Stay loose on BWL

The sale question is premature

Posted

The war over whether to sell the Lansing Board of Water & Light has already claimed its first victim.

Commissioner Anthony McCloud’s reappointment stalled before the City Council and ultimately was withdrawn in frustration by Mayor Virg Bernero. The administration says McCloud can continue on the board without approval; Councilwoman Carol Wood says otherwise, contending Bernero has 60 days to nominate a replacement. Look for a battle in September.

McCloud’s reappointment went awry when Councilwoman Jody Washington asked him if he favored selling the BWL.

“I don’t know if that’s a fair question for me … ,"McCloud responded.

“It is, it is,” Washington interrupted.

“ … at this point,” McCloud continued. “I think I would need a lot more information in order to make that decision. I think there needs to be a thorough weighing-in on the pros and cons of that and what that looks like for the citizens of Lansing. So, with all due respect, I think I’m going to hold comment on that.”

Now, contrast that to the answer given to the same question — this time coming from Wood — by Ken Ross, a new Bernero nominee for another seat on the BWL board.

“I think that the Board of Water & Light is an incredible resource and an asset to the city and ideally there would be no need to sell it.”

Ross’ answer was more politic, but if anything less direct. Yet his nomination sailed through.

But the real problem isn’t either man’s answer or non-answer. The problem is the question.

First, so what if neither has an opinion yet — or for that matter ever has one. Neither McCloud nor Ross nor any other BWL commissioner has anything to say about selling the BWL, if it should come to that. If and when the Council puts the question on the ballot, then the voters will decide, not the board.

But more important, the question isn’t relevant yet. First, we need an in-depth study, which is all the mayor has called for, and for good reason. Once adamantly opposed to the sale, Bernero has come around. He’s done so at some political risk, assuming he wants to serve a fourth term. But he has realized that it would be better to conduct an in-depth study now than to try to get answers while a bankruptcy judge is holding a gun to the city’s head.

The only thing that Washington and Wood’s question is really good for at this point is what it tells us about Washington and Wood. And unfortunately it tells us that these two Councilwomen are not going to give the study a fair shake. Maybe it’s a deep-held belief, or maybe they’re being influenced by the IBEW, which has launched a campaign against selling the utility.

That’s too bad, especially in the case of Wood, who as a popular at-large Councilwoman could help elevate this difficult debate by encouraging people to keep an open mind.

Just as Bernero, who has no shortage of stubbornness, came around, so could Wood. That would be a good thing for the city and for her. It would elevate the debate. And it would register with the many voters who find her excessively negative.

Comments

No comments on this item Please log in to comment by clicking here




Connect with us