‘Desperate, exhausted and angry’ residents plead for landslide help ahead of Trump press conference

A dozen Rancho Palos Verdes residents lined the city’s main thorougfare on Friday morning, Sept. 13, as those across the street waited for former President Donald Trump to speak at a press conference at his golf club.

“SOS,” read their white T-shirts. “Save our Seavew.”

Trump was slated to speak around 9 a.m., though the start time was delayed multiple times and, as of 10 a.m., the press conference had yet to start.

But the group of residents was there to bring attention to the landslide problems that have made their Seaview, Portuguese Bend and Beach Club homes nearly unlivable. They and about 200 of their neighbors are living without electricity or gas service — and some without internet providers — all atop a deeply seated slope of bentonine clay 330 feet below. They’re bracing for the next storm, as water — the root cause of the unprecented movement — is their enemy.

Both residents and RPV leaders have said the city cannot solve this problem on their own — and they are looking to higher-profile officials for assistance.

“We are simply asking for help,” said Nikki Noushkam from the scene, on Palos Verdes Drive South, on Friday morning. “We are desperate, exhausted and angry from being neglected.”

RPV Mayor John Cruikshank, via text message ahead of the Republican nominee speaking at Trump National Golf Club, said he was waiting to speak to the former president, who hosted a high-profile Beverly Hills fundraiser the night before.

RPV, the largest of four Peninsula cities, is nearest to the coast. It is also the site of the 680-acre Greater Portuguese Bend Landslide Complex, which has wreaked havoc there in recent months after a two-year rainy season reactivated a deep-seated slide plane — with land moving at a clip of up to 12 inches per week.

That city saw the national historic landmark Wayfarers Chapel dismantled, closed popular hiking trails and has spent $1 million per year on perpetual pavement work on Palos Verdes Drive South.

Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for RPV.

And on Thursday, other Peninsula cities have felt the affects of land movement. Thrity-five residents in Rolling Hills, a town of 2,000 just a few miles above and to the east of RPV, will lose gas service at 3 p.m. Monday, according to city officials and the Southern California Gas Company. And 51 residents there have been warned they may also lose electricity service from Southern California Edison.

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