U.S. Rep. Jerry Nadler has jumped into the fray over the city’s new hulking 5G antenna towers in Manhattan, where residents have railed against the cellular poles.
Nadler penned a letter Wednesday to the Federal Communications Commission Chairwoman Jessica Rosenworcel, urging the agency to review the proposed installation of LinkNYC 5G towers throughout New York City’s historic preservation districts.
“On its face, the proposed design and large footprint of these 32-foot-tall towers will be out of context with the historic nature of these neighborhoods and will negatively affect the coherent streetscape of the district that New York City has worked so hard to maintain since the establishment of the groundbreaking New York City Landmarks in 1965,” wrote Nadler in his letter.
In response, the city’s Office of Technology and Innovation asserted that the installation of the 5G poles already follows all federal regulations around historic preservation.
“As we advance this effort, we are adhering to all local, state and federal regulations, which will include further engagement with necessary landmark commissions. No kiosk proposed in a historic district will proceed without engagement and approval from these bodies,” said an OTI spokesperson in a statement.
Last summer, the city agreed to install some 2,000 of the silver poles through its LinkNYC program. The structures provide housing for telecom companies to install 5G antennas, free short-range wifi and advertising space.
Nadler’s criticism follows similar reactions among a handful of community boards stretching across his district. Manhattan community boards 2, 5, 8 and 9 have each made declarations asking for the city to slow or stop the installation of such poles.
The congressman wrote he’s concerned about the effect the poles will have on the streetscape within Manhattan’s historic districts, specifically those of the Upper East Side, Expanded Carnegie Hill, Park Avenue, SoHo-Cast Iron and Morningside Heights.
The section of historic preservation law he cited requires federal agencies to assess the effects their actions may have on historic buildings and to consider public views and concerns about historic preservation.
So far, objections in community board forums have largely centered on the towers’ height, their proximity to buildings, their visual design and some concerns that the new technology could pose a threat to public health. The FCC and FDA have declared 5G technology to be safe under their current guidelines, but residents maintained that relying solely on federal regulations without additional state or local oversight was not adequate.
Nadler joins other political figures who have pushed back on the city over the poles. Manhattan Borough President Mark Levine wrote a critical letter back in January to OTI that called for better public outreach and efforts to make the poles less conspicuous.
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