Excerpts from the letter:

…SNAFU has serious concerns regarding the CPUC’s decision in 2008 to modify General Order 95 (”GO 95″) to allow Communications Infrastructure Providers (”CIPs”) to place equipment for wireless facilities above high-voltage alternating current (”HVAC”) power lines on utility poles.

…Previously, all such equipment was required to be installed beneath HVAC on utility poles. Installation of such equipment beneath HVAC power lines is a time-honored safety precaution to prevent fire hazards resulting should this equipment in any way cross HVAC lines, whether as a result of earthquakes, equipment failure, or any other potential cause.

It appears that economically- and politically-driven pressure from wireless carriers to expedite the installation of CIP equipment on utility poles in public rights-of-way, both at the national level (via changs to the National Electrical Code) and here in California, has resulted in this imprudent modification to GO 95.

We have seen the results of the loosening and disregarding of established engineering standards, lax oversight, and placing short-term financial gain before safety considerations in the recent and ongoing oil spill disaster in the Gulf of Mexico. Financial expediency should not be the basis for engineering determinations that can have a significant impact on public safety.

Gatto believes the state tax code is inherently unstable and advocates establishing a rainy day fund. “If you average state revenues over a 10 year period, we’ve done fine. We need to mandate that if tax revenues exceed expectations in a good year, that a certain amount is put away for years when revenues are down.”

Mike Gatto campaigning

The education system should focus on workforce development, Gatto says. “Students shouldn’t be made to feel like failures if they don’t succeed according to one standard or metric. It is absolutely critical to involve local employers and create opportunities for partnerships, to show students there’s a path for them to succeed as long as they finish school.”

Gatto favors local control over education whenever possible. “It is sad that so many parents and community members feel the state is not a partner in education.” With respect to the state budget crisis, he advocates “changing the rules under which the state could borrow Proposition 98 funds. While they are guaranteed to be repaid, every child going through school suffers during those years when funds aren’t available. Proposition 98 has been treated as a ceiling, when it was meant as a floor.”

Creating a bicameral legislative committee “with teeth” to investigate abuse is one of Gatto’s goals. Citing poor purchasing and contracting decisions, he wants to restore funding for investigators. “I’d rather pay ‘budget cops’ to find abuses and correct them, then cut spending in that area.” Gatto would have investigators report directly to the legislative committee. “If legislators promise to find and eliminate fraud, they can run on their record. And if they do find a problem, it will become a part of the public record, reducing waste in the long run.”

Environmental and historic preservation are priorities. Gatto says he is committed to preserving open space, reducing graffiti, and “being mindful of the visual environment, too.” With respect to state incentives for transit-oriented development, “I approve of the concept of making sure every planning decision takes into account what’s best for the region in terms of transportation, congestion, and jobs. There are state incentives for development, but I also want to make sure we have the same incentives for historic preservation of our neighborhoods.”

Gatto advocates complete divestment of California investments in companies that do business with “Iran’s rogue regime.” He also proposes that the state refuse to do business with such companies. “Divestment rules must have teeth – this was a major factor in ending apartheid in South Africa.”

Even as the Glendale City Council has taken a strong stand against it, Gatto says he is still researching the 710 Tunnel project proposal and has not made a decision on whether to support the plan or not.