We, the undersigned, strongly oppose cell towers and antennas at or near the First Baptist Church of Clairemont (3219 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., San Diego, 92117), which is also home to a Synagogue, a Korean Church, a Spanish Church, an Awana Club, a Karate Club, and La Petite École, a unique dual language school for 185 students (preschool to 5th grade) and 23 educators. 

Our Position:

1. NO to risking our children’s health with proximity to cell towers and antennas
2. NO to a 210-gallon diesel tank and generator above the preschool lunch area
3. NO to RF (radio frequency) radiation from 6 + 17 = 23 cell antennas on towers over our children and neighbors
4. NO to threatening the future of a one-of-a-kind educational institution
5. NO to impacting home property values 

Background:

We recently learned of six cellular antennas operating within the property, and of Verizon Wireless’ intention to install 16 antennas (on two cell towers), one microwave dish antenna, and a 210-gallon diesel backup generator on the roof. This dense installation of total 23 antennas will increase radiation of RF energy over Churches, daycare, classrooms, playgrounds and nearby residences.

Many schools and school districts have banned cell towers and antennas at or near premises (e.g. San Diego High​, Los Angeles School District​, other districts in Oregon, Washington, and Connecticut). Numerous cities and countries have updated their regulations against proximity to wireless facilities (e.g., Oceanside, Carlsbad, Encinitas, Escondido, San Francisco, numerous European Union countries, Taiwan, and India). Some ordinances prevent cell tower installations within 1,500 feet of schools. U.S. firefighters have voted against antennas on fire stations. 

We’re not aware of any other local school, public or private, with 23 antennas on its roof. Neither Verizon nor the Church, which owns the property and signed a contract with Verizon for the additional cell towers, informed the school of the project. 

We request the City of San Diego and Verizon to halt immediately the installation of the additional 17 cellular antennas at or near this location. We also oppose the presence of six existing antennas and demand their removal.

Our strong opposition is based on the following concerns:

1. NO to risking our children’s health with proximity to cell towers and antennas

Several studies report that prolonged exposure to RF radiation emitted from cell phone towers and antennas may be dangerous to health. 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. 

The American Association of Pediatrics suggests that children may be more vulnerable than adults: “The differences in bone density and the amount of fluid in a child’s brain compared to an adult’s brain could allow children to absorb greater quantities of RF energy deeper into their brains than adults.” Today's children also have a longer lifetime exposure to RF radiation than any previous generation. 

Medical studies have found a three to four fold increase in cancer among people living within 300-400 meters (984-1,312 feet) of a cell tower. In May 2011, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified RF energy as “possibly carcinogenic to humans.” 

While there is an underserved need of comprehensive studies on long term effects of prolonged low-intensity RF exposure, especially in children, the actions of numerous governmental agencies and current medical research justıfy a precautıonary approach to cell tower installations.

2. NO to a 210-gallon diesel tank and generator above the preschool lunch area

Each cell tower is required by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to have a back-up power source, and have it run weekly. Diesel exhaust is a classified carcinogen by the State of California and World Health Organization. The generator and filled 210-gallon tank would be located right above the preschool lunch area, atop a newly built equipment platform. In addition to the daily risks, an earthquake or other hazard that may cause leakage of fuel into areas frequented by children is an unacceptable risk.

3. NO to RF radiation from 6 + 17 = 23 cell antennas on towers over our children and neighbors

Based on Verizon’s FCC compliance assessment, the maximum RF exposure will increase by a factor of 68 times after the installation of the 17 proposed antennas. Upper floor classrooms and outdoor playgrounds will experience peak power levels equivalent to 100 WiFi access points operating at maximum power in one room with children present! 

The total planned maximum output power of all 23 antennas is 65,000 watts. The FCC MPE (Maximum Permissible Exposure) limit for general population is 1 mW/cm2 averaged over 30 minutes. For this population, the projected peak RF exposure on the roof will increase from 19% of the FCC MPE (with current 6 antennas) to a staggering 1,333% of the FCC MPE limits (with the additional 17 antennas). The assessment has not incorporated projections for RF exposure in areas where children are present (classrooms, playground with clear view of antennas). It is unclear what the RF exposure of this high density project signifies for children attending school and daycare for eight hours per day.

We understand that the project is intended to be compliant with FCC’s 1996 regulations, established 18 years ago. These regulations have not been updated for the levels of RF radiation generated by six times more cell phone users today. The FCC initiated a reassessment process of its RF safety standards in 2013. Even worse, one in ten cell tower sites have been shown to violate current FCC regulations exposing population to dangerous levels of radiation. 

4. NO to threatening the future of a one-of-a-kind educational institution.

La Petite École is a one-of-a-kind, non-profit, dynamic, French-English institution. It enriches and promotes culture and diversity in Clairemont Mesa and San Diego. If the additional cell towers and antennas are installed, enrollment is expected to decline sharply and the school will likely be forced to close.

• Many parents are planning on removing their children from the school, which will pose a grave financial burden to an otherwise thriving school. 

• The school does not want to be compelled to relocate, triggering loss of jobs and extraordinary expenses for the school (and revenue loss for the Church). 

• Establishments in the Clairemont Mesa area frequented daily by parents will experience loss of clientele and revenue.

5.  NO to impacting home property values

A number of organizations and studies have documented the detrimental effects of cell towers on property values. Verizon’s own site justification states that “other sites in the area were assessed and deemed unfeasible due to the large presence of residential lots”. It is entirely unclear to us why this particular location that is a place of worship, day-care, study and in a dense residential neighborhood is deemed suitable for this project. 

Cell towers and antennas offer miles of coverage. We request Verizon to relocate their project to alternate industrial or commercial land, away from our place of worship, study, and residence.

Sincerely,

 

Parents, Educators and Concerned Individuals