One thing is certain after Tuesday night’s meeting over a proposed wireless antenna in Northeast Portland. The issue isn’t going away. Neither are neighbors’ concerns over noise and possible health impacts.
For the record, the meeting was held for the Beaumont Business Association. A representative sent by Clearwire was there to explain the company’s plans for installing the antenna on a utility pole at NE 37th and Fremont.
Maybe these kinds of meetings are normally dull and not well attended. That would explain why the Clearwire rep came with only a half dozen copies of documents to hand out. Turns out he was several dozen copies short. As many as 50 people from the neighborhood turned out. There were three television news cameras on the side of the room. That’s how big this issue has become.
At times testy, argumentative and even angry, the meeting never really got out of control. The unlucky guy at the receiving end of all this was Steve Topp of Powder River Development Services. Clearwire hires his company to shepherd wireless applications through local governments.
Topp’s comments stuck to familiar themes. He explained how local governments have little authority to stop wireless antennas and towers, and that federal law prevents them from considering health issues. He added that if you’re going to have wireless internet access in residential areas, then sooner or later, you’re going to have antennas in those areas too.
Some of the people in the audience took the opportunity to vent their frustration over the lack of local control in the tower siting process. Others were angry over what they saw as corporate indifference to the possible health effects of wireless and cell phone towers. Some complained about inaccurate maps showing where other antennas are supposed to be located. One asked Topp, “How do you live with yourself?” He replied, “Very easily.”
To be fair to Topp, he doesn’t even work for Clearwire. He was the “consultant as punching bag” sent in to take the blows that should have been delivered to Clearwire execs. Except they weren’t there. “Clearwire hasn’t engaged the community at all,” said Al Ellis, President of the Beaumont-Wilshire Neighborhood Association. “The community feels like Clearwire hasn’t made a good faith effort to work with us”
Later he added, “The whole process has been stacked against us.”
Colin O’Neill of RespectPDX, the citizen’s group leading the opposition, said the next step was for residents to make sure their concerns are heard at city hall. O’Neill and two others will address the council during the public speaking time at the March 10th meeting. “They are not looking out for us,” he said of city officials.
Jacki Safko of the Beaumont Business Association put it this way. Noting that Clearwire is putting wireless antennas about eight blocks apart, what happens when other wireless internet companies also want to move into Portland. “There could be one (antenna or tower) on every block.”
