This story comes courtesy of California Watch.
By Lance Williams
When it comes to political metaphors, "David vs. Goliath" doesn't really serve to describe the power imbalance in the contest for Prop. 16, the public-energy initiative on the California ballot Tuesday.
Perhaps "David vs. Godzilla" gives a better notion of the dynamic in this faceoff between the giant Pacific Gas & Electric Corp. and a tiny cadre of consumer activists.
At issue is a measure that would discourage California cities from disconnecting from PG&E in favor of city-owned and -operated power services.
Proponents have spent an astonishing $46 million promoting Prop. 16. PG&E's shareholders are footing the bill for all but $91,000 of the total; that amount came from the state Chamber of Commerce's PAC.
By contrast, opponents have had only $90,000 to spend. The biggest donors were the state Association of Realtors ($25,000), the San Francisco consumer group The Utility Reform Network ($20,000) and two local Sierra Club chapters ($6,500).
And so, PG&E is spending $511 for every $1 the opponents shell out.
Put another way, the opponents' entire budget is only slightly more than what PG&E is paying for Yes-on-16 advertisements in Sing Tao Daily, the San Francisco-based edition of the Chinese-language newspaper.
PG&E has been fending off public power initiatives since the cement cured on O'Shaughnessey Dam at Hetch Hetchy Reservoir in Yosemite National Park, San Francisco's source of both water and hydropower since the 1920s.
This time around, the utility got proactive, and sought to head off city officials who, in the name of green energy or CO2 gas reduction, might be considering setting up or expanding municipal power services.
Under present law, it takes a simple majority of a city's voters to establish a municipal power company. If Prop. 16 passes, proponents of municipalizing utilities would need a two-thirds vote of the electorate. As the state Legislature demonstrates every summer at budget time, a two-thirds vote is difficult to achieve.
Prop. 16 would "protect our right to vote," PG&E says in campaign literature. PG&E CEO Peter Darbee has said the measure allows voters to decide, "Do we think it's appropriate for the government to take over utilities?" according to the Los Angeles Times.
Opponents contend public power is cheaper; among other things, there's no need to pay dividends to shareholders or pump up the stock price. Municipal power services also are more responsive to environmental concerns, they say. They call Prop. 16 "the PG&E power grab."
Here's a question - how would you run an initiative campaign if you had unlimited resources and no organized opposition?
On Prop. 16, PG&E has opted for TV ads and more TV ads. U.S. International Media Politicals, the company that has booked Prop. 16's ad blitz, has been paid $22 million, records show.
The blitz has been a bonanza for many California TV stations. In Los Angeles, KABC has been paid $2 million, KNBC has been paid $1.3 million and KCBS has been paid $800,000. In the Bay Area, the campaign spent more than $700,000 each at stations KTVU, KGO and KPIX, and $600,000 at KCRA in Sacramento.
Then there's the other question: How would you campaign if you were broke? Prop. 16 opponents have paid $30,000 to the Goodwin Simon polling firm, and $6,800 to Capitol Coast, their campaign consultants.
Despite the imbalance, opponents are getting a lot of traction with newspaper editorial pages. An anti-Prop. 16 website cites more than 25 editorials criticizing the measure.
The Modesto Bee had the most vigorous headline:
Prop. 16: No way, never, uh-uh, no
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
It's Another Trump-Biden Showdown — And We Need Your Help
The Future Of Democracy Is At Stake
Our 2024 Coverage Needs You
Your Loyalty Means The World To Us
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
The 2024 election is heating up, and women's rights, health care, voting rights, and the very future of democracy are all at stake. Donald Trump will face Joe Biden in the most consequential vote of our time. And HuffPost will be there, covering every twist and turn. America's future hangs in the balance. Would you consider contributing to support our journalism and keep it free for all during this critical season?
HuffPost believes news should be accessible to everyone, regardless of their ability to pay for it. We rely on readers like you to help fund our work. Any contribution you can make — even as little as $2 — goes directly toward supporting the impactful journalism that we will continue to produce this year. Thank you for being part of our story.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
It's official: Donald Trump will face Joe Biden this fall in the presidential election. As we face the most consequential presidential election of our time, HuffPost is committed to bringing you up-to-date, accurate news about the 2024 race. While other outlets have retreated behind paywalls, you can trust our news will stay free.
But we can't do it without your help. Reader funding is one of the key ways we support our newsroom. Would you consider making a donation to help fund our news during this critical time? Your contributions are vital to supporting a free press.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our journalism free and accessible to all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
As Americans head to the polls in 2024, the very future of our country is at stake. At HuffPost, we believe that a free press is critical to creating well-informed voters. That's why our journalism is free for everyone, even though other newsrooms retreat behind expensive paywalls.
Our journalists will continue to cover the twists and turns during this historic presidential election. With your help, we'll bring you hard-hitting investigations, well-researched analysis and timely takes you can't find elsewhere. Reporting in this current political climate is a responsibility we do not take lightly, and we thank you for your support.
Contribute as little as $2 to keep our news free for all.
Can't afford to donate? Support HuffPost by creating a free account and log in while you read.
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. Would you consider becoming a regular HuffPost contributor?
Dear HuffPost Reader
Thank you for your past contribution to HuffPost. We are sincerely grateful for readers like you who help us ensure that we can keep our journalism free for everyone.
The stakes are high this year, and our 2024 coverage could use continued support. If circumstances have changed since you last contributed, we hope you'll consider contributing to HuffPost once more.
Support HuffPostAlready contributed? Log in to hide these messages.