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Elected Los Angeles city councilmembers are paid $178,789, the highest in the nation, although many are taking a volunteered 10% pay cut, according to Rick Orlov in his City Hall column. Now a San Pedro man wants to see a local ballot measure in 2010 asking voters if the electeds' salaries should be halved. He'll need petitions from around 240,000 registered voters to even see the question asked to the public. If that would pass, officials would be paid less than some of their staff. Similarly, another proposal seeking ballot recognition is for the creation of a new city position that would act as a Department of Water and Power ratepayer advocate. "We need someone independent to provide the cost-benefit analysis ... and let ratepayers know the true cost of what the DWP is doing," explained Nick Patsaouras, who is leading the cause. Maybe for once, DWP bills will be crystal clear.
