Congress has cut federal funding for public media — a $3.4 million loss for LAist. We count on readers like you to protect our nonprofit newsroom. Become a monthly member and sustain local journalism.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
L.A. Wants To Make Our Precious Cell Towers Safe In A Big Earthquake

The last time a major earthquake hit Los Angeles was in 1994 when landlines were still in style. Right now cell phone towers are required built to be strong enough that they won't fall over and kill us in an earthquake, which is great. But now Los Angeles is working on making sure that our cell phone towers will actually function after the Big One hits. Because wouldn't it be nice to be able to call your mom and tell her you're alive?
The 7.9 earthquake in Sichuan—which left 88,000 dead—also disabled 2,000 cellphone towers and left the city in even more chaos for weeks. Those towers in China are built to the same kinds of standards as our own. So today the City Council took a big step toward passing a law that would do something about this, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The new law will require new freestanding cellphone towers—including those ugly "palm trees" that aren't fooling anyone—to be built to the same strict seismic standards of public facilities. It isn't expected to cost much more—an extra 10% to 20%.
City officials are calling it an important first step, though it does have some pretty big limitations. All those cell phone towers you see right now won't be required to be retrofitted. That's because retrofitting them would cost just as much as putting up completely new towers. And cell phone towers that are attached to buildings, which in themselves might not be up to stricter codes, especially if they're older, won't be required to meet the new standards. Right now in Los Angeles, 60% of towers are attached to buildings.
Councilman Bob Blumenfield, who sponsored the legislation proposed by the mayor, says even this small step could make a big difference: even a fraction of cell towers left standing will come in handy during a time of need.
The new law has the blessing of Lucy Jones, a U.S. Geological Survey seismologist, who has advised Mayor Eric Garcetti in the past. She told the Times, "We're not trying to solve all the problems. We are trying to reduce the problems ... so that we reduce the chances we’re going to damage the economy."
Los Angeles is the first city in the nation to enact strict cell phone tower standards. Jones said, "This is really sort of a first time that, looking forward, we said the government’s role goes beyond just saving lives, and has a role in making sure that our economy is up and functioning after a disaster."
The ordinance was approved by the city council 11-0 but it requires one more vote plus the mayor's John Hancock, according to City News Service.
As Editor-in-Chief of our newsroom, I’m extremely proud of the work our top-notch journalists are doing here at LAist. We’re doing more hard-hitting watchdog journalism than ever before — powerful reporting on the economy, elections, climate and the homelessness crisis that is making a difference in your lives. At the same time, it’s never been more difficult to maintain a paywall-free, independent news source that informs, inspires, and engages everyone.
Simply put, we cannot do this essential work without your help. Federal funding for public media has been clawed back by Congress and that means LAist has lost $3.4 million in federal funding over the next two years. So we’re asking for your help. LAist has been there for you and we’re asking you to be here for us.
We rely on donations from readers like you to stay independent, which keeps our nonprofit newsroom strong and accountable to you.
No matter where you stand on the political spectrum, press freedom is at the core of keeping our nation free and fair. And as the landscape of free press changes, LAist will remain a voice you know and trust, but the amount of reader support we receive will help determine how strong of a newsroom we are going forward to cover the important news from our community.
Please take action today to support your trusted source for local news with a donation that makes sense for your budget.
Thank you for your generous support and believing in independent news.

-
With less to prove than LA, the city is becoming a center of impressive culinary creativity.
-
Nearly 470 sections of guardrailing were stolen in the last fiscal year in L.A. and Ventura counties.
-
Monarch butterflies are on a path to extinction, but there is a way to support them — and maybe see them in your own yard — by planting milkweed.
-
With California voters facing a decision on redistricting this November, Surf City is poised to join the brewing battle over Congressional voting districts.
-
The drug dealer, the last of five defendants to plead guilty to federal charges linked to the 'Friends' actor’s death, will face a maximum sentence of 65 years in prison.
-
The weather’s been a little different lately, with humidity, isolated rain and wind gusts throughout much of Southern California. What’s causing the late-summer bout of gray?