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Letter: No to PG&E Contributions

I recently read the Enterprise’s article about campaign contributions in the District 4 Yolo County Supervisors race. I was very disappointed to learn that a candidate in that race took money from PG&E. As a climate advocate, PG&E is the last corporation I want to see involved in our local elections. PG&E is responsible for dozens of wildfires, hundreds of deaths, and thousands of homes destroyed in California. As a Davis resident, my rates have also been hiked by PG&E, all while my service worsens.

PG&E has been flexing its political power to pass its liabilities onto ratepayers. Who could forget the money PG&E spent to defeat Yolo’s effort to join SMUD? As a community, we need to create a locally-controlled energy grid that relies on 100% renewable energy. Electing people who take money from PG&E is two steps backwards.

Yolo County is also beginning to implement its climate action & adaptation plan. As PG&E cuts investment in renewables due to their bankruptcy, the last thing we need in Yolo County is a Supervisor beholden to PG&E. The Enterprise reporting also begs the question: how can PG&E even give money to candidates with their recent bankruptcy? Is that what my higher rates are paying for?

I encourage everyone to read the Enterprise coverage of the contributions to the Supervisor race. I will be voting for a candidate who did not take money from PG&E.

Elias Bunting

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Comments

7 responses to “Letter: No to PG&E Contributions”

  1. Roberta L. Millstein

    I believe this is the article that Elias is referencing:
    https://www.davisenterprise.com/news/candidates-report-monetary-contributions-in-district-4-supes-race/article_bdb0ec5c-c786-11ee-a9f4-9fbf00a6e988.html
    It states:
    [Sheila] Allen’s largest contributor was Clark Pacific, which donated $5,500. The Davis Firefighters Local #3494 PAC contributed $4,000. District 2 Supervisor Lucas Frerichs donated $2,000. $2,500 was contributed from Edward Reines, a Redwood City attorney.
    Current District 4 Supervisor Jim Provenza donated $1,355 to Allen, who is currently his District 4 Deputy County Supervisor.
    $1,000 each came from the PG&E Corporation, Wilson Farms Silt Wine Company of Clarksburg, Laborers Local 185 PAC and Eric Liederman, a Kaiser Permanente physician.

    Reply
  2. George Galamba

    I strongly doubt the $1,000 will buy you a supervisor, but, having said that, corporations, like individuals,* tend to donate to candidates that they believe will further their interests. I always try to follow the money before I vote.
    *Our current Supreme Court has determined that corporations are individuals.

    Reply
  3. Ron O

    Supervisor Lucas Frerichs donated $2,000.
    Why do politicians give each other campaign money?
    The system would work much better if they outlawed ALL campaign advertising. Aren’t there enough news/media organizations (and social media) to let voters know where a candidate stands on issues?
    Then again, how would I know if someone like Chris Calbadron is either a complete a-hole AND/OR a saint, on the same day – if it wasn’t for campaign mailers?
    As far as PG&E is concerned, I’d suggest looking at the reason that they pass along costs to everyone in order to maintain the same rate to all of their customers (regardless of risk or cost). I believe this is due to state involvement/requirements, not PG&E itself.
    Same thing with land lines and insurance (to some degree).
    When price is disconnected from cost via government regulation, the result is predictable. Someone else then pays for it.
    And as far as a “100% renewable grid” energy supply (mentioned in the article), I’m not aware of any. Even the components themselves “cost” energy to produce, maintain, dispose of, etc.
    You want less non-renewable energy to be used? Then look forward to another pandemic or economic catastrophe.
    On a related note, electric vehicle purchases are tanking.

    Reply
  4. Alan C. Miller

    RO ask “Why do politicians give each other campaign money?”
    Answer is the same as to that old joke, “Why do dogs lick their balls?”
    Answer: “Because they can”

    Reply
  5. Colin Walsh

    I just noticed that PG&E gave $5,000 to support the Yes on N School Parcel Tax campaign on 2/21/24. By the logic of this letter does that mean we are supposed to vote against the school parcel tax too?

    Reply
  6. Alan C. Miller

    Yes

    Reply
  7. Ron O

    David Greenwald’s comment regarding campaign money:
    “It’s basically what we now call “Virtue Signalling.” There are mountains of political science data using the most sophisticated methods you can imagine and mostly it can’t find a meaningful difference money makes on votes. If you want someone who will stand up to the big interests, fine, but understand that that’s largely symbolic.”
    https://www.davisvanguard.org/letter-no-to-pge-contributions/#comment-478592
    David doesn’t understand that virtue-signaling is a totally-different concept?
    But more importantly, he doesn’t seem to understand that the “manufactured need” for campaign money determines who RUNS for office in the first place. Essentially requiring anyone who runs for a temporary political job to garner support from moneyed interests in the first place.
    No wonder David sees nothing wrong with his support from developers, and why he apparently sees nothing wrong with the sponsored YIMBYs.
    At this point, David wouldn’t know an honest grass-roots movement if it bit him in the arse.

    Reply

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