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Bayview residents tell PUC: don’t site Transbay cable infrastructure here
Summary
Multiple Bayview‑Hunters Point residents and neighborhood groups told the commission their community should not host Transbay cable infrastructure, citing past pollution, health concerns and insufficient outreach; commissioners clarified the matter was not on the agenda and took no action.
Dozens of Bayview‑Hunters Point residents and community groups spoke to the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission to oppose siting Transbay cable infrastructure in their neighborhood, citing cumulative pollution, public‑health impacts and what they described as inadequate community outreach.
Speakers described Hunters Point and Potrero Hill as neighborhoods that already bear industrial impacts and urged the commission to look for alternatives. "Why is it that Bayview Hunters Point is where the PUC dumps all the toxic problems of the city?" one speaker asked, summarizing a common theme. "We don't need that in our community," Brenda Henry Cottrell told commissioners and added that she suffers from chronic bronchitis.
Another resident asked about project necessity and cost: "Why do we even need the Transbay cable? How much is it going to end up costing us taxpayers, what, dollars 300,000,000?" Several speakers urged that alternatives such as energy‑efficiency programs or different siting options be explored.
Commissioners and others in the room sought to correct factual misunderstandings: one commissioner emphasized that the proposal discussed was to connect a transmission line rather than to build a local power plant, and that the project proponents were not proposing a new generation facility on the site. The deputy city attorney reminded commissioners this item was not on the posted agenda, which is why the public was limited to comment but the commission could not debate or act on the matter at length.
No formal action was taken. The commission noted residents' concerns and recommended additional outreach and coordination with project proponents and agencies if and when the project is formally agendized.
Next steps: commissioners said they would ensure the record of public comment is available to staff and project proponents and signaled that formal consideration would require future agenda items and additional stakeholder engagement.
