SHERIFF OFFICE ASLEEP AT THE WHEEL?
Emergency Services’Useless Alerts:
In January during the rains, people in at least StanfordWeekend Acres were woken up twice in the middle of the night by inane Alerts:(1) for some crisis in Monterey County, and (2) for a mythical “flash flood” inLadera that would have been physically impossible.
SO’s Lack of Knowledgeof ATT Internet Crash/Traffic Chaos:
Wednesday, 2/11 a.m.The computers were not functioning. Tearing apart the router proved fruitless. Trying to access Alpine road was nearimpossible, plus the road was blocked by huge cranes, multiple trucks, danglingwires, and total chaos. Apparently during Tuesday night (2/10/26) crooks had scaled the huge poles opposite Rural Lane andstolen all the ATT copper wires. ATTservice rep. said that service would only be restored 2/27/26! The workmenreported 2/13 that other significantthefts had also occurred along Alpine Road in Portola Valley along Sand HillRoad, and in Woodside, even while they were repairing the lines on Alpine.
I texted the SO to report the outage. Feb.12 Mark Myers responded that heshowed good coverage in the area, and that no one had reported anoutage. Feb. 13 he texted me that ATT made a report to the SO and thatcoverage would be back “in a few days!” ATT told us perhaps service could berestored Feb. 18! Eight days after the theft.
In addition to individuals’ need for secure internetcoverage (especially at tax time) presumably PGE relies on it for remotereading of utility meters, and SFPUC apparently uses it to control/monitorwater flow through the 8ft. diameter Hetch Hetchy pipeline that bisects ourproperty. Some elderly people living alone rely on a land line for emergencyhelp. There is still no coverage as of 2/14/26.
There were reports that BARTwas shut down for some days because crooks dug up all the copper linesthose cars relied on.
The Daily Post 2/13/26reported on page 8 that, according toLt. Craig Lee, last weekend burglarsbroke into 3825 Fabian Way in Palo Alto and removed copper wiring, causing over$100,000 damage.
Earlier this week a couple of fire engines from Station E4were frantically trying to reach an emergency somewhere up Alpine Road. The intersection at Junipero Serra/Alpine wastotally blocked. The west side of Alpinewas blocked by equipment and traffic in both directions was one lane. The fire engines were trying desperately toget to the emergency by using the bike lane on the west side of Alpine but itwas completely blocked by traffic coming from 280 that could not move out ofthe way.
UPDATE SATURDAY FEB. 14
No work being done onAlpine road equipment and no internet service. My husband spent ages on the cell phone with ATT to check status. Apparently the thieves took other equipmentthat is not in stock with ATT and they have to order replacements. If this equipment arrives, ATT might be ableto restore internet service on Wednesday Feb. 18: 8days after the theft!
This is a totally unacceptable situation, especially in taxseason. What do you plan to do tosafeguard critical infrastructure, and to ensure that the SO and other agenciesare up to coping with emergencies, which they obviously are not at present.
QUESTIONS:
1. Why nonotification of outage to SO by ATT?
2. Why no automaticsystem of notification by ATT to SO?
3. Why no trafficsupport by SO/CHP if and when drivers complained?
4. Who is buying allthis copper?
5 Given the number ofincidents why no interagency Task Force in operation?
6. Why no ALERT socommuters having internet connection, could alter route?
7. Why is criticalinfrastructure not secure?
8. Why was the ATTcoverage depicted as “good” when it was nonexistent?
9. What if anythingis going to be done to rectify these failures?
