Power Outage, Our 3rd World Future

I heard a circuit breaker popped and reset down near West Bayshore and Colordo (2 huge substations). This is where PA gets their power from the state grid.

RC

Thanks, we have just moved back here from DC, are these power outages common? are they symptomatic of a greater problem with power management in Palo Alto?

Just wait until the winter storms come barrelling in. We're one of the neighborhoods that still had above ground electrical power lines and tree limbs are always falling onto the power lines. You kinda get used to it!!

I have news for you. In many ways, we already are a 3rd world country.

Whenever I come back from spending time in Europe and I drive down 101 from SFO to Palo Alto, the road shocks me. Uneven pavement, full of potholes and other defects, unmaintained and filfthy.

Contrast that with state of the art pavement, smooth freeways in Europe.

You get what you pay for...

Already 3rd world: You are right. Northern Europe is much cleaner and better put together than the good old U.S.A, but the cost of living and taxes are much higher to pay for it all.

No, Sharon, these power outages are not common and have nothing to do with presidential politics! Our power was off for just about one minute - Main Library area. And as for our filthy freeways, this area is an area of inconsiderate people who don't care about their state. Contrast this with Washington, Oregon, Texas,, and Kentucky. The Northeast is cleaner than California. Caltrans can't keep up with this mess - it's coming from uncovered trucks going to dumps and landfills - and gardeners who lose their equipment..

Water off at Town and Country
We were about to eat at T & C Sat., Sep 6, and were told the water was off - approximately 7 pm - anyone know what that was about?

Kate,

It's not just the filthiness of our freeways that is striking when you come back from Europe, it's their terrible shape. Potholes, other defects, rough patches, bad repairs and their general bad shape and state of disrepair.

And that's just one example.

Antoher example: In European countries you won't see a mess of overhead cables, because they've mostly been undergrounded.

And I could go on and on.

We are more like a 3rd world country than a top notch industrialized, modern nation.

Keep cutting the taxes until they fix this stuff.

Already 3rd World: Have you noticed that trains in Europe are all electrified. I put a European visitor on Caltrains to SF, he couldn't believe we still had diesel engines on our trains, and same grade road crossings!!!! Very 3rd world.

Some PALO ALTO Phone Numbers to keep handy:

Electric problem/outage: 496-6914
Gas Leak,Water Leak, Sewer problem: 329-2579
Street Light outage: 496-6916
Storm Drain: 496-6974 (M-F, 7-5)

After hours dispatch (non-emergency): 329-2413
911 Emergency: 911 or 329-4433