I’m just recovering from the news of last week.

While putting to bed a glossy special, dealing with our normal hectic workweek, we were trying to keep pace with a massive Queens electrical blackout and understand the implications of the death of one of the most influential Queens political leaders in the life of this newspaper.

We are not done trying to figure it all out.

The Con Ed story is most puzzling. How can the greatest city in the world entrust its electrical service to a private company and receive third world-like blackouts? This was not a natural disaster -- no Katrina-destroyed levees. A hot summer day is to be expected and annually our demand increases. When a utility is granted a monopoly by government, they are ethically and morally – if not legally – bound to deliver quality service. They are responsible to maintain their infrastructure to ensure their capability. Consolidated Edison failed. They failed miserably.

They failed the people of Queens and thereby failed the people of New York City. Yes, investigations are essential. “Mea culpas” are important. But restitution and assurance of future quality, uninterrupted service is an absolute imperative.

Those of us in the government watching business know too well that we privatize in order to avoid the type of electrical service delivered by Con Ed to western Queens. The government could have done as bad a job – maybe better. The wires under the streets of our city are the responsibility of the utility, and if they cannot maintain them at a level assuring continued service, the city should seize them by eminent domain procedure. Another vendor or a public utility could do no worse.

In neighboring Long Island, a quasi-public Long Island Power Authority (LIPA) took over years ago from private Long Island Lighting Company (LILCo) and has performed better than Con Ed. Elsewhere in the nation’s large cities, public authorities or private utilities manage to maintain infrastructure and provide service with greater reliability and at a rate structure lower than we have in NYC.

So what gives?

Monopolies tend to cause companies to get fat and lazy. I fear that Con Ed has gotten so fat that its bulging waistline prevents it from seeing its decaying wires below the ground. It was Western Queens last week. What city neighborhood will fall victim to their lethargy and neglect next? Can the sluggish giant utility go on a diet and get itself back in shape?

Who must pay for the process?

I think the answer is clear. Shareholders must bear the burden of complete restitution, remedial and preventative action by Con Ed. As the utility pocketed profits in the past instead of attending to its much needed infrastructure, the shareholders were the beneficiaries. If they allowed executives to take bloated salaries and bonuses, it is their fault, not the rate payers.

The Public Service Commission must prohibit all rate increases until an independent audit certifies New York City is being serviced by a state of the art electrical infrastructure. The City and State through competent, independent evaluation must determine if the utility has the ability to provide our essential electrical service. Con Ed must reimburse each and every victim of its inadequate service fully, regardless of existing policy or law.

As to our Mayor, whom I’ve supported throughout his term, I respectfully disagree. The time for outrage has passed and he wasn’t on the front lines with our local elected officials. Our citizens needed spokespeople to help vent their frustration and hold the utilities feet to the burning wires. Our Mayor was not there. Our Borough President was not there. Assemblyman Mike Gianaris, Councilmembers Eric Gioia and Peter Vallone, Jr. were. They led the chorus on behalf of the people.

They, the mayor, and the people must all now be diligent to ensure that getting through one heat spell without disaster doesn’t grant Con Ed a pass to return to business as usual.

The City must inform the electric company they are on probation. We all must receive monthly reports as to Con Ed’s progress toward service and infrastructure improvement and the result of independent audits commissioned by the City and State.

The people of this city must never be permitted to live in the dark again.



DEMOCRATIC CHAIR

We share with the borough the loss of Tom Manton, a man who contributed greatly to the influence of Queens. He ran the Queens Democratic Party for two decades with grace, power and quiet dignity. Most importantly, our borough was not sullied with the indictments and criminality that befell others.

Hopefully, as the mantle passes to our friend Joe Crowley, some of the concerns that have been expressed about the equitable distribution of court controlled financial goodies (guardianships and the like) could be addressed. Certainly we live in a political system where people are rewarded for their party loyalty, but there should be enough to go around to stop insider grumbling.

Crowley, assuming he accepts the challenge, will face many challenges. The most daunting will be to adhere to rigidly mandated fundraising limitations for Congressmen. Personally, I’m not sure why Joe would want the job. It will bring him scrutiny and headaches. It will also give him influence and control over the dispensing of jobs and those court-controlled goodies. He will have a long line with Manton’s former firm, which effectively exerts control over much of the party apparatus; his brother’s and other family members law practices; and a considerable group of Democratic leaders who believe they deserve a piece of the party-controlled legal patronage pie.

It is a decision Crowley has considered since Tom Manton first began to show a loss of vitality. We discussed it with Joe a number of times. On each occasion he said with confidence that he would be able to deal with the maze imposed by Congressional fundraising limits and sounded clearly like he would take the job if and when it was available. But Crowley, always a Manton loyalist, continually pointed out Tom wasn’t going anywhere.

Tom is now gone. It is decision time for Joe. We believe that decision has already been made.

Good luck Joe. Be careful.

Michael Schenkler can be reached via this contact form.