--- ![](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/media/yootheme/cache/63/083i-63a74005.png) [ LOS ANGELES ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles) # PG&E Blackout is Blackmail October 14 2019 Written by Greg Palast. [](https://www.addtoany.com/share) **GUEST COMMENTARY--**The PG&E Blackout Con is all about threatening the judge in the PG&E bankruptcy case. The [**victims have joined with the bondholders**](https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/wf/click?upn=G62jSYfZdO-2F12d8lSllQBxoGamaU8rcaF8RNmryYGf-2FH-2By-2B2nvzgQMo8t-2F-2FGgbEKqArJi6AF0Mo4IeSwOaMWY6v04vldW3RVBEcS59mbz3aq8ALbkf6rklzTZbYxqjTyk38Y63lQWxK4uTxUlXPMsA-3D-3D_X-2B7Jfl03uHQCTo9K8Ml-2F-2BImxQj9eycCKaLHl0aLQLkG-2FAKIc0hB3TMQ-2BTALZw4vc-2FvCKWv9gjyYDOo7E1-2Fc5g-2FJuryQcANyRkYRX-2FonXVqQ5o9Q43u3klW8QDsPosp8vvEVaA4jvRWLI-2BjHcDZFi1CWnVXOMlWgVPfHRB2EUuuGbpIRCDIJUYB-2FEOkwy6ZbjvqEtd3uldkKClUHgqlT3xjhh-2F-2BjKmvDvw0Zpj02URyQtB9uzMUx1VXBBq4KGPhQXI5yDG120V-2FtDRyAzGzZ-2BL1eMa04YP-2Bj9hwhpcMLQzTgtNQzzL69AsmVWBAsaYUGfx0YBHbaYUnx08s5qmUuAggiRzP7YNN07VLqs6CM6LYA-3D) to eliminate the equity of the stockholders who deserve nothing. So, in desperation, the power company pigs are turning off your lights. Hopefully, the judge will not be intimidated. Leaving hospitals, schools and 1 million homes without power — and that means without water — in California is the endgame of deregulation mania. Jerry Brown, Bill Clinton and other deregulation snake-oil salesmen, and the PG&E greedster bosses, should be imprisoned for the people [**already burned**](https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/wf/click?upn=G62jSYfZdO-2F12d8lSllQBwtdvf-2FsjxfQT87Y38frXPp9JPziTQVIalnh84gRawnmecM9jwMpwcSrcTqWKJMkLwWoSfhCvgLo8Y0iBJgfGZbLyRB0X-2BQEjipZ-2Fhq0DYrtLqwv9jBWsbL3ZrGpPqHJ8ps9oO4lOHHpgZoc9QUIfJ9Og-2BGaPmz8uKqpRYnXWunh_X-2B7Jfl03uHQCTo9K8Ml-2F-2BImxQj9eycCKaLHl0aLQLkG-2FAKIc0hB3TMQ-2BTALZw4vc-2FvCKWv9gjyYDOo7E1-2Fc5g-2FJuryQcANyRkYRX-2FonXVqQ5o9Q43u3klW8QDsPosp8vvEVaA4jvRWLI-2BjHcDZFi1CWnVXOMlWgVPfHRB2EUuuGbpIRCDIJUYB-2FEOkwy6ZbjOv-2Feuxh7PDm7v4mezsmWZBuVSUWc0WHmbZIvb1V4ySH2SZiEgHELlXLCZ-2FnFSnjjt-2F7LAOxSCRLJlS1wYRSWnm6hgzoYOv9SBCqrr17wWuC3Yey70SSlW3XPqrRu-2FQmnI9i2B1uRnfqLN6wbs12-2Ft6ERC7h4CeXHyQLVszS68yM-3D) to death. Where is the California utility commission? I’ve written a book published by the United Nations called, [***Democracy and Regulation***](https://u7061146.ct.sendgrid.net/wf/click?upn=G62jSYfZdO-2F12d8lSllQB8CkKFeQjLj7F2oC6lTiKcFt5-2BrWD-2BjmvIgrgGNKPHeEFz6qePGYRZT-2Bf-2F6SqFK6rwKgsSnFqTQzsTaRKzFmglJwxuoMD14ExvS32lthcocKyzT8gkwU8-2FvI3WzOyLyOi1wTuthUTlbMxp5fHahqkGc-3D_X-2B7Jfl03uHQCTo9K8Ml-2F-2BImxQj9eycCKaLHl0aLQLkG-2FAKIc0hB3TMQ-2BTALZw4vc-2FvCKWv9gjyYDOo7E1-2Fc5g-2FJuryQcANyRkYRX-2FonXVqQ5o9Q43u3klW8QDsPosp8vvEVaA4jvRWLI-2BjHcDZFi1CWnVXOMlWgVPfHRB2EUuuGbpIRCDIJUYB-2FEOkwy6ZbjLmhRtt-2Bsgn5veGKKi0QlMzSmUrprB3VhZzxQJNYl-2BH7ArfWarowDE5sHzzKC9wvVsDt6M7uGG7otUNTMIfmp3cnIVV7lZ-2Fh2x-2FRkBs05bkBIfA5uG0XAlowAn4OcOmtLMQyw-2FqQGB7dX-2B3siCy4PNAocvj05F6nZukzjtF78hUo-3D), about how to avoid such piggery. When I wrote the book, it was meant only for Third World nations — apparently, Northern California is the third world of electricity. Public utilities must be publicly owned. Decades back, I investigated power company racketeering for the Justice Department. As an expert, I can tell you, PG&E is a criminal enterprise parading as a power company. Shut them down — not us! ***(Greg Palast, a Puffin Foundation fellow in investigative reporting, is the author of the New York Times bestseller, The Best Democracy Money Can Buy, now a feature documentary.** [www.GregPalast.com](http://www.GregPalast.com) )* [ ![Brian Goldsmith Vertical R. Col](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/images/ADS%20FOR%202026/brian-goldsmith%20AD.jpg) ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/115 "Brian Goldsmith Vertical R. Col") [ ![save up to 4000 on used evs](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/images/LADWP/dwp%20ev%20ad2.png) ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/107 "LA DWP | Save $4K, Green | Priority Ad") [ ![McKinney Campaign](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/images/ADS%20FOR%202026/McKinney%20City%20Watch%20Ad_final.jpg) ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/114 "McKinney Campaign") [ ![LA DWP #2 (Power Savers)](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/images/LADWP/2026%20LADWP%20PowerSavers%20300x250.png) ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/82 "LA DWP #2 (Power Savers)") [ ![Donna Tryfman](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/images/ADS%20FOR%202026/Donna-Tryfman-Ad-Final-Complete-Border-White-Margin.png) ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/98 "Donna Tryfman - HS1-1") [ ![Pay Water Bill Help](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/images/LADWP/dwp%20-%20cares-ad.jpg) ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/97 "Home - LA DWP #2 (Pay Water Bill Help)") [ ![David DeJute Campaign](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/images/ADS%20FOR%202026/DejuteAd.png) ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/111 "David DeJute Campaign") [ ![Anna Reitano Vertical R. Col](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/images/ADS%20FOR%202026/reitano%20vertical%20rework.png) ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/112 "Anna Reitano Vertical R. Col") ![](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/images/banners/signup-for-cw.png) ## Get The News In Your Email Inbox Mondays & Thursdays Email [ ![Rhonda Haymon](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/images/ADS%20FOR%202026/rhonda%20haymon%20for%20judge.png) ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/113 "Rhonda Haymon campaign") [ ![something you should know, podcasts](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/images/banners/something%20you%20should%20know2.jpg) ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/component/banners/click/110 "Something You Should Know") --- ## Featured CityWatch Stories [ ![](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/media/yootheme/cache/15/088d-15036ccd.png) ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/voices/33675-when-will-enough-be-enough) ### [When Will Enough Be Enough?](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/voices/33675-when-will-enough-be-enough) ABE WON'T BE SILENT - I’ve hit a wall with the relentless stream of antisemitic bile flooding my social media feeds—and… [ ![](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/media/yootheme/cache/ed/088c2-edf954ae.png) ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/voices/33673-announcing-the-second-issue-of-the-journal-for-humanitarian-conflict-resolution) ### [Announcing the Second Issue of the Journal for Humanitarian Conflict Resolution](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/voices/33673-announcing-the-second-issue-of-the-journal-for-humanitarian-conflict-resolution) HUMAN RIGHTS - For much of my adult life, I have felt that defending human rights begins with refusing to regard anothe… [ ![](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/media/yootheme/cache/bc/087l-bc8ba04f.jpg) ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/voices/33648-heres-what-zionisms-got-to-do-with-it) ### [Here’s What Zionism’s Got To Do With It](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/voices/33648-heres-what-zionisms-got-to-do-with-it) ICAN - The anonymous website “BHUSD Watch” recently published a long, detailed article about the current BHUSD board an… [ ![](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/media/yootheme/cache/dd/087n-dd3be536.png) ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/election-2024/33655-two-democrats-one-senate-seat-candidate-brian-goldsmith-on-why-his-approach-makes-sense-for-voters) ### [Two Democrats, One Senate Seat: Candidate Brian Goldsmith on Why His Approach Makes Sense for Voters](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/election-2024/33655-two-democrats-one-senate-seat-candidate-brian-goldsmith-on-why-his-approach-makes-sense-for-voters) ELECTION 2026 - The race to succeed retiring State Senator Ben Allen (D-24) pits two Democrats with different political… [ ![](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/media/yootheme/cache/85/088i-85c12356.png) ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/election-2024/33679-voting-blue-again-what-has-california-gotten-for-it) ### [Voting Blue Again? What Has California Gotten for It?](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/election-2024/33679-voting-blue-again-what-has-california-gotten-for-it) PERSPECTIVE - The real state of Los Angeles, at least in part, can be seen and felt while driving down Sherman Way from… --- ## [ LOS ANGELES ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles) [ ![](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/media/yootheme/cache/eb/088o-eb38dcb1.png) ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles/33680-could-la100-triple-your-power-rates)### [Could LA100 Triple Your Power Rates?](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles/33680-could-la100-triple-your-power-rates) [ ![](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/media/yootheme/cache/0a/088f-0af8e9d7.png) ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles/33686-los-angeles-is-already-testing-the-limits-of-robotaxi-safety)### [Los Angeles Is Already Testing the Limits of Robotaxi Safety](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles/33686-los-angeles-is-already-testing-the-limits-of-robotaxi-safety) [ ![](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/media/yootheme/cache/40/086q2-401efd12.jpg) ](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles/33637-getting-housing-projects-through-los-angeles-permitting-and-land-use-approvals)### [Getting Housing Projects Through Los Angeles Permitting and Land-Use Approvals](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles/33637-getting-housing-projects-through-los-angeles-permitting-and-land-use-approvals) ### [JAY on LA 10-28-26](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles/33630-jay-on-la-10-28-26) ### [JAY ON LA for 10-26-26](https://ded2209.inmotionhosting.com/~citywa9/los-angeles/33629-jay-on-la-for-10-26-26)