Janice Hahn Calls AZ Official 'Forrest Gump Of Politics'

Another day, another salvo in the ongoing battle between Los Angeles and Arizona as they race to out-boycott each other. In response to Arizona public utilities official Gary Pierce's threat to cut the flow of electricity to LA, which relies on the state for 25% of its power needs, city officials are firing back.

The LA Weekly obtained a copy of a statement by Councilwoman Janice Hahn, in which she holds no punches in her response to Pierce's threats:

"Commissioner Gary Pierce is the Forrest Gump of Arizona politics...Never mind that he is an extreme right-wing Republican who supports a racist law in Arizona that even the United Nations has condemned ... "

Hahn goes on to point out that Los Angeles and other California cities have ownership stakes in at least one of the powerplants in question. Earlier today, the LADWP's General Manager Austin Beutner echoed this sentiment in his response to Arizona. LAist reports on Beutner's statement:

"We are part owner of both power plants, which are generating assets of the Department. As such, nothing in the City's resolution is inconsistent with our continuing to receive power from those LADWP-owned assets."

And he's right: L.A.'s resolution on Arizona did not include boycotting its own properties in the state.

And this afternoon, the Mayor's office weighed in with a statement dismissing Pierce's threats:

"The mayor stands strongly behind the City Council on this issue, and will not respond to threats from a state which has isolated itself from the America that values freedom, liberty and basic civil rights,"

As the city gears up for tonight's game 2 in the Lakers/Suns series, let's hope the lights stay on at the Staples Center.