By Evan Symon / California Globe
In Sacramento on Wednesday, lawmakers met with representatives from AT&T and Verizon over what can be done about future planned blackouts. In addition, a new bill was introduced making it mandatory to have backup power in areas at risk of a wildfire.
Outcry after phones are cutoff during planned blackouts
By National Herald Staff / The National Herald
SACRAMENTO, CA – Amid mounting concerns for the health and safety of young people, Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, 30 state lawmakers, and a strong coalition of health, youth and community advocates are backing a tough new bill [to be] introduced today to ban sales of any flavored tobacco product in California stores.
by Jeremy Walsh / Pleasanton Weekly
The State Legislature is set to reconvene after the winter recess on Monday, and the Pleasanton City Council recently received a recap of relevant legislative work in Sacramento from city staff and the Tri-Valley's Assembly member, Rebecca Bauer-Kahan.
By Evan Symon / California Globe
Both battery and diesel power has been proposed by bill authors
Three new bills requiring cell phone and electric companies to provide emergency backup power to cell towers and hospitals will be introduced in Sacramento next year.
The Three Bills
By Phillipe Djegal / Kron 4
ORINDA (KRON) — The loss of cell phone service during public safety power shutoffs is unacceptable.
That’s the word from East Bay State Senator Steve Glazer.
During a news conference in Orinda Wednesday, Glazer announced proposed legislation to keep cell towers powered up when PG&E pulls the plug.
Depending on your cell phone carrier, in Orinda during last months PG&E public safety power shutoffs, you either got lucky and did not lose reception.
“We did not — but we had Verizon,” said resident Taylor Hurt.
Pleasanton Weekly
$750,000 in state funds acquired to create one-year pilot program
Top prosecutors and elected officials in Alameda and Contra Costa counties joined together Wednesday to announce new funding and strategies aimed at preventing illegal dumping and waste.
Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley, Pleasanton's representative whose district also includes parts of Oakland that are affected by the problem, said something must be done because illegal dumping is "a plague on our society" and affects residents' quality of life.
By Amy Hollyfield / ABC 7
Funding secured by efforts of Assemblymember Rebecca Bauer-Kahan, Alameda District Attorney Nancy O’Malley and Contra Costa District Attorney Diana Becton