Utilities & Emergency Preparedness
Edison/power reliability, undergrounding, wildfire and emergency readiness
Candidate positions as stated in official meetings, side by side. Citations link to the source meeting.
In 2014, they supported aggressive investment in seawall upgrades to prevent erosion [2], and in 2014, they opposed the Southern California Edison Infrastructure Upgrade Project due to concerns about residents with medical needs during power outages [3]. In 2017, they supported agendizing a city-wide discussion on emergency communication protocols and reverse 911 opt-in procedures [8]. In 2023, they stressed the need for a clear plan to notify vulnerable residents during heat emergencies [14].
Over time: They shifted from opposing infrastructure projects due to resident concerns [3] to supporting broader community discussions on emergency communication protocols [8].
David Lesser supported continued engagement with Edison and regulatory oversight in 2013 [1]. From 2014 to 2016, he emphasized collaboration with Edison and infrastructure upgrades, while also highlighting the need to hold Edison accountable for safety risks and financial burdens caused by power outages [2][3][4][5]. In 2016, he opposed delays in emergency response times [6] and raised concerns about emergency communication during the Chevron Refinery incident [8]. In 2018, he acknowledged Edison's grid upgrade efforts and called for improved information dissemination during incidents [10][11]. Later, in 2023 and 2025, he highlighted the need for battery backups during outages, the financial burden of infrastructure damage from seismic events, and the importance of public surveys for emergency funding decisions [14][16][17].
Over time: From 2013 to 2016, Lesser shifted from advocating for engagement and oversight to emphasizing accountability and addressing safety risks [1][5]. In 2025, he expanded his focus to include public engagement and financial considerations in emergency preparedness [14][16][17].
No substantial public record on this issue in our archive.
In 2017, Richard Montgomery supported demolishing and rebuilding Fire Station 2 as part of a renovation and replacement effort [1]. In 2018, he noted a significant reduction in complaints and praised Edison's responsiveness regarding electric grid upgrades and reliability [2]. In 2019, he supported moving forward with the second phase of a fire department feasibility study following a letter of support from the fire union [3].