HISTORY-MAKING DAVID & GOLIATH BATTLE IN SANTA BARBARA
WILL IMPACT SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
BLURB (Santa Barbara, CA – June 27, 2011) Santa Barbara Board of Supervisors has taken the lead and scheduled a Public Hearing about increasingly controversial Smart Meters,making it the first Southern California county to do so. The history-making hearing has been dubbed The David and Goliath Battle, since it pits a coalition of concerned citizens, who will plead for protection from the trouble-ridden meters, against two multinational, multibillion dollar corporate giants, SCE and PG&E. The match-up, which has been provoked by the utility monopolies forcibly installing the pesky meters without customer consent and refusing to disclose the serious health, safety and rights risks and costs to consumers, will take place on Tuesday, July 5 at 1:30pm in BOS Chambers, Santa Barbara County Administration Building. Public comment will be taken.
What Public Hearing on Smart Meters before Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors (BOS)
Who Consumer and Rights Advocates Plead for Justice
When Tuesday, July 5 at 1:30 pm
Where BOS Chambers, SB County Administration Building – 105 East Anapamu Street; SB 93101
Info 967.7520 or 967.0502 or renehan.house@yahoo.com
BELLWETHER DECISION EXPECTED BY SANTA BARBARA COUNTY SUPERVISORS REGARDING SMART METERS
RELEASE (Santa Barbara, CA – June 27, 2011 ) – Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors will hold a Public Hearing on Tuesday, July 5th at 2pm regarding the highly controversial and trouble-ridden smart meters that have sparked protests nationwide. As wireless smart meter installation proceeds into the Santa Barbara area, uneasy, angry and frustrated residents are pleading for protection and remedy from local elected officials. The history-making Santa Barbara hearing has been dubbed The David and Goliath Battle, since it pits a coalition of rank and file citizens against two multinational, multibillion dollar corporate giants, Southern California Edison (SCE) – which serves the southern portion of the county – and Pacific Gas & Electric (PG&E), which handles the north.
Complaints against SCE and PG&E have focused on violations of consumer and civil rights, forced installation methods without customer consent and/or notification, nondisclosure of risks and costs, and health and safety issues. The recent release of an exhaustive scientific study by the World Health Organization (WHO) spiked more questions about the wisdom of the wireless smart meter program. WHO concluded that the radiation in cell phones – which is even more problematic in smart meters – is a deadly carcinogen. Other concerns include the smart meters’ direct impact on the economy, the environment and wildlife, property values, the sanctity and inviolability of the home, privacy and security as well as cumulative 24/7 exposure to the most vulnerable: pacemaker wearers, seniors, children, pregnant women, and electrosensitives.
43 California communities have already taken action to halt wireless smart meter installation, including Santa Barbara County’s immediate northern neighbors, San Luis Obispo County, Grover Beach and City of SLO. Consumer advocates are promoting an Opt Out Program (for freedom of choice) at no cost to the customer and the ability to retain their safe, reliable analog meters.