We, the undersigned, strongly oppose the construction and installation of cell towers and other wireless facilities, including but not limited to antennas, smart cells, satellites, and mini cell towers in our neighborhoods near schools, parks and homes and other community gathering places.

The most demonstrative opposition to this application that there is no need for additional wireless service in the Hyde Park/Morningside Park Neighborhood.  Our current wireless service is fully sufficient and functional.  Any individual seeking more service can have it installed directly in their homes if in fact they do so without imposing any wireless radiation on his/her neighbor properties.  Many times signals are blocked due to materials and partitions within the home and improvements need to be made within the home as opposed to outside the home.  Professional assessments regarding wireless signals in the home are available.

Furthermore, We are opposed to T-Mobile's plans to install cell antennas and associated equipment at 7815 South Crenshaw Blvd. and on any other utility pole or other location in Hyde Park/Morningside Park and adjacent neighborhoods. This site is nested within our home radius, as would other, where we habitate for SAFETY, and this would be directly in front of and within a dangerous radius of where we as a community sleep, eat, and care for our children.

Our opposition to the proposed site at 7815 S. Crenshaw Blvd. is based on the following concerns related to having cell towers, antennas, smart cells, mini cell towers, or any derivative of a cellular communication installment or instrument for the purpose of transmitting signal, within a dangerous radius of homes and neighborhood community spaces:  We require this radius to be a minimum of 2000 feet away from our homes and neighborhood community public space, at this time.  This radius requirement may increase given the increasing evidence about the physical, physiological, and biological harm cell towers are proven to emit on human health, as well as the other detrimental to our neighborhood value and property values, as well as the installation and any similar installations being in conflict with federal law, state, and local law.  This radius approximates the area which is compromised in value by installation of noted cellular devices, and derivatives of such devices/instruments.

 

1. HEALTH RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH EXPOSURE TO WIRELESS EMISSIONS

While the FCC claims that wireless facilities are safe, the U.S. Department of the Interior states that “the electromagnetic radiation standards used by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) continue to be based on thermal heating, a criterion now nearly 30 years out of date and inapplicable today.” Other countries now limit public exposure to levels far lower than the standards currently set by the FCC.

Studies have shown that even at low levels of radiation, there is evidence of biological damage, brain tumors, cancer, weakened immune function, childhood leukemia, reduced sperm count and ovarian follicles.  Also included in studies are:

• Spontaneous Abortion
• Genetic Mutations
• Memory disruptions
• Hindered learning
• ADD
• Insomnia
• Brain disorders
• Hormonal imbalances
• Infertility
• Dementia
• Heart complications

In May 2011, the World Health Organization (WHO) classified the type of radiation that cell towers emit as a Class 2B carcinogen, meaning “possibly carcinogenic to humans”, the same category as lead and DDT.

The American Association of Pediatrics raises concerns that children may be more vulnerable than adults “because of the potentially greater susceptibility of their developing nervous systems; in addition, their brain tissue is more conductive, radio frequency radiation penetration is greater relative to head size, and they will have a longer lifetime of exposure than adults.”

 

2. ADDITIONAL NEGATIVE IMPACT ON SAFETY

There are non-radiation safety hazards posed by wireless installations on utility poles in residential neighborhoods, which current City regulations do not address. These include pole overloading and resulting fire and electrocution hazards when poles topple due to earthquakes, vehicular accidents or high winds; and explosive and toxic chemical hazards from backup batteries.

 

3. NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE RESIDENTS

The close proximity to homes in neighborhoods, specifically Hyde Park/Morningside Park, would be an intrusion into the privacy of the residents. Workers performing routine maintenance would have direct views into homes.

Wireless companies require access for maintenance 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. That maintenance (often done at night) brings work crews, trucks with lifts, radios, lights and noise that will affect many neighbors.

 

4. NEGATIVE IMPACT ON PROPERTY VALUES

The health hazards and unsightliness of these installations will have a negative impact on property values. The perceived threat alone would lower property values. The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) guidelines categorize cell towers with "hazards and nuisances," and HUD requires its certified appraisers to take the presence of nearby cell towers into consideration when determining the value of single-family residential properties. Studies have shown that proximity to a cell tower can lower property values from 5 to 20%.

 

5. NEGATIVE IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY

Allowing this cell antenna, and others scheduled for the neighborhood, will set a precedent allowing for co-location and additional antennas in our neighborhood community and neighboring communities.  If T-Mobile can blanket the neighborhood with cell antennas, what is to stop other wireless companies from doing the same? And once a cell site is established, our ability to protect ourselves from additional hazardous exposure of more installations becomes more of a challenge.  Are residential streets shaded by canopies of cell antennas what we want for our future neighborhoods?

6. T-MOBILE REQUESTING EXEMPTIONS TO GOVERNMENT CODES AND GUIDELINES

T-Mobile is requesting an exemption to a CEQA Guideline, Article 19, Section 15303 claiming there is no evidence demonstrating an exemption to Section 15300.2 applies.  However, we believe this construction violates Title 14, CEQA Guideline 15300.2 (c):

"(c) Significant Effect. A categorical exemption shall not be used for an activity where there is a reasonable possibility that the activity will have a significant effect on the environment due to unusual circumstances."

T-Mobile is requesting to build the tower on a 25 ft. rooftop in lieu of the required minimum of 40 ft above grade.  The 40-ft requirement is mandated to protect residents and the environment near the towers.  Allowing this exemption subjects those in the neighborhood to potential health risks since no studies have been done at the 25ft level.  All studies on RF radiation have been done based on code requirements.  It is not safe to allow the exemption in this case.

To Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson and LA City Government: We ask you to support us in preventing this cell installation and any future wireless installations near our parks, schools, and homes. We ask for your help to put an end to this ongoing community threat, distracting us from caring for ourselves and our children. We ask you to facilitate legislation to keep cell towers out of our neighborhood communities and away from our homes and neighborhood community public space.

To the Los Angeles City Council and City Attorney: We are your constituents and we are asking you to fix the laws that regulate the placement of wireless telecommunications facilities.

We urge you to expedite this process. We urge you to enact an Interim Control Ordinance to impose an immediate moratorium on all wireless telecommunication facilities in the Public Right of Way and in the Hyde Park/Morningside Park neighborhood and/or applications for approval of such installations until legislation outlining rigorous safety standards for communities with regard to cell towers, antennas, smart cells, mini towers and other wireless devices is enacted.

Thank you for your consideration and attention to this important matter.