Edison causes rift with residents over utility pole move

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View from Daryl Daniel’s balcony before and after Southern California Edison raised a power pole at the request of a customer who wanted a clearer view of his own.

Neighbors on Holloway Drive are up in arms after Southern California Edison cut power to hundreds of businesses and residences for nearly a full day on June 8 in order to move a light pole from a single customer’s window view.

Representatives from SoCal Edison confirmed that an individual customer residing at 8530 Holloway contracted and paid them to relocate the light pole, though they wouldn’t confirm the amount.

While people in the area had been notified by SoCal Edison about routine upcoming work, Maria Pendergast only learned the real nature of the project by chance, when the company showed up unexpectedly on June 7 to trim trees in the way of the pole.

Pendergast, the president of the residents’ association at the building next door, immediately went down to investigate.

“They said, ‘This guy next door to you, Stephane Wong, is paying $25,000 to make the pole higher and move the equipment out of the line of sight.'”

WEHOville confirmed a resident by the name of Stephane Wong resides on the fourth floor of 8530 Holloway. Attempts to reach Wong for this article were unanswered.

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The next day, Holloway Drive was closed to make way for a crane, snarling traffic for hours and depriving around 800 people of power, according to Pendergast. By the end of the day, the pole was lengthened in height by a mere 7.5 feet, and new power lines severed the southerly views of the neighboring condominiums.

Daryl Daniel was one of the residents affected. What bothers him isn’t so much the gray wires that now interrupt his view of Cedars-Sinai — it’s the way SoCal Edison went about things.

“The entire block was out of power,” Daniel said. “Not only did they change the pole to accommodate one owner, they impacted the entire block. They affected people who work from home.”

One neighbor was forced to rent a hotel room; another who requires a secure internet connection to perform her duties had to take a vacation day, he said.

The incident raises many questions. Should individuals with financial means be able to contract utilities for private work that negatively affects the public? Should utility companies be more transparent about operations like these?

Judy Tanka, who lives in Stephane Wong’s building, isn’t happy with the way it all happened either, particularly how SoCal Edison nearly destroyed the trees that prevented their crane from reaching the pole without bothering to notify anyone.

“For sure they wanted people not to know (what was going to happen), and apologize later.”

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DownLoadThis1
DownLoadThis1
3 years ago

I’d like to know where all the money goes when someone decides to pay to have the power lines removed? Perhaps the power company could refund the customers that were affected $200 and everyone would walk away happy.

Eldon Penny
Eldon Penny
3 years ago

IT was not cool to put the exact address of the guy that created the problem in the article.

Olen
Olen
3 years ago

It’s a view. Cry me a river. You had a clear one, now there are wires through it. Go jump off your roof. He had wires through his, now he doesn’t. There are a lot more things going on in the world and the city to whinge about.

Tara
Tara
3 years ago
Reply to  Olen

Are you a homeowner? Tell us how real estate values are impacted by stuff like this.

Art
Art
3 years ago

This is a disgrace and must be remedied!

DesertBob
DesertBob
3 years ago

Only in WeeHoe do you see such stupidity.

Chris
Chris
3 years ago

If I could afford to move the power lines I would.
They’re awful. The city needs a plan to put them underground!

Chloe Ross
Chloe Ross
3 years ago

Arrogance and entitlement? Let’s all request poles be moved.

Edie
Edie
3 years ago

Gotta love the selfish, me-first, arrogance of the 1 percent.

Caleb
Caleb
3 years ago

You know what? Stephanie Wong prolly works her butt off for her money and for her being “wealth shamed” for using it to better her living environment is abhorrent. The writer of this article should not have mentioned the woman’s name. It’s unethical. I know it stinks to have power out for a day for one person’s preference, but if she has the means to do it, it’s the electric company/city’s fault for allowing it.

Edie
Edie
3 years ago
Reply to  Caleb

Who doesn’t work their butt off? I’ve worked my butt off since I was 15.

Edie
Edie
3 years ago
Reply to  Caleb

If she has the means, she should have paid all the people who’s lives she messed up. It’s a public utility company, not a private one that’s owned by the 1 percent.

Sean Moran
Sean Moran
3 years ago
Reply to  Caleb

you have got to be thinking it April 1??????????? BETTER LIVING????? and its public record!

Chloe Ross
Chloe Ross
3 years ago
Reply to  Caleb

‘Wealth-shamed”. – how about “shame on perpetuating this newspeak?

William Seegmiller
William Seegmiller
3 years ago
Reply to  Chloe Ross

I’m using that line whenever I hear “wealth shamed” from now on

Bill G Skywatcher
3 years ago
Reply to  Caleb

Whoever it was moved INTO a unit with that view. If s/he didn’t like it, they should have found a different unit. Edison is at fault for letting her/m pay to move it.

DownLoadThis1
DownLoadThis1
3 years ago
Reply to  Caleb

I agree! Too many nut jobs running around loose to give out specific personal details. They even supplied an address in the article.

Larry Block
Admin
3 years ago

This comment was lost and is being reposted by admin: The damn nerve of some people and lace of any coordination with the City of West Hollywood it is a disgrace.

WeHoMikey
WeHoMikey
3 years ago
Reply to  Larry Block

Edison is a public utility, and under California law has no obligation to coordinate or otherwise seek approval of any city – WeHo included.

Tara
Tara
3 years ago
Reply to  WeHoMikey

I believe SCE had to pull a permit with the City of West Hollywood. If it said it was for maintenance that would be fraud.. This was a paid ego project, plain and simple. Follow the money.

DesertBob
DesertBob
3 years ago
Reply to  Tara

Wrong.

Tara
Tara
3 years ago
Reply to  DesertBob

SCE was NOT performing regular maintenance. They were paid by this guy to put up a taller pole. The permit they filed was bs.

Larry Block
Admin
3 years ago

This comment was lost and being reposted by admin: This is disgusting. Entitlement out of control. And the lace of any accountability from Edison add.or the City of West Hollywood is complete negligence. Disgusting. and this Stephanie Wong should be run out of town.

Caleb
Caleb
3 years ago
Reply to  Larry Block

Maybe we should run everyone out of town who has more money than you.

Sean Moran
Sean Moran
3 years ago
Reply to  Caleb

again Caleb?

Bill G Skywatcher
3 years ago
Reply to  Caleb

No but if money is being used to diminish other people’s quality of life, it is fair game for shaming or retribution of any kind.

Larry Block
Admin
3 years ago

This comment was lost and being reposted by admin: Everyone else on the block should chip in to pay $25k to reset the pole exactly where it was. Then sue the original guy for $25k.

Edie
Edie
3 years ago
Reply to  Larry Block

Haha! Love it. I’d pitch in $25 for that to happen.

DesertBob
DesertBob
3 years ago
Reply to  Larry Block

Now THERE’S the solution!
WEEhoe has become a sick joke…a failed experiment.