On December 21, after a significant blackout hit San Francisco, much of the city remained in darkness. Interestingly, the War Memorial Opera House had power for its performances of “The Nutcracker.” This decision sparked questions about why this venue was prioritized while many residents still faced outages.
At a recent Board of Supervisors hearing, PG&E CEO Sumeet Singh claimed that Mayor Daniel Lurie requested power restoration for the opera house, citing its importance during the holiday season. This was a curious choice since many neighborhoods, including senior housing, were still without electricity. Supervisor Bilal Mahmood pointedly questioned why the utility focused on a non-residential venue over those in urgent need.
Singh countered by saying that their actions were based on the mayor’s request. He noted that 10% of PG&E’s customers were still affected by outages caused by a fire at a substation. The criticism intensified when PG&E shared a photo of their trucks outside the opera house on social media, coinciding with the matinee performance of Lurie’s daughter, Taya, who had a lead role.
Amidst the controversy, it was revealed that the performances could generate substantial revenue, over $450,000 in ticket sales, highlighting the economic stakes involved. The mayor’s office claimed that Lurie was actively advocating for faster power restoration throughout the city and did not specifically direct resources to the opera house.
In the backdrop, the blackout left about 130,000 residents without power, leading to a chaotic situation across the city. Traffic lights were out, and public transit struggled to operate. City officials expressed frustration with PG&E’s handling of the crisis, calling for more accountability.
Public sentiment reflected a growing dissatisfaction with PG&E, echoing a broader conversation about whether cities should shift to public power sources. State Senator Scott Wiener announced plans to introduce legislation to explore options for breaking ties with PG&E.
As discussions continue, San Francisco is currently assessing the value of PG&E’s assets within the city. This analysis aims to pave the way for potential public power initiatives. Overall, this incident has reignited debates over energy policy and the reliability of infrastructure in urban areas, especially in times of crisis.
For deeper insights into energy reform and urban planning, consider checking out resources from the California Public Utilities Commission or relevant studies on the impacts of utility outages.
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PG&E,Daniel Lurie,blackout
