Legendary Consumer Advocate Sylvia Siegel Dies--California Loses a Colorful Character

The Queen of Ratepayer Advocates

Some people we meet in life are impossible to forget; Sylvia Siegel was one of those people. Decades ago an unusual “sit-in” at the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) brought me to San Francisco.

On that summer day in 1981, an unlikely alliance of doctors, business owners, ministers, professors, accountants, parents and grandparents from San Luis Obispo chose to step outside their comfort zones to question the wisdom of putting nuclear reactors on California’s seismically active coast.

Sylvia joined us, called her press contacts, and made sure everyone knew this “sit-in” had TURN’s full support. From that day forward, Sylvia visited us often and became a friend and champion we relied upon and never forgot.

When Sylvia stood on the steps of the Public Utilities Commission, she didn’t mince words about cost overruns and delays – the bane of the nuclear industry. Her righteous indignation when the CPUC allowed PG&E to charge ratepayers a ten-fold rate increase, without reviewing the reason, was a sight to behold.

California owes a great debt to Sylvia Siegel; she left behind an organization of incredibly talented advocates who will keep her spirit alive wherever and whenever ratepayers’ interests are at stake.

Rochelle Becker was president of the board of TURN from 2000-2007 and is executive director of the Alliance for Nuclear Responsibility, a statewide organization dedicated to sustainable, non-nuclear energy solutions.

Sylvia was a giant of enormous impact and unflinching personal courage and
fortitude. When did she not back "The Good Fight" ? Sylvia understood the
importance of an independent media system because how else were the
stories of accountability in public and corporate affairs going to be
told. As public television and public radio station giant in Northern California
fell further away from their commitment for independent news and public
affairs responsibilities, Sylvia Siegal, age 74, in 1992 joined the public's
slate of reform candidates and against the odds was elected by KQED's
once empowered membership to serve TWO TERMS on the KQED Board.
With her election, the tide on the KQED Board "TURNED" and a new management was brought in and KQED reinstituted much of the local
programming long advocated by its members and the reform minded
Board members. Alas, those days are gone as the current (2006) KQED
Board has once again abandoned its membership roots and no longer
has a publicly elected Board of Directors at all !!! However, Sylvia's
legacy lives on with at least two FCC Commissioners as public advocates
and a growing citizens movement across the nation fighting against
further media consolidation and for more media democracy.

Henry Kroll
former elected member,
KQED Board of Directors
and President
Committee to SAVE KQED
1991 - 1997

THANK YOU for tipping me off re: our profound loss
> with Sylvia's death. I first learned about this sad moment from a dear friend to many, Henry Kroll.

Following is my message to other friends which I surely wish to share. How we recall all that we learned and borrowed from her and her piss and vinegar and dedication to the call of public duty and public good.

I hope that Sylvia's Siegel's death notice gives you a glimpse of how wonderful this special person was and what she stood for consistently. Some say she was "crusty". So?....I respected her. Perhaps, more of you wish there were more like Sylvia. It was my privilege to have known her a bit, a genuine champion of the Good Fight....Indeed, Sylvia saved consumers $Billions and fought for them. Her determination should be others' gift. Sylvia must have ridden with Paul Revere and Patrick Henry before taking on consumer rights. A monument should erected for her...and kids in high schools really should be told who she was, how & why she served and what she did for them, their parents and future generations, almost silently. She did so for the benefit of millions of people without their knowing her. I am saddened by her loss, indeed....I just wish that I could have spoken with her one more time and been able to get one more bit of her advice...All we can do now is honor her and all that she stood for.....I feel it's all of our obligation to do so...

THANK YOU for tipping me off re: our profound loss
> with Sylvia's death. I first learned about this sad moment from a dear friend to many, Henry Kroll.

Following is my message to other friends which I surely wish to share. How we recall all that we learned and borrowed from her and her piss and vinegar and dedication to the call of public duty and public good.

I hope that Sylvia's Siegel's death notice gives you a glimpse of how wonderful this special person was and what she stood for consistently. Some say she was "crusty". So?....I respected her. Perhaps, more of you wish there were more like Sylvia. It was my privilege to have known her a bit, a genuine champion of the Good Fight....Indeed, Sylvia saved consumers $Billions and fought for them. Her determination should be others' gift. Sylvia must have ridden with Paul Revere and Patrick Henry before taking on consumer rights. A monument should erected for her...and kids in high schools really should be told who she was, how & why she served and what she did for them, their parents and future generations, almost silently. She did so for the benefit of millions of people without their knowing her. I am saddened by her loss, indeed....I just wish that I could have spoken with her one more time and been able to get one more bit of her advice...All we can do now is honor her and all that she stood for.....I feel it's all of our obligation to do so...

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