Environment

MWD Chair Responds To Criticism Over Pension Increase

By Maureen Cavanaugh / KPBS Midday Edition Co-Host, Hank Crook / Producer

Published September 14, 2009 at 6:00 AM PDT

This story was published more than 15 years ago.

MWD Chair Responds to Criticism Over Pension Increase

How will a plan to increase employee pension benefits at the Metropolitan Water District affect water rates in San Diego County? We'll speak to MWD Chairman Tim Brick about why employee benefits and water rates are being increased at the same time.

Maureen Cavanaugh: Begin talking about public employee pension benefits and San Diego immediately sits up and takes notice. Talk about increasing those benefits and some local officials run the risk of regressing into disturbing flashbacks.

Not that long ago, the city of San Diego's underfunded pension mess brought us to the brink of bankruptcy. And, San Diego County is just now beginning to count the cost of another badly-timed pension benefit increase.

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In this climate, then, it comes as no surprise that a new deal struck between the Metropolitan Water District and its labor unions to increase pension benefits has gotten roundly criticized by San Diego's Mayor and other officials. The fact that the Metropolitan Water District, which provides most of San Diego's water, has increased water rates by 19 percent this year with another 12 percent hike expected next year hasn't helped the pension deal's popularity.

So, why would the nation's largest provider of treated water choose this moment to increase pension benefits? Is there a method behind what looks like madness?

Guest

Tim Brick, Chairman of the Board for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

Tags

Environment Water

Maureen Cavanaugh

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Maureen Cavanaugh has been a familiar voice for KPBS listeners for more than 15 years, serving in a variety of capacities including announcer, host, and producer. As host of KPBS Midday Edition, Maureen has interviewed a wide range of notables, such as comedienne Sandra Bernhardt, actor John Lequizamo, author Chuck Palahniuk, composer Marvin Hamlisch, artist Robert Irwin, and designer Zandra Rhodes. But of all the interviews Maureen has conducted, her most special was with His Holiness, the Dalai Lama. Before joining KPBS in 1997, she worked as a news anchor for KSDO and KOGO News Radio in San Diego. While working for commercial radio stations in San Diego and in Salt Lake City, Utah, Maureen reported on both hard news and lifestyle features. Maureen has received three "Golden Mike" awards from the Radio and TV News Association of Southern California for economic reporting and breaking news. She has also received a "Best of Show" and “Best Radio Newscast” awards from the San Diego Press Club and the "Flo" Award from Public Radio Program Directors Association for Best Public Radio Announcer in a large market. Maureen is a native of Queens, New York, but after more than 20 years in San Diego she feels she qualifies as a real Southern Californian.

What do you want to hear host Jade Hindmon talk about on Midday?

Hank Crook

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Hank Crook was the producer for "KPBS Midday Edition" as well as Friday's "Roundtable on KPBS Midday Edition" and KPBS TV's "San Diego Week" until 2011. He produced shows about a wide variety of topics. Some of Hank’s favorite topics include: local politics, economics, the environment and anything sports-related. Hank graduated with a degree in journalism from San Diego State University, and has been a professional journalist in San Diego since 2003. As an SDSU student, Hank served as an intern for the KPBS Radio newsroom. Hank grew up in San Diego, and is an alumnus of Point Loma High School. When Hank is not at work, he likes to exercise, listen to music, hang out with friends and manage his fantasy sports teams.

See stories by Hank Crook