SAN FRANCISCO'S LOSS — THE OUSTER OF EDWARD SMELOFF

The San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) met on November 9, 2004 and at its Regular Meeting gave a commendation to Edward Smeloff one of the Deputy Directors who was in charge of Energy Issues. This was a crying shame just the way it was done. The President of the SFPUC Dennis Normandy praised Edward Smeloff for all his contributions. I was watching the Director of SFPUC; Susan Leal and she really did not like what was being said. Edward Smeloff was let go because of political reasons. The City and County of San Francisco will suffer because of the loss of Edward Smeloff. Time will tell and when the pertinent issues come up for adjudication - the City and County of San Francisco will feel the pain. Edward Smeloff knew his stuff and I did not always agree with him. However one could sit down with him and analyze the issues at hand. In the Southeast Sector we had various scenarios that called for empirical data to make a sound assessment of the present system. The issues the two aging toxic spewing power plants, the general assessment of the transmission lines within the City and County of San Francisco. The pending Jefferson-Martin Transmission Line, energy saving measures linked to small business using a lot of energy. The ever-increasing consumption of energy in the Financial District. Solar, Wind, and Tidal power and its contribution to shut the two toxic polluting power plants. The list goes on. Edward Smeloff could give you a brief but precise analysis and then one could go and verify the results for oneself. He was right most of the time and educated one on key factors. Jared Blumenfield from the San Francisco Environment with the help of some young Turks and a young Commissioner from the SFPUC were behind the ouster of Edward Smeloff. Susan Leal wanted him out so that she could place the 3 Combustible Turbines in the Southeast Sector. Manage the Energy Issues with some inept folks that she has hired. One of them Barbara Hale. The community is against the 3 CTs and Sophie Maxwell the most inept, ignorant, and arrogant Supervisor does not represent the interest of the community. Our children are dying and anyone involved with the placement of the 3 CTs will have blood on their hands. A fight in the courts of law. We want an Environmental Impact Report and a good one at that. The failed negotiations to acquire land from Mirant and Catellus Corporation have failed. Most failures are on the way and behind these machinations - Susan Leal. Some of us, community advocates have taken the time to sit down with California Independent Systems Operator (CA ISO). The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the California Energy Commission (CEC), San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC). Numerous other local organizations to find a solution and shut down the Mirant and the Hunters Point power plant. At none of these meeting have we seen Sophie Maxwell. At none of these meeting did we get any help from Barbara Hale who worked for the CPUC and now works for Susan Leal. The ploy behind the ouster of Edward Smeloff is to have a free reign to place the 3 CTs. The community will fight the SFPUC and it would be well for the world to remember no one is their right sense respects Sophie Maxwell and the cronies who hover around her. The CTs should be placed near the San Francisco Airport and failing that endeavor - sold. In the year 2004 it is ridiculous to have the single cycle Combustible Turbines using very expensive fossil fuel pollute the air. Also use secondary effluents which will emit pathogens into the air. These two factors and more will kill our children. Edward Smeloff is better off now and will find a good job. The SFPUC will have to deal with major obstacles and in the years to come will fail this City and County of San Francisco. San Francisco Environment has spent the $13.3 million grant money and is now moving like the scavenger hyena looking for funds. It has teamed with the Mayor and his young Turks to screw SFPUC and in the process the City and County of San Francisco. There are many of us - educated on issues linked to the vitality of this City and Energy who wish Edward Smeloff all the very best. Time the Controller monitors the moves made by SFE. They seem not to learn from past mistakes. Failing that it would be prudent to call in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and stop the nonsense once and for all.

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