UES Electeds Say City Needs To Rethink 5G Towers

UPPER EAST SIDE, NY — The city needs to seriously rethink its 5G tower rollout, says a team of Upper East Side politicians and a community group long opposed to the controversial 32-foot-tall towers.

At city hall on Monday, Carnegie Hill Neighbors joined Rep. Jerry Nadler, Assembly Members Alex Bores and Rebecca Seawright, and City Council Member Keith Powers to protest the LinkNYC 5G towers, which they say are massive and out of scale — especially when other less-intrusive options exist.

For months, Carnegie Hill Neighbors has been one of the most vocal groups in the Upper East Side fighting the 5G poles, which they say will ruin the historic district.

One especially controversial pole is set to be installed nearly directly across the street from the Guggenheim Museum on Fifth Avenue.

In a statement, the city's Office of Technology and Innovation said that these days, reliable, fast internet is "as essential as heat and hot water."

"Contrary to the small handful of vocal groups who support the unequal status quo, we believe our residents and visitors deserve the same connection quality wherever they work, live, or travel throughout the five boroughs,” an OTI spokesperson said.

On that point, OTI and Bores share the same goal — Bores just thinks there's gotta be a better vessel to bring the future to the Big Apple.

“5G is the future, and expanding access is going to have massive benefits for all New Yorkers — but 32 foot towers which cost more to provide less are not the way forward,”said Bores.

The tech-savvy state rep and former computer science worker also released a new report outlining alternatives that could help bring 5G to the city, but avoid the current design and implementation that many find objectionable.

His report outlines three main points that the city should implement going forward: more community engagement to build trust, finding ways to optimize installing equipment on existing infrastructure and to be a bit more creative in designs.

Many cities around the country already utilize placing 5G cells "almost exclusively...on existing street furniture," like lampposts and street poles, the report reads.

And when that isn't possible, the report continues, the city should engage design professionals to emulate creative solutions inspired by how other cities have found ways to integrate the new tech. In Arizona, for example, companies have incorporated "5G infrastructure into fake cacti and kitschy local signs," says the report.

"These ideas don’t necessarily translate into perfect solutions for New York City," the report says, "but they illustrate that creative solutions that reflect the needs and desires of unique communities."

His report drew high marks from his fellow elected officials on Monday.

“I applaud Assembly Member Bores for his initiative in releasing today’s report that provides alternative options to the current proposal that will preserve our city’s character and still meet our connectivity goals.” said Nadler, who in April penned a letter calling for the FCC to pause further installation.

“Carnegie Hill Neighbors is gratified by Assembly Member Bores' discovery, outlined in his report, and the breadth of common sense alternatives in use elsewhere demonstrates that New Yorkers do have options when a forum for discussion is made,” said Joanna Cawley, Executive Director of Carnegie Hill Neighbors. “Several verified options exist - and show that segmenting a citywide plan to consider sensitive neighborhoods like historic districts is possible and the right thing to do.”

The report also calls for better community engagement and more transparency regarding implementation to ensure that New Yorkers can get the technology of better web and cell service — sans bitter fights and costly lawsuits.

“The report released today provides clear, sensible recommendations to address community concerns about where 5G towers are needed and how placement locations are determined," said Powers, who has also long been outspoken about the 5G towers. "Moving forward, I remain committed to working with all partners to ensure the best possible outcome for the community.”

Neighboring council member, Julie Menin, also supported the efforts and work in Bores' report.

"We should look toward more aesthetically appropriate alternatives that fit into the character of our neighborhoods," Menin said. "Other cities like Los Angeles, Denver, Portland, and El Paso use more contextual smart pole technology for the city to emulate."