Overhead Cables in our Neighborhood

Thank you to all of you who signed the petition asking for change/removal of the overhead cables in Rose Park!

Below I am pasting the emails that have been sent/received on this topic.

I am encouraged by the responses from our government representatives but disappointed that Verizon has not replied to me.

I'd like to know any suggestions you supporters have for moving forward on this. Obviously I am going to watch for the promised changes but the next move is toward burying these cables in the near future.

Ask your neighbors and friends to email me or comment on this blog so we can continue increasing our petitioner numbers.

Here is the letter to Vice Mayor Lowenthal:

Dear Vice Mayor Lowenthal,

The Rose Park Neighborhood Association would like to bring the following issue to your attention.We have received numerous complaints from residents about the thick cables hanging on the utility poles in our neighborhood. These cables were installed by Verizon. We believe that the blight this causes in our neighborhood could not have been foreseen by the city of Long Beach and some action should be taken so that we can once again see the sky above us.

The properties of these cables that are unacceptable are:

They are very thick and unsightly
There is additional equipment hanging in the middle of the cables
There are loops of wires hanging off the poles
They are strung down the street (not in the alley) in many places
The weight of these additional cables may cause damage to our utility poles

Our neighborhood association is comprised of two historic districts. We believe that these overhead cables should not be allowed within a historic district.Our attempts to contact Verizon have been unsuccessful and we appeal to you for assistance in the removal/burial and maintenance of these cables.

Photographs of our neighborhood cables can be viewed on our Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/#!/RoseParkNeighborhoodAssociation Please take a moment to view these photographs. None of them were taken from an alley.

Thank you for your kind assistance.

Best Regards,
Emily Stevens
Rose Park Neighborhood Association

And the response:

Hi there, Emily. Thank you sending this to me. I agree with you. Let me research what we can do to improve this.
suja

NEXT RESPONSE:

Emily --
Per Suja's request our office has discussed this with the City Manager's office to see who would address this concern.
Ultimately what we found out is that this is a State issue. Verizon's practices are allowable by the Public Utilities Commission. Long Beach Public Works' Department has received complaints from other neighborhood in the City but we do not have any jurisdiction over this practice, however resident's can express concerns directly to Verizon via their Government Affairs Director.
I checked in with him and he said that it was fine to release his information to residents.

Mike Murray Director - Government/External Affairs Verizon 562-435-9594 office mike.murray@verizon.com

You can also express your concern to Assemblymember Bonnie Lowenthal's office, again since this is a State issue. District Office:110 Pine AvenueSuite 804Long Beach CA 90802Tel: (562) 495-2915Fax: (562) 495-2983

Best Regards,
Mark MagdalenoField Deputy
Office of Dr. Suja Lowenthal Vice MayorCouncilmember, 2nd DistrictCity of Long Beach

MY REPLY:

Hi Mark,

Thank you for the response. I have received so many complaints about this it is incredible. I even received an email from someone in Orange county.

I will write to the departments/people you suggested and I will encourage others to do the same.

I have been told that other neighborhoods in Long Beach are burying their cables. How can we accomplish that? If we cannot get our cables buried due to the expense, can we have support from the city council or the mayor's office to ask Verizon and other cable providers to tidy these up?

Thank you all for your time and guidance.
Sincerely,
Emily Stevens
RPNA

NEXT RESPONSE:

Hi there, Emily. I am in support of burying the cables or at the very least tidying them up.
suja

THEN I SENT THE ORIGINAL LETTER TO MIKE MURRAY AT VERIZON:
I have not received a response from him.

THEN I SENT THE ORIGINAL LETTER TO ASSEMBLYMEMBER BONNIE LOWENTHAL:

HER RESPONSE:

Hi Emily,I have asked my caseworker Chris Wilson to follow up with you. It sounds terrible. Please keep me informed.
Thanks for reaching out.
Bonnie

CHRIS WILSON CALLED ME AND THEN SENT THIS RESPONSE:

Emily,
I appreciate your patience. Verizon’s fiber and cable teams have inspected the area and will be responding to the cabling issues. The "looped" cables will be brought into line with a "snowshoe" device that will tighten up the cabling. Additionally, cabling throughout the district that needs tightening and/or adjusting will be attended to. This work is underway and will take a few months based on resources and materials that will need to be coordinated and ordered. It is an aerial cabling environment and cables will still run between poles but we're going to everything we can to respond to as many issues as possible while maintaining the integrity of the network and service quality. The team leaders will be providing updates to the local Director as well as myself on the progress. He will also be checking the area out periodically as well. As you know , undergrounding cabling is generally handled with the residents working in conjunction with the City.

Once again, thank you for your patience and bringing this issue to us.
Christopher Wilson
Case Manager & Field RepresentativeOffice of Assemblymember Bonnie Lowenthal
110 Pine Ave, Ste 804
Long Beach, CA 90802
Phone - (562) 495-2915
Fax - (562) 495-2983www.assembly.ca.gov/lowenthal