Chino & Chino Hills Community Website, Business Directory & News Articles

UPDATE: In September, 2009, Senator Margett signed a letter in support of the alternate route proposed by Chino Hills.

I really care about Chino Hills and the people that live here. A few years ago, a group of residents wanted to get decent Internet service in town. There was none. So along with the City Council, we rallied around a good idea, rattled the cages of the big companies who saw us as nothing more than a dot on the map, and we made things happen as a group. We are people who care about our community and who are willing to do something about things that are not right.

Unfortunately, there are influences from other areas that don't have our interests at the top of their list and if we don't continue to stand up and make our needs known, close to 1000 homes in Chino Hills could end up with highly charged, electrical wires towering 200 feet over their backyards and children (click on the picture above to see before and after photo renditions).

C.A.R.E.

Over the past year a wonderful group of citizens created "The Citizens for Alternate Routing of Electricity" (C.A.R.E.). They formed this group in protest of Southern California Edison's plans to build and activate a huge set of power lines that cuts right through the center of our city. The City Council is standing behind CARE's efforts but this battle is not over and we cannot stay complacent if we are to win.

SENATOR MARGETT'S POSITION

In January, I wrote to several of our Government representatives. I got a written response from California State Senator, Bob Margett, and in it he stated that although he appreciates hearing from constituents on issues of concern, that he has "not taken an official position on Chino Hill's proposed alternative". Senator Margett said that along with Assemblyman Bob Huff, he sponsored a meeting in Sacramento with all the parties present and that he would continue to monitor the progress. But I am concerned that he remains officially uncommitted to our cause and I believe that it's important for us to let him know how many people are actually affected by this and to ask for his commitment.

HILLS FOR EVERYONE AND THE STATE PARK'S POSITIONS

Remember that on the other side of this battle, there is the very connected, well funded, and well organized group called Hills for Everyone. Along with the State Parks, their position is straightforward and unequivocal; No more power lines through the state park. They are proposing that SCE run the lines underground through Chino Hills along the original route that we are all protesting. I haven't heard anything about the safety and feasibility of running high powered electrical lines underground so I'm not sure if that is a real alternative at all.

In their most recent newsletter, Hills for Everyone insinuates that the members of our City Council are acting in their own best interests. What I see, is that our city council is acting at the request of thousands of citizens. Hills for Everyone also claims that the problem is somehow due to poor planning on our part. Our city council has always been very receptive to and very much a part of the community, so those kinds of insinuations are unfounded and need to be refuted. This issue is not just about a couple of city council members.

Note: I usually support the work of Hills for Everyone and I love what they do to protect the state park, but this is a time where the negative effects on families and children are much more important, especially since the alternatives proposed are feasible and good ideas for all involved.

ASSEMBLYMAN BOB HUFF'S POSITION

I also heard from Assemblyman Bob Huff. He stated emphatically, "I have definitely taken a position. I am for the people of Chino Hills and if they want to see those towers moved to unpopulated areas, I'm all for it." I appreciate his willingness to take a positive stance on this for us.

WHAT SHOULD YOU DO?

So I encourage citizens in Chino Hills to stand by your neighbors and let Senator Margett know that you would like for him to support the Chino Hills Alternative Plan. Certainly those who are against the alternative plan are still making their positions known. We can't let up now.

You can reach Senator Bob Margett by writing to his district office at: 2605 E. Foothill Blvd. #A, Glendora, CA 91740.

You can call him or fax him a note here:

Phone: 626-914-5046.

Fax: 626-914-8976

Or you can email him by clicking the Feedback link on his web page:

http://republican.sen.ca.gov/web/29/

You can reach Assemblyman Bob Huff by writing to his district office at: 23355 E Golden Springs Drive, Diamond Bar, CA 91765 (Thank him for standing by us.)

You can call him or fax him a note here:

Phone: (909) 860-5560

Fax: Fax: 909-860-5664

Or you can email him by clicking on the "comment" link on his web page:

http://www.assembly.ca.gov/acs/makebio.asp?district=60

LET US KNOW WHAT YOU THINK HERE

Please leave a comment below. (If you're not registered, you'll have to register, It's free). I hope that this will become a public demonstration of how many families this actually affects. Even if you're not affected, this is a way you can show support for your neighbors. And by the way, if you don't agree with the alternative plan, you can voice your view here too. We'd love to see hundreds of comments (Register here).

Oh and the picture needs to correct as they will not use skeleton towers in the neighborhood but large Steel poles

We could even ask for an artistic design on those poles or ask that no skeleton tower it the city or hills.

It looks like no one reads or ha add a point of view. So it may be a waste of time to comment. that 500kV line was planned as far back as 1985 before the housing boom in Chino Hills. County supervisors no doubt made a profitable deal with developers to build right up against the right of way. Instead of trying to stop the needed power system maybe the City should use money they're spending on buying out house that are to close to the right of way..

I feel that is a complete waste of taxpayer's money The home owners bought right up against the right away so they new the power line would be used. There are neighbor hoods that have 500kv lines running through them. There is one that run through a neighbor hood in Temescal valley near Tom's farms south of Corona. The towers have deep base that is steel reinforced poured concrete that if the tower was to fall it would take an 8.0 earthquake to bring down. Once the towers up people would adjust.

Besides the 500kv lines have to run through a neighborhood somewhere in Chino Hills Soquel Canyon or Butterfield Ranch.

I believe that we have a bunch of NIMBY types(Not In My Back Yard!) people. I do not feel that they have a special right to complain.....

Thanks Debi. This is one issue we are trying to keep on the front page.

Thanks for helping to keep this issue in forefront of public awareness. This is a critical issue to ALL residents of Chino Hills, not just the folks living along the proposed route. This will have a definate long term impact on property values in Chino Hills as this route cuts right through the heart of our beautiful city. The visual blight alone will be devastating, not to mention the associated health risks. This was not poor planning on the City's part...it was lies from Edison. Home owners contacted Edison BEFORE purchasing homes. They were told the lines were deactivated and would not be re-activated except in case of emergency and only for the duration of the emergency. This is not NIMBY....this is a documentable public safety issue! We need to make sure we all support Bob Huff in his upcoming bid for the Senate taking over Bob Margett's seat. We need to support Curt Hagman in his bid for Bob Huff's Assembly seat, and we need to support our City Council in their re-election bids as these folks have all stood solidly behind C.A.R.E. and all the citizens of Chino Hills in fighting the plan. We all need to write the Governer and Senator's Boxer and Feinstein. Make your voice heard!