City looks to cut cord on unauthorized use of juice
By Kevin Herrera

Daily Press Staff Writer

SM BEACH — For more than five years, those willing to climb lamp posts near the Santa Monica Pier were able to charge their cell phones, listen to radios and even brew a cup of coffee, all without having to spend one cent on electricity.

Not anymore.

On Monday morning, city officials cut the power to electrical outlets placed on lamp posts along Ocean Front Walk, a move that followed an inquiry from the Daily Press.

“We had no idea that (the lamp posts) were being used in that way,” until City Hall was alerted to the free electricity usage last Friday, said Judy Franz, City Hall’s spokeswoman.

The concrete lamp posts, 30 in all, were installed in October 1999 as part of a beach improvement project, according to Franz. They were manufactured in Europe.

Franz said the outlets were included in the design to provide power for public events or decorative lighting such as Christmas lights.

There are similar outlets on lamp posts along the Third Street Promenade, but they still remain active because they do not pose the same problem as the posts near the beach, Franz said.

If a public event needs to be held near the pier, Franz said power can be restored easily and shut off once the event is over.

At Chess Park on Ocean Front Walk, one man, who refused to give his name, appeared extremely upset that the power could be cut off.

“Another story criticizing the city for helping poor people,” he said angrily. “I don’t know what the problem is. I haven’t seen anyone use (outlets) in like two years. Besides, how can anyone reach it?”

The outlets are located at least 10 feet above the ground.

Carousel Cafe patron Mitch Weiss said he has seen plenty of people use the outlets in the last year.

“Most of those using them are homeless,” Weiss said. “And if you’re homeless and want to listen to your radio, you’ll find a way.”

Weiss said he has seen people watching television by plugging their TV’s in the outlets.

“There must be a way to lock them up or something,” Weiss said. “It’s in the city’s best interest to do something because if someone gets electrocuted, they can sue the city for a million bucks.”

Besides being a drain on taxpayers, the unauthorized use of juice has become a nuisance for some business owners, but not for Afif Sahli, an employee at Spokes & Stuff, a bike rental shop near the pier.

“It’s not that bad,” he said of the noise that comes from radios and appliances, adding he once saw a person use the outlet to brew a pot of coffee.

“They’re homeless. They don’t bother anyone. It’s cool,” said Sahli. “It’s not like they’re using a lot of power. The city should just let it go.”

Back at Chess Park, a man who called himself John Smith said most people he knows use batteries and wouldn’t think of climbing the lamp posts and risk hurting themselves or getting hauled off by the police.

“That is just too high for the average guy,” he said. “What’s he going to use, a stack of midgets?”