Rescind, Research, Replace
There is mounting evidence that radio frequency radiation used in 2G, 3G, and 4G cell phones is associated with an elevated risk of cancer.*
The City and County of San Francisco is a part of a lawsuit challenging the FCC's action (restricted fees and times) before the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals (case # 19-70146, referring to FCC order # 18-133; 2019).
Recent "objective standards" written by San Francisco Public Works approve up to four cell phone towers on one utility pole as close as six feet from your window. These standards are the specifications attached to Ordinance 190-19 passed by the Board of Supervisors on consent calendar in July and signed by the Mayor in August 2019. They cannot possibly be aesthetically pleasing (four cell phone towers and up to five ancillary units on ONE pole!), they are not needed, and they are hazardous to San Franciscans. Further, this ordinance takes away all local control, putting control in the hands of the telecom industry. Cities across America are fighting the FCC order and finding ways to stay within the guidelines that are less harmful until they are changed.
For all the reasons above, we demand the Board of Supervisor rescind Ordinance 190-19,hire a 3rd party to research the safety of the cell towers and replace the ordinance with one that includes a public process that allows the government and the public to influence where cell phone tower facilities are sited to mitigate any harm they might cause.
This petition will be sent both to the Board of Supervisors and to San Francisco state legislators so they know they have our support in protecting their residents and merchants and in protecting the natural beauty of San Francisco.
*A 2018 study by the U.S. National Toxicology Program on rodents to clarify the potential health hazards of radio frequency radiation (RFR) shows that long-term exposure to RFR from 2G and 3G cell phones is associated with an elevated risk of cancer, and warned that the public should take pragmatic steps to reduce exposure.
