Friday, October 27, 2017

Another Victory for the Golden Gate against cell towers!

IT IS WITH GREAT PLEASURE DELIGHT AND GRATITUDE,  I want to let you know the Star Bethel Missionary Baptist Church rescinded their authorization for Verizon to establish a cellular base station on the church! 
The church heard presentations by local electrical engineers and neighbors expressing our concern. Therefore, City of Oakland dropped the plan!  

Thank you Star Bethel and Dr. E.J. Ward! Thank you to all those in the community who offered their efforts; combing through the latest research and letting us know why this project would be so detrimental to the health and safety of our community.  We worked closely with the church and each other.   Congratulations to the Golden Gate Community! Yes, prayers and  hard work.

Will Verizon give up on this area, my guess is NO.  

Come to the Golden Gate Library at 2 pm, Saturday, 10/28, tomorrow.  Instead of preparing for the Planning Commission, let's talk about what worked, talk a big exhale and toast to a victory for our neighborhood. We want to honor the church for their decision and show our gratitude.  Let's talk about how we can protect our neighborhood before another cell plan lands in our front yard.

See you then!
Deborah

Monday, October 16, 2017

GOOD NEWS!  Governor Brown vetoed SB 649

Thanks to lots of hard work; faxes, phone calls, expert testimony, and  demonstrations!

http://www.mercurynews.com/…/california-gov-jerry-brown-ve…/
Grass-roots activists and scientists said that if SB 649 became law, a projected 50,000 new cellular antennas would be installed on public buildings and utility poles in California neighborhoods, creating a risk to public health because of the dangers of radiation and electromagnetic frequencies emitted by cell towers.
“I am thrilled that Governor Brown showed strength and stood up ...
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The bill was primarily supported by the Cellular Telecommunications and Internet Association, the main trade group for the U.S. wireless telecommunications industry. The group said SB 649 would hel…
MERCURYNEWS.COM

Thursday, October 12, 2017

The Verizon plan for a large cell antenna base station on the roof of Star Bethel church has moved forward and will be presented to the City of Oakland Planning Commission for approval on November 1st at 6:00 pm at City Hall.

The Planning Commission will approve this plan unless they hear from YOU! 
  • The Planning Commission hearing is the community's chance to voice opposition to a plan that is; unsafe, intrusive and incompatible with the Golden Gate neighborhood. 
  • When neighbors show up in a large organized group to the Planning Commission, it does make a difference.
  • Whatever issues we bring up at the Planning Commission,  will go to the City Council if we choose to appeal. 

      Things to do:
  1. Come to the meeting to prepare for the Planning Commission this Saturday October 14th at The Golden Gate Library meeting room at 2:00pm. ( If you can't make this meeting but can be at the Planning Commission email me so we can get a count.)
  2. SAVE the DATE:  Planning Commission hearing on November 1st at 6:00 pm at the City Council chambers at City Hall. 
  3. Write a letter to the Star Bethel Missionary Baptist Church expressing your concern.  Address your letter to Dr. E. J. Ward mail or drop off at 5800 San Pablo Ave Oakland, CA 94608 
  4. Write a group email to the Planning Commissioners: Adhi Nagraj  Chair,  nagrajplanning@gmail.com; Jahmese Myres jmyres.planningcommission@gmail.com; Jonathan Fearn jfearnopc@gmail.com; Tom Limon tlimon.opc@gmail.com; Clark Manus cmanusopc@gmail.com; Amanda Monchamp amandamonchamp@gmail.com; Emily Weinstein EW.Oakland@gmail.com

        Hope to see you at the Golden Gate Library this Saturday!
        Deborah

Tuesday, October 3, 2017

Thank you for opposing the latest Verizon cell installation and supporting health and safety in the Golden Gate neighborhood!

After the community presentation Verizon has moved the plan ahead, as we knew they would. It is now on the calendar will come up for approval to the Planning Commission on  Wednesday, November 1st at 6:00pm

The Planning Commission either approves the plan or asks Verizon to make changes.  

Please save that date, and plan to attend, Wednesday November 1st at 6:00pm. An organized community presence does make a difference.  In order to make our case in front of the commissioners we need people to either speak or to sign up to speak and offer your minutes to those of us ready to speak.  

To prepare we are having an organizing meeting Saturday, October 14th from 2:00 to 4:00 pm at the Golden Gate Library meeting room.

Bring all that energy we saw last Tuesday, to this meeting! 

We will look at talking points for community members for the Planning Commission hearing and next steps. 

Thank you!
 Deborah