[SDCPJ] ACTION ALERT: Masada & Martha in court Thursday March 14 8:30 am to call on CPUC to open private "stakeholder meeting" to the public

---------- Forwarded message ----------

From: Martha Sullivan <marthasullivan@mac.com>
Date: Wed, Mar 13, 2013 at 5:38 AM
Subject: ACTION ALERT: Masada & Martha in court Thursday March 14 8:30 am to call on CPUC to open private "stakeholder meeting" to the public

Begin forwarded message:

From: Masada Disenhouse <mdisenhouse@cox.net>

Subject: [WOSD-Discussion] Martha & Masada in court Thursday March 14 8:30 am to call on CPUC to open private "stakeholder meeting" to the public

Date: March 12, 2013 7:01:42 PM PDT

To: 'WomenOccupy SD' <occupy-women-discussion@googlegroups.com>

Reply-To: mdisenhouse@cox.net

Hi Women,

I am the official plaintiff on this case that was filed by Mike Aguirre today, but Martha Sullivan and other SanO and climate activists have also tried to be part of this meeting and denied access (if there are other WOSD folks in this situation – let me know!). Basically the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is holding a "by invitation only" stakeholder meeting next week that is against the California law that requires meetings by public entities to be… open to the public.  A story on this in the UT is pasted below (also at http://www.utsandiego.com/news/2013/mar/11/lawsuit-against-stakeholder-meetings/ ) and is on the Turko files here: http://www.kusi.com/story/21579822/tell-it-to-a-judge-case-closed   

>> All are welcome to be there to show support for California's public meeting laws and challenge entities that don't follow them. I don't know how long it will go:

When: Thursday, March 14, 8:30 am

Where: San Diego Superior Court, 330 West Broadway, SD 92101, Dept. 72, 6th floor.

>> You can also email or call the CPUC Public Advisor to demand that this "invite-only" meeting on March 20th at the Scripps Seaside Forum be publicly noticed and moved to a venue that can accomodate the public.   public.advisor@cpuc.ca.gov or toll free 866-849-8390   

Also, you are welcome to the actual stakeholder meeting, if it doesn't get opened up we'll do a press conf there Wednesday, March 20, and to the actual CPUC Voting meeting in SD on Thursday March 21 – see info below.

Thank you!

Masada

If you can only go to one thing, make it the Thursday actual meeting where they will vote. We need to show that San Diegans don't want useless power plants that SDG&E only wants to build to bolster its profits. We do not need any more energy, as the CPUC's own administrative law judge decided when reviewing these 3 power plant proposals and we DON'T need them bc/ of SanO outage, we need to continue to supplant SanO w/ rooftop solar, conservation and energy efficiency. But if you can only come Wed or can come to both we'd love to see you Wed.

Wednesday, March 20 they are holding a "by invitation only" stakeholder meeting at Scripps Seaside Forum at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography (UCSD) - 8610 Kennel Way, La Jolla, CA 92037 (parking at Kellogg Park/La Jolla Shores, several blocks south on El Paseo Grande). We'll have a media event with visuals from 11:30am-12:30pm.

Thursday, March 21. The California Public Utilities Commission meets in San Diego once a year. They will be meeting here on Thursday March 21 to decide on Quail Brush and the other 2 power plants (all unneeded) that are proposed for SD County. Meeting at 9 am, rally at 8 am. County of San Diego Operations Center at 5520 Overland Ave, San Diego, CA 92123 (Kearny Mesa). (rsvp on facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/443155795760532/)

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Lawsuit balks at PUC 'stakeholder' meeting

By Morgan Lee March 11, 2013

A helicopter watches cable being pulled through the pulleys on transmission towers as workers scurry up and down the towers above Japatul Valley Road near Alpine Thursday. Behind them is Bell Bluff, where operations were challenged due to the eagle nesting on Bell Bluff, however, the CPUC permitted SDG&E to continue working. — Peggy Peattie / U-T San Diego

The legality of a "stakeholder" meeting in San Diego between select members of the public and state utilities regulators is being challenged in court.
The March 20 meeting in La Jolla has been advertised as a chance for three groups of 20 people to meet with commissioners and staff of the California Public Utilities Commission about topics such as renewable energy and infrastructure. It takes place the day before a meeting that will be open to the public -- also in San Diego -- at which commissioners will consider granting permission for two new natural gas power plants in San Diego and Otay Mesa, among other matters.
A lawsuit filed Monday in state Superior Court by former San Diego City Attorney Michael Aguirre seeks an injunction to block the stakeholder meeting, citing provisions of California law pertaining to public meetings.
"It is required to be open to the public, not closed and only open to those the commission deems worthy of an invitation," states the lawsuit on behalf of San Diego resident Masada Disenhouse, whose request to attend the March 20 event was declined because the guest list was full.
An online flier for the event draws a distinction between the commission's open meeting and the stakeholder session, in which "each group will have the chance to meet with every commissioner and the directors, advisers and staff of various CPUC divisions."
"This is a chance to discuss State policy -- and how it affects our region -- directly with the decision makers," the notice states.
Utilities commission spokeswoman Terrie Prosper said the stakeholder meeting in San Diego would be the fifth in a series. She had no immediate comment on the lawsuit.
"The purpose of these meetings is to open a conversation, create a partnership, and see where the CPUC might be of service to the local community," Prosper wrote in response to an inquiry prior to the lawsuit.
Space is limited and local government officials are sometimes given priority, she said.
A request by U-T San Diego to attend the meeting was turned down because all seats were filled. Cancellations could open up new invitations, an organizer said.

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