Cell Tower in the Knolls
The Industrialization of Residential America
All across America, towns are fighting the proliferation of cell towers
in middle-class neighborhoods,
an all-out offensive by the Telecom industry to
industrialize residential America.
It’s happening in my town, too, but in my town, Ridgefield, we face a
different set of circumstances.
While other Connecticut towns push back against the Telecoms,
our town invites them in.
Anatomy of a Lie
The First LieLocation
“I have no idea as to the location, (of the cell tower) other than that it’s
in the Ridgebury area somewhere — private land.”
-Rudy MarconiProgress continues on cell site: Marconi, March 13, 2013, Ridgefield Press
As the town secretly negotiated with the cell tower company
to grant them an access easement
Deed for Map D08 Lot P/O Lot 0124, Volume 981 Page: 949, Map D08 Lot D-2,Vol 717 Page 547, Vol. 970 Pages 1110- 1118 and Map #8830
on the land that would become the cell tower site
The Second Lie Before the
Land Swap Vote
“We have no intention of using any of this property
as a cell tower.”
-Rudy Marconi
Voters pass land swap, over objections of some, May 7, 2013, Ridgefield Press
The Vote Gave the Cell Tower Site
an Access Road
The Third Lie Visual Impact
“Marconi said the tower would be difficult to see close by
or from a distance.”
-Ridgefield Press
Cell tower plans in state’s hands, February 3, 2014, Ridgefield, Press
A Blight on the Ridge
View from Hobby Drive
Marconi Targeted the Knolls
A Long Time Ago
“There was never any other location…”
-Rudy Marconi
Ridgebury Cell Tower: Information Session Shows Lack Of Neighborhood Support, April 13, 2011, Ridgefield Patch
A Lack of Disclosure
Sketchy ExplanationsApprox. 20 Cell Sites
Considered then Dismissed
AT&T Nov. 13 Cell Tower Report, Town Hall Records
Why?
A Blighton a Historic Ridgeline
Simulation Photograph from 2011 Balloon test (to scale)
Ridgebury Ridge
If You Build the Tower,They Won’t Come
“They were worried about the property values... ...If your home is near a cell antenna, the value of your property is
going down at least 4 percent. Depending on the size of the tower and
the proximity, it is going down 10 percent.”
A Pushback Against Cell Towers, August 10, 2010, New York Times
-Andrew J. Campanelli civil rights lawyer,Garden City
Evidence Contradicts FCC StandardsHealth Risks Real
Most Respected Environmental Affairs Magazine
The Ecologist - http://www.theecologist.org
Lobbyists Wrote the 1996 Telecom Act
Scary Radiation Facts
U.S. Exposure Among Highest
Health Effects from Cell Phone Tower Radiation, Copyright © 2008 Mount Shasta Bioregional Ecology Center
The Questions
More Cell Towers in Residential
Neighborhoods?
“The Cell Tower Won’t Cover All the Gaps.”
-C. Fisher, Attorney, Homeland Towers
Dec.13, 2013 Meeting, Ridgefield Town Hall
Why can cell towers be near homes with children,
but not near schools?
So Many Questions,So Few Answers
