Newport Heights undergrounding

Opposed the undergrounding petition, saying one group of homeowners shouldn't impose $60,000-plus costs on neighbors who can't afford it.

Defended the undergrounding initiative as a democratic process under state law, rebutted claims about failed districts and cost escalation, and said hundreds of signatures are in hand.

Recounted the failed 2016 effort and Edison's admission undergrounding isn't safer; says costs of $80,000+ for older homes are unfair.

Rebutted Mike Hen, alleging mailer manipulation, digitally altered petition photos, and city-sponsored districts without homeowner proponents.

An artist who paints telephone poles, asked the council to consider the poles' aesthetics and to vote no on undergrounding.

Called the District 118-2 undergrounding a waste of city money, noting seven failed attempts in 13 years and an estimated $30 million tax burden on about 600 properties.

Long-time resident on a fixed income said his family cannot afford undergrounding and asked to be left alone.

Questioned why city staff appears to have engaged with the Safer Newport Heights group on a cost-deferment program, calling it troubling.

Said undergrounding is an unnecessary financial burden for fixed-income residents in historic cottages and poses earthquake restoration risks.

Criticized the 'Safer Newport Heights' mailer as misleading, saying it omitted the actual petition while framing the project as safety-driven.

Argued the area is low fire-risk, undergrounding in alleys is prohibitively costly, and covered conductors would achieve safety goals at one-fifth the cost.