W.E.E.P. News
Wireless Electrical and Electromagnetic Pollution News
18 March 2011
Wireless Permit Denied in San Francisco
For the first time in the City's history, the San Francisco Board of Appeals has denied a permit for a wireless facility under its jurisdiction.
In a unanimous decision Wednesday night, the Board revoked a permit for a NextG Networks wireless facility installed on a utility pole in a public right-of-way on 27th Avenue in the City's Richmond District.
The Board found that under local regulations that pre-date the current Avalos legislation, the Department of Public Works (DPW) should have referred NextG's application to the Planning Department for review because 27th Avenue is identified in the City's General Plan as a street with 'good' or 'excellent' views. Since DPW did not do so, the Board found this to be grounds for revocation of the permit.
The Board also cited NextG's widespread non-compliance with conditions of approval the Planning Department has imposed on other NextG installations around the City as an additional reason to deny the permit.
As the first-of-its-kind decision by the Board of Appeals, this neighborhood victory establishes an important precedent for any future appeals brought by neighbors of wireless antenna facilities installed in the City's public rights-of-way under the now-effective Avalos legislation.
In a second appeal concerning a NextG facility that was installed adjacent to an architecturally significant building on Ashbury Street, which was also heard last night, the Board upheld NextG's permit because Planning Department review did take place in that case.
Residents had argued that while NextG's application was referred to the Planning Department as required, the Planning Department did not actually assess the wireless facility's impact on the architecturally significant building and therefore the permit should be denied.
Nevertheless, this second appeal did succeed in compelling Board of Appeals Vice President Michael Garcia to ask Planning Department Zoning Administrator Scott Sanchez to begin imposing fines on NextG for their widespread permit violations across the City.
Congratulations go to Jeff & Nicole Cooper for their victory, as well as to David Tornheim who, even though he lost his appeal, contributed to the City moving toward what will hopefully amount to a crackdown on NextG's willfully negligent behavior and help, however slightly, redress the City's budget deficit.
Everyone who is concerned about this issue here in San Francisco owes Jeff, Nicole, David and all their neighbors who put time and effort into these cases both thanks and gratitude.
Doug / Magda
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Cell Phones Not Safe?
See the Global News Video
http://www.chbcnews.ca/video/index.html
Click on 'Cellphones not safe'.
Robert
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Researchers: Airport body scanners safe for individuals but may raise risk for population
- an admission Tuesday by the Transportation Security Administration that their X-ray machines might emit up to 10 times more radiation than previously thought
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Fairfax residents protest Camp Tamarancho cell tower 'tree'
- calling the tower a "rather enormous fake tree" that would blemish the skyline while posing an extreme fire hazard.
http://www.marinij.com/business/ci_17636558
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Hudak slams $1B tax grab
By PATRIC MALONEY, QMI AGENCY
http://www.stratfordbeaconherald.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3031798
Tim Hudak s election-year assault on Dalton McGuinty's energy plans during a Wednesday stop in London, slamming mandatory smart meters as a $1-billion "tax grab" he'd essentially scrap if elected.
Making it clear where he's focusing his message -- in a four-minute speech outside a transformer station, he mentioned "families" 11 times -- Hudak repeated his plan to make the meters optional for homeowners.
"These time-of-use, mandatory smart meters are nothing more than another tax grab on the hydro bill," Hudak said.
"A Progressive Conservative government would unplug the mandatory smart meters and give families a choice that works for them."
The smart meter implementation costs have already passed $1 billion, Hudak said.
The Tory leader has said he'd allow Ontarians to choose between the meters -- which charge higher electricity rates during weekdays than at night and on weekends -- or paying a flat rate.
London Hydro has installed smart meters at most London homes and the time-of-use rates -- for example, it'll cost less during "off-peak hours" (after 7 p.m.) -- will take effect in June.
With the provincial government not in session this week, and about 200 days to go before the Oct. 6 election, Hudak has been on a Southwestern Ontario swing -- St. Thomas and Chatham on Tuesday, followed by London and Kitchener.
Wednesday, he was flanked in London by one Tory caucus veteran and a newcomer to the party fold.
Ernie Hardeman, the longtime Oxford MPP will seek re-election this fall, while ex-city councillor and board of education trustee Cheryl Miller will challenge London-Fanshawe Liberal MPP Khalil Ramal.
William
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Speaker addresses cell phone concerns
By Herald staff March 16, 2011
Tam Valley's next Speakers Series will explore the question of long-term cell phone use and health concerns on April 6, from 7 to 9 p.m., at the Tam Valley Community Center. Speakers will include Joel Moskowitz of UC Berkeley, Lloyd Morgan and Ellie Marks.
Moskowitz will discuss his case study "Mobile Use and Risk of Tumors," published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology in 2009.
Morgan will present his paper "Cell Phones and Brain Tumors: 15 reasons for Concerns," and Ellie Marks, who has appeared on "Larry King Live" and Dr. Oz, will tell her personal story and talk about current legislation in the works.
There will be Q&A session from 8 to 8:30 p.m. Headsets will be sold and precautionary tips will be given. The Tam Valley Community Center is at 203 Marin Ave.
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