Nicholas Goldberg: Why I’m voting against Rick Caruso. (It’s not because of his positions on the issues.)
I am a progressive with a strong interest in the environment, social justice, and labor issues. I am also a proud and active member of the SEIU labor union. I am also proud that I am a gun owner and I have a concealed carry permit. I am also disappointed that the City Council is passing laws that will make my Second Amendment rights weaker, such as the draconian gun control laws that will go into effect if the City goes to a ballot measure vote on a 2nd Amendment repeal. I will not vote for this Council member just because of issues such as these.
I want to talk a little bit about the other side of this issue. In addition to gun control and the gun rights, a big issue here is the water and sewer utility reform.
The City Council passed two bills in June that will dramatically weaken the city’s water and sewer utility. It is being called the “Blue Dog” bill because it is one of the few bills that has unanimous support, and yet it is being opposed by one of the biggest union activists in the city. The union union, which is made up of SEIU and other labor unions, is trying to stop the bill from passing.
What did the City Council pass?
The Council passed two bills out of the blue that will dramatically weaken the city’s water and sewer utility. The two bills that will be put into effect in September are H.B. 1703 and H.B. 1535.
The bills contain a proposal to privatize our infrastructure, and would have it turn into the “private for profit utility.” The bills also contain language that would allow the city to overcharge us for water and sewer services and then to pass the cost onto the ratepayers.
What has the union and Mayor Koch been doing?
The union has been spending time, money and energy to prevent these bills from being passed. They have spent $3,000 to oppose the bills. I have always been a strong supporter of the union and the mayor. The union has been doing everything in its power to stop this bill. The union has a lot of money to spend, and has been spending a