PG&E grants reprieve to Oakland's gnomes OAKLAND

A pole provides a home for a gnome and mushroom on Newton Avenue in Oakland, which has thousands of the figures. A pole provides a home for a gnome and mushroom on Newton Avenue in Oakland, which has thousands of the figures. Photo: Liz Hafalia, The Chronicle Photo: Liz Hafalia, The Chronicle Image 1 of / 14 Caption Close PG&E grants reprieve to Oakland's gnomes 1 / 14 Back to Gallery

There was joy Monday in Middle Earth, and Oakland, too: Pacific Gas and Electric Co. officials have changed their minds and will not evict thousands of gnomes nestling on their utility poles.

The reprieve came shortly after the utility announced it would remove the diminutive, hand-painted creatures that have been proliferating around Lake Merritt for six months on the grounds they were "compromising" utility equipment.

"We received a great deal of public feedback, so we're declaring the poles gnome-man's land. We're not going to remove them," PG&E spokesman Jason King said. "We're committed to working with the artist, the city and the community to find a peaceful resolution."

Gift to community

The gnome paintings, which have been screwed to the base of utility poles in Haddon Hill, Adams Point and other neighborhoods, have invoked much love in a beleaguered city that's been struggling with the state's worst violent crime problem.

They've inspired dozens of delighted blog posts and tweets, and have been the talk of almost every cafe and preschool.

Children's Fairyland, on the banks of Lake Merritt, even offered the artist a lifetime golden key, which the artist politely declined because he didn't want to risk his anonymity.

After The Chronicle reported Sunday that PG&E had threatened to remove the gnome paintings, the gnomes' creator begged the utility for clemency.

"I'm a resident of Oakland who simply thought this would be a nice way to make my fellow Oaklanders happy and proud," he wrote in an e-mail to PG&E.

"We see too much garbage on the streets here, too many shootings, too much violence, not enough that makes one stop and smile. ... They were meant to be an ongoing gift to my community."

Peace talks

The artist also called City Hall, hoping officials could grant political asylum. The city responded by calling an emergency meeting with PG&E staff members.

"We are holding peace talks in a secret mushroom patch near the Rose Garden," said Zac Wald, chief of staff to City Councilwoman Lynette McElhaney, whose district includes the preponderance of the gnome population. "People love the gnomes, and they are District Three residents."

The artist, a house painter by trade, wanted to remain anonymous because he's not seeking publicity for himself. He just wants to paint gnomes, affix them to utility poles and watch people's reactions.

More than 2,300

Each night he roams the Oakland streets with his terrier, installing 10 or more new gnomes per outing. So far, he's "gnomed" neighborhoods as far flung as Jack London Square and the area around Highland Hospital.

He said there are more than 2,300 gnomes in Oakland.

Ultimately, PG&E wants to see the gnomes migrate to other locales, but is not going to forcibly relocate them, King said.

Staff at Fairyland were ecstatic at the PG&E pardon.

"We are thrilled that a giant organization like PG&E can appreciate a little magic," said Shannon Taylor, Fairyland art director. "It's great that so many people came together to try and save these little creatures."