LOS ANGELES : Council Members Seek Audit of DWP Spending

Concerned about apparent overspending at the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, City Council members on Friday proposed an outside audit of the utility’s fiscal policies.

In calling for the outside review, Council President John Ferraro said that the $800,000 food tab from the recent nine-day DWP strike has prompted officials and residents to wonder, “What is going on at the DWP?” Council member Ruth Galanter proposed that an inspector general be hired to advise the citizen commissioners who oversee the department.

DWP officials contend that the focus ought to be on the way the utility avoided widespread problems during last month’s walkout and not on the food bill.