Opposition to 5G Increases in the Big Apple; Community Boards Take Action to Stop Deployment

By B.N. Frank

Complaints and concerns about 5G deployment in New York City neighborhoods have been ongoing since 2018 when residents first reported they were getting sick (and so were their pets) after it was activated. As deployment has increased, so has antagonism to it (see 1, 2, 3). Legislators and residents don’t want towers where there is no wireless service gap.

Thanks to Environmental Health Trust for continuing to update efforts to limit or stop 5G expansion in the Big Apple.

5G in New York

Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile are adding 5G technology in New York City with a combination of “macro” sites (wireless transmitters generally located on the rooftops) and “small cells,” which are typically located street poles.

Theodora Scarato, executive director of Environmental Health Trust has presented information as well as several others to some of the Community Boards regarding the scientific research and the lack of up to date regulations for the radiation exposure.

New York Community Board Actions

Community Board 8 (includes areas of Upper East Side of Manhattan and Roosevelt Island) passed a 5G moratorium.
Community Board 9: Letter RE: Disapproval of new Link5ZG Kiosks within MCB9
Manhattan CB5 (Times Square) – 1/5/23 – Parks & Public Spaces — 1/12/23 – Full Board passed a moratorium.
CB9 West Harlem: 1/9/23 Health & Environment Committee resolved to pass similar resolution as Upper East Side to the Executive Committee and on 1/11/23- Executive Committee passed with some changes.
Brooklyn CB10 Bay Ridge/Fort Hamilton: 1/10/23 – Communications & Public Relations Committee passed a disapproval.
Queens CB2 (Jackson Heights, East Elmhurst and Northern Corona) 1/19/23 Link5G Public Meeting https://queenscb3.cityofnewyork.us/board-meeting-recordings/

Manhattan CB2 (Greenwich Village, Little Italy, SoHo, NoHo, Hudson Square, Chinatown, and the Gansevoort Market) — 1/19/23 — Full Board — passed a resolution for a moratorium in residential and landmark areas.

January 16, 2023 Letter on 5G Poles from New York Manhattan Borough President to Matthew C. Fraser Chief Technology Officer Office of Technology & Innovation of The NYC Office of Technology & Innovation

“…many residents have reported serious concerns about the site selection, outreach, and community engagement process. Residents have reported not adequately being informed about the placement of 5G towers in their neighborhoods, and many have questioned specific site selections and the fundamental need for the new towers taking up vital public space. We must better communicate with the local community, and better educate New Yorkers about these installations.”

New York organizations to connect with that are working on raising awareness of the need for safer, faster technology, rather than excessive 5G poles.

Wired Broadband.org : Odette J. Wilkens, President & General Counsel Wired Broadband, Inc. has been providing testimony on the need for wired broadband and safe technology solutions.
New Yorkers 4 Wired Tech: Grassroots advocates sounding the alarm on the harmful biological effects of pulsed-modulated microwave radiation from densified 4G/5G wireless infrastructure antennas.

Listen to a radio interview with ProPublica Reporter Peter Elkind on 5G and wireless radiation. WABC Radio (New York, NY), Jan 17, 2023

Peter Elkind. How the FCC Shields Cellphone Companies From Safety Concerns. ProPublica, Nov 10, 2022

A major exposé of the FCC’s negligence and complicity with the telecom industry …. “The wireless industry is rolling out thousands of new transmitters amid a growing body of research that calls cellphone safety into question. Federal regulators say there’s nothing to worry about — even as they rely on standards established in 1996.”

https://bit.ly/ProPublicaFCC

Petitions

Residents of Carnegie Hill Petition: Keep streets free of the new Link5G towers.

Map of New York Poles

Data Set LinkNYC New Site Permit Applications | NYC Open Data
Map: LinkNYC New-Site Permit Applications – https://data.cityofnewyork.us/Social-Services/LinkNYC-New-Site-Permit-Applications-Map/tdt4-7qzu

News Stories

The 5G Moratorium states:

The following resolution was then put forward by Community Board 8:

WHEREAS; New York City, through its Office of Technology and Innovation (OTI), has contracted with CityBridge to install and operate a citywide wireless communications network; and,

WHEREAS; CityBridge installed its LinkNYC network as the initial deployment of the citywide wireless communications network intended to replace outdated public pay phones; and

WHEREAS; LinkNYC provided free 4G wireless cellular connectivity using towers placed on sidewalks throughout NYC, many of which include electronic display screens; and

WHEREAS; Community Board 8 and constituents of its district have reported adverse impacts resulting from existing LinkNYC infrastructure, including visual impacts, inappropriate usage, impacts on sidewalk clearances, and rat infestation; and

WHEREAS; CityBridge is now in the process of upgrading its LinkNYC network to Link5G to accommodate technological upgrades that have recently become commonplace in cellular communications; and

WHEREAS; Link5G infrastructure is a 32’ tall tower that is installed on sidewalks in the public right-of-way; and

WHEREAS; Link5G towers in commercial districts include electronic screens similar to those found on LinkNYC kiosks that display advertising and public information; and

WHEREAS; the design of the Link5G towers has been approved by the Public Design Commission; and

WHEREAS; Link5G must adhere to siting requirements determined by NYC Department of City Planning, and must obtain Landmarks Preservation Commission approval if sited in historic districts; and

WHEREAS; CityBridge and OTI have proposed 18 sites across Community District 8;

WHEREAS; CityBridge and OTI have stated that the siting of proposed Link5G towers in Community District 8 are based on gaps in coverage and locations where excess demand for the network exists as determined by commercial cellular carriers; and

WHEREAS; 15 of the 18 sites proposed are in or near either the Upper East Side Historic District or the Carnegie Hill Historic District, where renowned architecture and iconic streetscapes would be interfered with if Link5G structures were installed; and

WHEREAS; locations proposed along Madison Avenue would be in conflict with strict guidelines for illuminated storefronts and signage, and would be in conflict with the Special Madison Avenue Preservation District’s design standards that specifically prohibit illuminated advertising; and

WHEREAS; residents of Community District 8 have strongly objected to the design and the visual impacts that Link5G towers would have on streetscapes, both with and without screens; and

WHEREAS; there are widespread concerns that 5G towers will be constructed at distances considered too close to adjacent buildings, as has already occurred in front of 520 East 90th Street, and

WHEREAS; 10’ of distance from a tower to a residence that is permitted is extremely insufficient and should be revisited as a policy; and

WHEREAS; there are no reported issues by residents of Community District 8 of cellular gaps and frequent dropped calls that would justify Link5G being installed in the proposed locations; and

WHEREAS; the proposed sites for Link5G don’t include any locations in areas known to be potential digital deserts within Community District 8; and

WHEREAS; OTI and CityBridge have not provided detailed plans regarding the full build-out of Link5G, both within Community District 8 and in areas north of 96th Street and in the outer Boroughs; and

WHEREAS; there is a desire for any telecommunications infrastructure to be buried underground both for reliability purposes and to minimize visual impacts; and

WHEREAS; there have been questions raised by some residents as to whether sufficient research has been performed to fully assuage concerns that the radiation emitted by 5G infrastructure won’t have any long-term impacts on public health or the environment, including young children, seniors, people with medical implant devices, pets, plants, and parks;

WHEREAS; the community-at-large has expressed their views that Link5G is unnecessary and unwanted in Community District 8 at present and until many of the issues identified have been resolved;

WHEREAS; New York City is in control of this process through its contract with the provider;

THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that Community Board 8 Manhattan disapproves the proposal as presented to install Link 5G towers in Community District 8; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a moratorium be placed on construction and planning of Link5G poles and devices in Community District 8 Manhattan

DOWNLOAD THE NEW YORK BOARD 8 MORATORIUM HERE

Opposition to 5G has been and continues to be worldwide due to numerous issues associated with it. This has limited, slowed, and/or stopped deployment including near airports in the U.S. (see 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7) and India (see 1, 2) due to dangerous interference issues with aviation equipment. Since 2017, doctors and scientists have been asking for moratoriums on Earth and in space due to biological and environmental health risks (see 1, 2, 3, 4) and the majority of scientists oppose deployment. Since 2018 there have been reports of people and animals experiencing symptoms and illnesses after it was activated (see 1, 2, 3. 4, 5, 6 ). Additionally, in 2019, telecom executives gave U.S. congressional testimony that they had NO independent scientific evidence that 5G is safe. Some researchers have also warned that activation may be contributing to COVID-19 infections as well as hundreds of thousands if not millions of bird deaths.