Why Treasure Island Residents Deserve a Grid Upgrade NOW—We’ve Already Shown We Can Rally
Treasure Island and Yerba Buena Island are special spots—small communities with big views and even bigger potential. But the utility systems keeping our lights on and water running are old, and fixing them isn’t cheap. A 2004 report pegged repairs at $11.5 million and yearly maintenance at $720,000. Adjusted for inflation to 2025, that’s $19.3 million upfront and $1.2 million a year. For our roughly 2,000 residents, that’s $9,650 per person for repairs and $600 annually. Here’s why we need this upgrade—and why we deserve it after pitching in $11 million as a community to relight the Bay Bridge.
#### The Costs Hit Home
That 2004 "Utility Vulnerability and Risk Assessment" laid out what it’d take to keep our grid—water, sewer, power—going during a 10-to-15-year transition. Today, $19.3 million for repairs and $1.2 million yearly is what it’d cost in 2025 dollars. For a family of four, that’s like a $38,600 one-time hit and $2,400 a year. It’s not pocket change, but it’s what keeps our islands livable while redevelopment plans for 8,000 new homes roll out.
We’ve Stepped Up Before
Here’s the kicker: we’ve already shown we can pull together for something big. As a Bay Area community, we raised $11 million to turn the Bay Bridge lights back on—a dazzling win that proves we care about our home. If we can drop $11 million to light up a bridge, shouldn’t the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) match that grit to fix our grid? We’ve done our part; now it’s their turn to keep our essentials running.
Why It’s Urgent
Those 2004 fixes were for a transition that’s mostly over (2004-2019), but our systems are still aging. Power outages, water issues—they’re not just annoyances; they’re risks. With redevelopment in full swing, the current 2,000 of us shouldn’t be stuck with a crumbling grid while new folks move in. That $19.3 million upgrade isn’t a luxury—it’s a must to keep island life solid.
Time to Act
We rallied $11 million for the Bay Bridge lights because it mattered. Now, the SFPUC needs to step up with $19.3 million for our grid because *we* matter. Residents deserve reliable power and water—it’s that simple.
*Sources: 2004 Utility Vulnerability and Risk Assessment, SFPUC, CPI data adjusted to 2025, Bay Bridge lights fundraising