All that opposition to a new wireless antenna in Northeast Portland doesn’t appear to be having an impact – at least not so far.
RespectPDX, the group leading the campaign, says Clearwire will apply for the permit it needs to build the antenna on Friday.
If you’re wondering what’s the big deal over cell and wireless towers in Portland, here’s your chance to find out.
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.
(Note: I live about a mile from the site of this proposed wireless antenna.)
Whoever said, “You can’t fight city hall,” ought to reconsider. City hall is easy compared to keeping wireless and cell phone antennas out of neighborhoods.
Anne Trudeau of RespectPDX.org has learned this the hard way. The group is trying to block attempts by Clearwire to install a wireless internet and phone antenna on a utility pole in Northeast Portland at 37th and Fremont.
Most of the time, these projects don’t get a whole lot of attention. But in this case, RespectPDX has managed to shake up things a bit at city hall, and get the attention of the Oregonian, KGW, and the Portland Observer. They’ve even brought in an award winning documentarian with major mainstream creds from CBS News and 60 Minutes.
But all these efforts may not make a difference. Because as the demand for more wireless access increases around the country, even as questions grow about safety, the laws governing these installations are stuck more than 20-years in the past.
