Cell Tower in the Knolls: The Industrialization of Residential America

Cell Tower in the Knolls

The Industrialization of Residential America

All across America, towns are fighting the proliferation of cell towers

in middle-class neighborhoods,

an all-out offensive by the Telecom industry to

industrialize residential America.

It’s happening in my town, too, but in my town, Ridgefield, we face a

different set of circumstances.

While other Connecticut towns push back against the Telecoms,

our town invites them in.

Anatomy of a Lie

The First LieLocation

“I have no idea as to the location, (of the cell tower) other than that it’s

in the Ridgebury area somewhere — private land.”

-Rudy MarconiProgress continues on cell site: Marconi, March 13, 2013, Ridgefield Press

As the town secretly negotiated with the cell tower company

to grant them an access easement

Deed for Map D08 Lot P/O Lot 0124, Volume 981 Page: 949, Map D08 Lot D-2,Vol 717 Page 547, Vol. 970 Pages 1110- 1118 and Map #8830

on the land that would become the cell tower site

The Second Lie Before the

Land Swap Vote

“We have no intention of using any of this property

as a cell tower.”

-Rudy Marconi

Voters pass land swap, over objections of some, May 7, 2013, Ridgefield Press

The Vote Gave the Cell Tower Site

an Access Road

The Third Lie Visual Impact

“Marconi said the tower would be difficult to see close by

or from a distance.”

-Ridgefield Press

Cell tower plans in state’s hands, February 3, 2014, Ridgefield, Press

A Blight on the Ridge

View from Hobby Drive

Marconi Targeted the Knolls

A Long Time Ago

“There was never any other location…”

-Rudy Marconi

Ridgebury Cell Tower: Information Session Shows Lack Of Neighborhood Support, April 13, 2011, Ridgefield Patch

A Lack of Disclosure

Sketchy ExplanationsApprox. 20 Cell Sites

Considered then Dismissed

AT&T Nov. 13 Cell Tower Report, Town Hall Records

Why?

A Blighton a Historic Ridgeline

Simulation Photograph from 2011 Balloon test (to scale)

Ridgebury Ridge

If You Build the Tower,They Won’t Come

“They were worried about the property values... ...If your home is near a cell antenna, the value of your property is

going down at least 4 percent. Depending on the size of the tower and

the proximity, it is going down 10 percent.”

A Pushback Against Cell Towers, August 10, 2010, New York Times

-Andrew J. Campanelli civil rights lawyer,Garden City

Evidence Contradicts FCC StandardsHealth Risks Real

Most Respected Environmental Affairs Magazine

The Ecologist - http://www.theecologist.org

Lobbyists Wrote the 1996 Telecom Act

Scary Radiation Facts

U.S. Exposure Among Highest

Health Effects from Cell Phone Tower Radiation, Copyright © 2008 Mount Shasta Bioregional Ecology Center

The Questions

More Cell Towers in Residential

Neighborhoods?

“The Cell Tower Won’t Cover All the Gaps.”

-C. Fisher, Attorney, Homeland Towers

Dec.13, 2013 Meeting, Ridgefield Town Hall

Why can cell towers be near homes with children,

but not near schools?

So Many Questions,So Few Answers

Click Hereto Help Us Fight Town Hall