New York City policy regarding cell antenna siting

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Message From The Astoria Neighborhood Coalition

New York City is being inundated with construction of cellular base stations on residential buildings. Our coalition was formed by a group of concerned citizens in Astoria dedicated to the responsible siting of these microwave antennas. We became involved when T-Mobile constructed a site on 33rd Street in Astoria without notifying the residents, tenants of community board in our neighborhood. (Please visit Stopradiation.org for additional details) In investigating the zoning resolution and city charter of the city, we found that these antennas are being constructed in violation of the zoning resolution and city charter of New York City. Section 22-21 of the residential zoning code requires a permit from the standard and appeals board. The standard and appeals process requires expert testimony regarding the construction of the site, public hearings, community board participation and community input. A Technical Policy and Procedure Notice issue by the Deputy Commissioner of Buildings in 1998 exempts these antennas from the residential zoning laws. Under the Section 645 of the City Charter Powers and Duties of the Buildings department and Commissioner of New York City, the Commissioner nor the Buildings Department have the legal authority to amend or exempt any zoning resolution text or laws. The authority for such changes rests with the New York City Council (our elected officials) and the City Planning Commission. By issuing such an exemption the Buildings department is circumventing due process and the democratic principles protected by the zoning resolution. In New York City there is no city, state or federal monitoring, inspection or tracking of these sites. Many of these sites, because of the density and nature of the residential structure of the city are in violation of the Federal Categorically Excluded Rule. This rule emanates from 1969 NEPA act with regard to potential human exposure to radio- frequency radiation. Since many or all rooftops in NYC must be accessible for egress in case of fire, the potential for human exposure is always a possibility. In one particular instance, Nextel sited an antennas group right outside the window of a resident. Our coalition is asking for the assistance of any fellow New Yorkers. Please contact our organization if you know of a base station site in NYC that is on a residential building. Please join our organization. You can email us at Stopradiation@yahoo.com. We are in the process of trying to find an attorney who will represent us in filing for judicial intervention with regard to the zoning statute and violation of the city charter. We are a very committed group of citizens intent on changing the way these antennas are sited. Currently in our community there are over 300 of these antennas within a mile radius of where we live. Sincerely The Astoria Neighborhood Coalition. For Additional info on how you can help write us or call John Campos at 718-545-4375. Below is a list of NYC City Council Members. Write them and voice your objection to the way the sites are being constructed.

deblasio@council.nyc.ny.us
To: montgome@senate.state.ny.us
To: andrews@senate.state.ny.us
To: connor@senate.state.ny.us
To: pwilkes@osc.state.ny.us, canton@osc.state.ny.us
To: rharris@osc.state.ny.us
To: cmaldonado@osc.state.ny.us
To: bcampano@osc.state.ny.us
To: addabbo@council.nyc.ny.us
To: avella@council.nyc.ny.us, baez@council.nyc.ny.us
To: barron@council.nyc.ny.us
To: boyland@council.nyc.ny.us
To: brewer@council.nyc.ny.us
To: clarke@council.nyc.ny.us
To: comrie@council.nyc.ny.us
To: emdilan@council.nyc.ny.us
To: felder@council.nyc.ny.us
To: fidler@council.nyc.ny.us
To: foster@council.nyc.ny.us
To: gallagher@council.nyc.ny.us
To: gennaro@council.nyc.ny.us
To: gentile@council.nyc.ny.us
To: gerson@council.nyc.ny.us, gioia@council.nyc.ny.us
To: gonzalez@council.nyc.ny.us
To: jackson@council.nyc.ny.us
To: james@council.nyc.ny.us
To: jennings@council.nyc.ny.us
To: katz@council.nyc.ny.us, koppell@council.nyc.ny.us
To: lanza@council.nyc.ny.us, liu@council.nyc.ny.us
To: martinez@council.nyc.ny.us
To: mcmahon@council.nyc.ny.us
To: miller@council.nyc.ny.us
To: monserrate@council.nyc.ny.us
To: moskowitz@council.nyc.ny.us
To: nelson@council.nyc.ny.us, oddo@council.nyc.ny.us
To: perkins@council.nyc.ny.us
To: provenzano@council.nyc.ny.us
To: quinn@council.nyc.ny.us
To: recchia@council.nyc.ny.us, reed@council.nyc.ny.us
To: reyna@council.nyc.ny.us, rivera@council.nyc.ny.us
To: seabrook@council.nyc.ny.us
To: sears@council.nyc.ny.us
To: serrano@council.nyc.ny.us
To: stewart@council.nyc.ny.us
To: vallonejr@council.nyc.ny.us
To: vann@council.nyc.ny.us, weprin@council.nyc.ny.us
To: yassky@council.nyc.ny.us
To: feliciam@buildings.nyc.gov