Letter to the Editor

Letter: Power to the people, not corporate greed

If the looming threat of PG&E blackouts is any indication, it's time for California to take control of the troubled power company and ensure that we are no longer subject to the whims of a company beholden to shareholders rather than public citizens.

Now, having declared bankruptcy after being found liable for some of the state's most destructive wildfires to date, the company has the temerity to once again threaten power shutdowns, offer vague promises for the future, and increase electricity bills. 

Governor Newsom is correct in saying that the utility company showed "astounding neglect" in dealing with the situation. 

But this isn't their first epic failure — it's part of a continuing pattern intended to disrupt the lives and finances of Californians.

If the state's ultimate responsibility is to take care of its citizenry, then one of its first steps should be to take ownership of the company and ensure that such mismanagement, corruption, and greed never happens again.