Update Letter From The NDLC Board


February 2012 Update

Dear Friends:

NO FUND RAISER THIS YEAR…YET AGAIN!

There are two reasons we have not had to come to you for a fundraising event in four years. We have received a few very generous anonymous gifts, and we have managed your money judiciously. We have found that much of our most effective work, such as networking and attendance at meetings, is not expensive. Also we operate with no overhead expenses or employees. Our zealously guarded assets are credibility and respect.

We have become a resource for neighborhood groups that come to us for help. For example, last November, the Montecito Association Board asked us for help in framing a gathering of the thirty-plus Montecito neighborhood groups based upon our Roundtable format. The event, hosted by MA President Richard Nordlund and attended by County leaders, was a great success. Each individual organization had an opportunity to voice its concerns.

A member of the San Antonio Creek Residents HOA met with us about neighborhood concerns over the proposed Park Hills Estates development. After interviewing homeowners, a NDLC Board subcommittee was appointed to study the matter in more depth. The residents’ concerns were two-fold: they felt ignored and misunderstood by the County Planning and Development, and they feared that the proposed project would increase fire danger in their foothill area. The subcommittee met with the County staff and learned the source of misunderstandings, and spoke at the Planning Commission meeting regarding the need for an EIR (Environmental Impact Report). The Planning Commission voted 4-0 in favor of requiring an EIR. A leader of the San Antonio Creek Association wrote, “Thank you for your support! The Neighborhood Defense League made a huge difference!”

A project that did require an initial output of funds was our challenge to mandated wireless Smart Meters that were being installed in local neighborhoods by all of the investment-owned electricity providers, such as PG&E and the Southern California Edison Company. Last summer, at the County Legislative Committee meeting, the Neighborhood Defense League Board successfully proposed that the Smart Meter issue be placed on the Agenda of the Board of Supervisors. Our Board of Supervisors voted unanimously to join Counties and Cities opposing the mandated installation of these devices that were strongly opposed for health, safety and privacy reasons. It was at this meeting that NDLC formed the initial coalition (The Consumers Power Alliance)which challenged the legality of the mandate before the administrative judge of the CPUC (The California Public Utilities Commission). Our lawyer, Mr. Tobin, filed a series of motions before the judge which were all successful and have resulted, first, in the opt-out/delay list used successfully by many Founders, and now, by “the Option” which is a turnabout by PG&E offering complete customer choice: smart meter, analog – retained or restored. PG & E deserves credit for listening to customer concerns and complying with the CPUC rulings. Please see link for the details of the February 1 decision. Meanwhile, Edison continues to resist the rulings. But NDLC is about to receive a refund of our costs and we intend to put it back in service to inspire the cooperation of Southern California Edison.

We press on, supporting where we can, fighting where we must, but most of all true to our motto and in defense of the health and safety of our neighborhoods.


Sincerely,

Judith Ishkanian, President
for the Board of Directors, NDLC