By Nathan Duke
State Assemblyman Michael Gianaris (D- Astoria) is calling for regulation on where cell phone towers can be placed in the city, saying the number of towers being put up near schools and in residential areas is growing out of control.
Gianaris was joined by Councilman Peter Vallone Jr. (D-Astoria), Councilwoman Joan Millman (D-Brooklyn) and residents from Queens, Manhattan and Brooklyn on the steps of City Hall Thursday to voice their concern about the proliferation of cell towers in the city.
“Unregulated and recklessly placed cell phone towers are multiplying across New York City in places where they are not needed,” Gianaris said. “Residents have no choice about these towers being placed over their homes or across from their child's school, causing unknown harm.”
Gianaris has authored legislation to regulate cell phone tower placement and is calling for it to be enacted. The legislation would ban antennas within 500 feet of schools, establish a four-month moratorium on cell tower siting while the state Department of Health conducts a study on long-term health problems caused by tower signals, and require public hearings about the placement of towers at which residents could voice their opinions.
Vallone said the city does not keep track of the number of towers in the five boroughs and that cell towers do not need to receive city permits to be erected.
“They are being placed across the street from schools and on schools,” he said. “We are being told cell phone towers are safe, and I hope they are, but we don't know yet. We can't use our kids as guinea pigs.”
