Some Workers May Get Utility Bill Relief

Thousands of Los Angeles airport, hotel and restaurant employees who have lost work since the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks would get a break on their utility bills this winter under a plan announced Friday by Los Angeles Mayor James K. Hahn.

Workers who have been fired or suffered a 50% reduction in their hours because of the downturn in the travel industry would be able to apply for discounts on their water and power and gas bills.

“People who are coming into the cold winter months are trying to decide how you juggle all these bills . . . when you have no income,” Hahn said during a news conference at a downtown union hall. “We think this kind of relief is needed.”

The program, which still must be approved by the City Council and the Water and Power Commission, could be available by the end of the year.

About 10,000 to 35,000 displaced workers who live in the city could be eligible for the program, and officials said they hope to get at least 5,000 families to sign up.

The idea came out of the mayor’s Economic Impact Task Force, which assessed the economic fallout of the terrorist attacks. It concluded that Los Angeles County could lose 100,000 tourism and travel jobs during the next year.

“No one in Los Angeles should be forced to choose between light and warmth and food and shelter,” said Councilman Eric Garcetti, who is sponsoring a motion asking the City Council to approve the program. Garcetti said that could happen as early as next week.

Hilda Paredes, a housekeeper for four years at the Westin Bonaventure Hotel, said she needs the help because she has worked only one week since Sept. 11.

“Because we haven’t been working, we don’t have the money to pay our bills,” the mother of four said during the news conference. “Sometimes, the phone gets cut off.”

Union leaders praised the effort as one of the first government programs to directly help workers who have suffered since the terrorist attacks.

“This is a really, really great day,” said Maria Elena Durazo, president of Local 11 of the Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees Union, who said about one-third of the union’s members have lost their jobs or most of their hours since Sept. 11. “I sure hope that other cities and other elected officials across the country pay attention to what the mayor of Los Angeles is doing.”

Southern California Gas Co. has agreed to donate $100,000 to the initiative so qualifying workers in Los Angeles and elsewhere can get a one-time $100 credit on their winter gas bill. In addition, the utility will encourage families to apply for a low-income assistance program that provides a 20% discount for those eligible.

Hahn, meanwhile, is urging the City Council and Water and Power Commission to approve the second part of the initiative, which would give displaced workers a 15% to 50% bill reduction for a year and allow them to defer up to six months of bills with no late penalties.

Joy Chen, the mayor’s director of economic recovery, said the total Department of Water and Power program would cost about $900,000, but would not affect rates.

Officials have designed a single application for workers to sign up for both programs, which would be available through union halls and city offices.