Channel 2, which said at least one worker drove a city vehicle while drinking from an open container of alcohol.
Council members told Holoman that one of his greatest challenges would be to restore the DWP’s credibility among its customers.
-- Phil Willon at Los Angeles City Hall
EDITOR'S PICKS:
If this guy was on the Pension Board and the city pension mess is bankrupting the city, why is he going over to the DWP? To rape that cash cow for the half pint mayor?
Posted by: jay | May 21, 2010 at 02:38 PM
Does anyone think the investigations at Power and Water are not political payback for the recent fight over rates? Does anyone think this new member of the board will not help the Mayor balance his promises to the unions by raising your utility rates. The man wants Feinstein's seat in two years and bad press drives him crazy.
Posted by: james andrews | May 21, 2010 at 04:21 PM
Eric L. Holoman, left the pension board because he did not want to give up his corrupt business deals. He is just another corrupt puppet of the Pint Size Mayor. The Pint Size Mayor's career in DOA in CA.
Posted by: JoseR | May 21, 2010 at 04:46 PM
The city council is just the rubber stamp for the Pint Size Mayor.
Posted by: JoseR | May 21, 2010 at 04:48 PM
Los Angeles is usurping Chicago and New Orleans as the most corrupt city in the United States.
Recall Villaraigosa. Recall the City Council.
Posted by: Geena Rodriguez | May 21, 2010 at 04:52 PM