Waste Watcher: LA Dept. of Water and Power Pays for Lactation Services

Here’s some exciting news for those in search of a very, very alternative energy source. We are anticipating the greatest advance in renewable energy since the windmill or solar panels – power generated by breast-feeding. Actually, we are not completely sure that this will become reality. It was, however, the only conclusion we arrived at when the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power revealed its latest project.

According to the Los Angeles Times (February 15), “[t]he Los Angeles Department of Water and Power came under fire [February 14th] for paying specialists to show new and expectant mothers at the utility how to properly breast-feed their children.” This boob of a project “is expected to cost about $50,000.”

The lactation services are a part of the DWP’s double whammy to taxpayers – “The plan to issue [the] DWP-funded ‘lactation services’ contract drew howls from taxpayer advocate Walter Moore, who pointed out that the utility’s five-member board voted just last week for a package of new water and electrical rate hikes.”

Moore stated the obvious – “You couldn’t make this up…. This is such a rip-off. You’ve got to wonder if somebody’s cousin runs the lactation business.” You’ve also got to wonder what Freud would say. Perhaps those who called for rate hikes felt guilty, then relapsed to infancy and felt the need to be surrounded by nursing mothers.

The lactation specialist “cousins” and others must send in“[c]ontract proposals [which are] due to the DWP on March 7. The utility posted a 56-page document on its website seeking proposals from specialists who can spend 16 hours a week performing such tasks as workshops on pregnancy and lactation for employees.”

“The winning contractor also would be paid to show employees how to use the department’s ‘breast pump program in traditional and nontraditional work environments.’” DWP workers should only learn for the “nontraditional work environment,” since they obviously work in a very different kind of place.

The board president, who apparently does not think the breast is best (for finances), said “If you are a private company, you can spend your money as you want. But when it comes to taxpayers’ and ratepayers’ money, you have to be more careful.”

Despite the president’s concerns, “The newly hired DWP general manager…said he has no intention of abandoning the contract.” His reasons for the program? “‘It’s enlightened. It’s humanitarian. And it boosts productivity.” Eh, “productive” is a stretch, unless milk productivity is taken into account.

The thought process involved in deciding to spend water and power tax dollars on breast-feeding may never be explained. However, it is clear that this type of program should be left to hospitals and doctors and not taxpayers. This uncalled-for program gives all the more reason for taxpayers to stay abreast of how their money is being spent.