california controller refuses pay tab cdwr staff sushi pizza blackouts justify takeout connell says ed fletcher bee capitol bureau published july 25 2001 operating crisis mode department water resources staff worked 20 hour days slept conference rooms fed pizza sushi state department tried keep california lights saying department charged enough feed small army state controller kathleen connell asking employees pay state back 3 600 department food purchases january going paying bills connell told reporters tuesday state buy business hour meals staff town connell said additionally use government issued credit card make purchases improper said department require employees pay takeout meals said department absorb cost department water resources began scrambling buy power jan 17 gov gray davis declared state emergency day northern california hit rolling power blackouts result department new responsibility staff members buying power asked work nearly around clock said oscar hidalgo department spokesman buying food staff crisis situations nothing norm hidalgo said emergencies believe position staff nothing would flood hidalgo said california recent success keeping lights led people forget level crisis state hidalgo said seems every turn people making monday morning quarterback calls said connell aides said buying power firefighters getting food battling blaze said using cal card buying food specifically prohibited open line credit said bee ed fletcher reached 916 326 5548 efletcher sacbee com