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Thursday, September 19-September 25, 2024
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Rolling Hills residents losing gas, electrical service due to land movement
VOL. 28,
NO. 189
Newsom warns Norwalk to end ban on new homeless shelters By Staff
By City News Service
U
tility shutoffs prompted by rapid land movement that have been impacting residents of Rancho Palos Verdes extended Monday to neighboring Rolling Hills, with nearly three dozen homes expected to lose natural gas service, and more anticipated to lose electricity. According to the city, the Southern California Gas Co. was expected to shut off service to 34 Rolling Hills homes at about 3 p.m. Monday due to the land movement. Southern California Edison, meanwhile, was expected to cut service to 51 homes in the area by Wednesday evening. "SCE has experienced a significant increase in the number of repairs needed to continue to safely provide power, and because of the accelerating land movement and dynamic conditions in the area, SCE is unable to effectively monitor the situation and safely maintain service," according to a notice sent by the utility to affected residents. "The rapid increase in fissures and impacts on SCE's infrastructure means that the company cannot mitigate the public safety risk of downed poles and wires in this area." SoCalGas officials said "following a recent geological hazard survey and an incident with the water system validating concerns, SoCalGas determined that recent and potential land movement have made it unsafe to continue providing natural gas service for 34 homes in
A water main on the Palos Verdes Peninsula was moved above ground in anticipation of future landslides. | Photo courtesy of AlphaStructural/Imgur
the city of Rolling Hills." There was no indication of how long the shutoffs might last. Dozens of homes in the Portuguese Bend, Seaview and Portuguese Bend Beach Club areas of Rancho Palos Verdes have already been coping with utility outages. Nearly 150 homes have also lost cable and internet services from Cox Communication. Many residents are in danger of losing their homes entirely due to the slides. An evacuation warning has been in place for the Portuguese Bend community. Gov. Gavin Newsom proclaimed a state of emergency Sept. 3 in the city in an effort to free up state resources to assist in the response. "The Governor's Office of Emergency Services has been
coordinating with the city and county for nearly a year to support the response to the land movement, including providing technical assistance, supporting the local assistance center, facilitating a federal mitigation grant for groundwater work in the area, and helping officials with initial damage estimates," according to a statement from Newsom's office. Rancho Palos Verdes officials said on Sept. 12 they are advising homeowners in danger from continued land movement on the best ways to stabilize and level their houses. "Temporary solutions include placing homes on cargo structures and other leveling systems, such as I-beams, installing alterna-
tive foundation systems, and using temporary modular housing and storage while repairs are made," according to a city statement. "Permit applications for these projects are now available on the City website at rpvca.gov/building. Fees are being waived during the emergency." The Ladera Linda Community Center at 32201 Forrestal Drive is open for extended hours from 9 a.m.-9 p.m. Residents affected by the situation can use the facility's resources, including and Wi-Fi. Updated information on land movement in the area can be found at rpvca. gov/1707/Land-MovementUpdates. Residents can also call 800-250-7339 Monday through Friday, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., and Saturdays, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for updated information. The land movement in Rancho Palos Verdes has accelerated across 680 acres following heavy rains in spring 2023, causing damage to homes, roads and utilities. County Supervisor Janice Hahn has estimated that upward of $1 billion in government funding might eventually be needed to address the situation. Former President Donald Trump is scheduled to give a news conference at nearby Trump National Golf Course on Friday morning, but it is unclear if he will address the landslides. Rancho Palos Verdes
See Land movement Page 36
Norwalk City Hall. | Photo courtesy of Northwalker/ Wikimedia Commons (CC0 1.0)
T
he California Housing and Community Development Department on Monday threatened a lawsuit against Norwalk for the city’s ban on the development of new homeless shelters and other housing sites, Gov. Gavin Newsom's office announced. The HCD warning was in response to Norwalk’s ordinance approved last month prohibiting new shelters and other forms of housing to address the homelessness crisis, according to the governor's office. The notice warns of impending legal action if the city does not reverse its policy, which state officials called "counterproductive and immoral" amid the decadeslong homelessness crisis. "It is unfathomable that as our state grapples with a homelessness crisis, Norwalk would pass an ordinance banning the building of
homeless shelters," Newsom said in a statement. "It is counterproductive and immoral for any community to throw up their hands and say they’ve done enough while they still have people in need. We can’t leave people in dangerous and unsanitary encampments — the city of Norwalk needs to do its part to provide people with shelter and services." The state's notice followed the Norwalk City Council's Aug. 6 adoption of a 45-day urgency ordinance that imposes a moratorium on emergency shelters, singleroom occupancy housing, supportive housing and transitional housing. On Tuesday, the council will consider whether to extend that ordinance another 10 months and 15 days. State officials said Norwalk's moratorium violates several state planning and housing laws, includ-
See Homeless shelters Page 17