To the editor: Another wind event, another round of downed power lines and downed trees, and once again, Californians are left holding their breath, waiting to see what burns next (“Strong winds down trees, power lines in Southern California; Highway 118 closed in Moorpark,” December 29).
The Los Angeles Department of Water and Power, Southern California Edison and other major utilities continue to rely on aging overhead power lines despite the obvious and repeated consequences. These lines break in high winds, causing fires, cutting off power, and putting entire communities at risk. In a state already ravaged by one wildfire after another, this is no longer an inconvenience: it's negligence.
Power lines are not only dangerous; They are also aesthetically ugly and environmentally destructive. Millions of trees They have been cut down simply to make room for poles and clearing zones, all while we talk endlessly about sustainability and climate responsibility.
The solution is not radical or new: bury the lines. Underground utilities are much less likely to fail during wind events, dramatically reduce the risk of fire and allow us to restore trees and green spaces instead of cutting them down. Several cities and countries I have done it successfully. California can do it too.
How many more neighborhoods do we have to burn to the ground before we act? How many evacuations, insurance disasters, and life disruptions do we need to see before prevention finally outweighs profits and inertia?
It's time to bury the lines, replant the trees, and build a safer, more beautiful city and state.
Donald Flaherty, Burbank
