When Fred Pickel sat down to write the city’s official argument in favor of a ballot measure to grant more autonomy to the Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, he promised voters it would make the municipally owned utility “more accountable, transparent and responsive.”

Years ago, Los Angeles voters decided that the city needed an independent advocate to scrutinize water and electricity rates and stand up for customers at the Department of Water and Power.

Now a Santa Monica-based consumer advocacy group wants city leaders to oust the man who holds that job, arguing that he has failed to speak up as scandals dogged the utility.

A billionaire twisted arms to use public land for luxury shops. Now Eli Broad wants to put his art there.

Consumer advocate Jamie Court feels that the conflict is offset somewhat by the billionaire's purpose - an art museum rather than, say, a condo tower. "It's not like housing that he owned that he would profit from," says Court. "On the other hand, should that entitle him to have his pet project gain special concessions because of the knowledge he has?"