Arizona energy official calls L.A.'s bluff on total boycott Reported by: Dave Biscobing Email: dbiscobing@abc15.com Last Update: 5/18 11:16 pm
PHOENIX -- Last week, Los Angeles officially boycotted Arizona to send a message about the state's new immigration law.
Now, the Arizona Corporation Commission is sending back a message of their own.
On Tuesday, Commissioner Gary Pierce wrote a letter to the Los Angeles Mayor and City Council. He said the intention was to "call them out," and see if they are committed to truly cut off all Arizona resources.
"I don't think they thought this through," Pierce said. "There are consequences that involve energy."
Across Arizona, Los Angeles gets 25 percent of its power from three plants, including the Palo Verde Nuclear Station.
The state can't literally pull the plug as the city owns the power.
But if tough-talking Los Angeles officials really decide to go through with this boycott fully, then they will have to go without this electricity.
"You can't call a boycott on the candy store and then pick and choose the candy you really want," Pierce said. "You either boycott or you don't."
However, Los Angeles councilmembers have been perhaps the most outspoken about Senate Bill 1070.
"We want them to be the last state to do this," Councilmember Janice Hahn said after the city first threatened boycotts. "We think we have a lot of leverage over that state."
"This is not a paper resolution. It is real," added Councilmember Ed Reyes after the boycott was approved.
When the Los Angeles City Council made their vote, they were given a report that contained information about the city's contracts with Arizona.
It did not include agreements about water and power.
"I think this boycott is going to backfire," Pierce said. "And they are just going to want it to go away."
After the letter was sent, the Arizona Corporation Commission said by the end of the day, they received dozens of calls and more than 100 emails in support from officials of 18 different states.