March 29, 2008: Vol. 31, No. 13

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March 29, 2008 / Brooklyn news / Bay Ridge

Janele says ‘cell no’ to tower

By Ben Muessig

The Brooklyn Paper

The latest battle between Bay Ridge residents and cellphone companies turned political this week, when an assemblywoman announced legislation to keep cellular antennas away from schools.

The bill, drafted by Assemblywoman Janele Hyer-Spencer (D–Bay Ridge), would bar phone companies from installing cellular antennas within 500 feet of public schools.

“We recognize that the cell towers have to go somewhere,” Hyer-Spencer said. “We just need to put some limits on where we put these antennas and how many of them we put in one place. Right now, there are really no significant controls on these towers.”

Magic Carpet Day Camp

Some residents worry that the antennas have long-term health effects, but phone companies maintain that the systems are harmless.

Plus, “if you start putting in these restrictions, it could wipe out service in some areas,” said Verizon spokesman David Samberg. “The only reason we install antennas in a specific place is because there is a need for them to be there.”

But many Bay Ridge would err on the side of caution.

“If it’s a question of keeping the children safe, then the legislation has a purpose,” said Carol Herndon. “Children always come first.”

Others wish that everyone would just drop the issue, before cellphone companies start dropping their calls.

“It doesn’t bother me,” said Rich, of Bay Ridge. “I don’t really care where they are.”

The bill, which mirrors a piece of legislation introduced by state Sen. Marty Golden (R–Bay Ridge) last year, would also require phone companies to notify neighbors before installing new cellular antennas.

Such notification might prevent future fights like the ones that have repeatedly broken out since Sprint attempted to install a cellular tower near St. Anselm’s School on 83rd Street in 2006.

The most recent flare-up came in December, when Verizon installed cellular equipment on a building across from PS 185 on Ridge Boulevard.

←Theater: Just say no

→Cartoon: All drawn out

Reader Feedback

P. Toomey from Bay Ridge/ Ft. Hamilton says:

The companies that would like to install antennas Verizon/Sprint etal. cannot just decide where to erect and have a free rein to do so, must have the permission of the building owners. Of course the sweet deal of the monthly payment for use of their property is a bit of an enticement for the building owners. Business, profit, money, money....public be damned.

March 31, 2008, 12:15 pm

robert from queens says:

no studies have been done. why should people be guinea pigs for these greedy mobile phone companies? ironically both germany and israel say both cell towers and base stations are a threat to long term health!

May 11, 2010, 10:52 pm

Papi Bushnix from quince says:

no proper studies have been done. why should people be guinea pigs for these greedy mobile phone companies? There's got to be pilfirring involved. These coop boards and cell phone carriers are doing a pact with the devil by harming long term residents with this industrial strength noise pollution and EMF damage to human beings vulnerable. The era of Bush era dereg policies is still reaping toxic results! But thankfully during Bush's second toxic term we caught Spitzer having sex and we put Martha Stewart in jail! Go Dubya! Quite ironically both germany and israel both agree cell towers and base stations are a direct threat to long term health!

May 12, 2010, 9:32 pm

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