Assemblyman’s weekend office hours draws public

IMPERIAL — As the state Legislature is taking a month-long recess, Assemblyman Eduardo Garcia (D-56th) welcomed constituents to meet with him at his local office on Saturday.

Garcia anticipates hosting two more Saturday office hours for locals before the Legislature reconvenes Aug. 21. Several individuals approached Garcia on Saturday, raising concerns about a recycling business having its certification suspended for allegedly questionable justification, veterans’ affairs and an invitation to the Brawley Kiwanis for the assemblyman to present relevant agenda items impacting the area.

Yet one piece of legislation concerning many of late is Senate Bill 649, which allows cellular phone tower construction on public land or structures that proponents say is needed to keep up with demand and assure access to the latest technology. The bill is sponsored by state Sen. Ben Hueso (D-40th). On July 12, the bill cleared a legislative hurdle by passing through the Communications and Conveyance Committee. Garcia did not vote on the bill that day.

“We’re still asking for a lot of questions about the local control aspects of the bill, the architectural review process,” said Garcia.

“But Sen. Hueso has accepted about 30 amendments from local governments, so he’s closer to where people could reconsider their position, and I’m looking to get some answers to questions I have.” But the bill’s aim concerns increasing speed and capacity to improve telecommunications, which is to some extent the design behind the bill, noted Garcia. “I think the intent of SB 649 is to achieve 5G technology and also serve the underserved parts of the state, inland California and rural areas such as here,” he said. “It boils down to whether or not SB 649 is overreaching local jurisdiction in term of public opinion.”

As of mid-July, 175 cities have publically opposed SB 649, including Brawley and El Centro. The bill eliminates cities’ ability to leverage public property to achieve the greatest public benefit such as generating flexible general fund revenues to pay for services such as police, fire and libraries, according to the League of California Cities. And the bill allows for complete discretion of small cell installation only to coastal zones or historic sites. A lack of discretionary review can prevent cities from requiring small cells to blend into their environments, stop small cell installation that obstructs homeowners’ views and inhibits a city’s ability to improve the character of the community to attract business. The bill will next go before the Appropriations Committee and then to the Assembly Floor, before the official legislative session is due to expire in mid-September.