Our Readers Write: La Jollans air their views about 5G cell towers’ health risks and other local matters

Opinion / Letters to the Editor / Our Readers Write:

The following are Letters to the Editor from recent issues of La Jolla Light as La Jollans speak out on local issues. Letters published in La Jolla Light express views from readers in regard to community matters. To share your thoughts in this public forum, e-mail them with your name and city of residence to editor@lajollalight.com or mail them to La Jolla Light Editor, 565 Pearl St., Suite 300, La Jolla, CA 92037. Submissions of related photos are also welcome. Letters reflect the writers’ opinions and not necessarily those of the newspaper staff or publisher.

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Follow the money behind new 5G towers

The front page article on the Sept. 5 Light was read with great interest. There was, however, one vital fact missing, and that was the “Benjamin’s babies,” as one Congress member recently said. (Editor’s Note: “Benjamin” is slang for a $100 bill, because it bears a portrait of Benjamin Franklin.)

How much is the City being paid monthly by AT&T for each such cell tower? I was told the previous 4G towers were putting $1,000 a month a tower into the City’s coffers. Will the City get a cut from Verizon’s and T-Mobile/Sprint’s lease payments to SDG&E? Damn the health effects on our citizens! Full speed ahead (to paraphrase a famous Civil War Union Admiral during the battle of Mobile Bay)!

Lou Cumming

— See the mentioned story, “5G’s a Hard Cell: Residents sour on towers going up across La Jolla,” at lajollalight.com/news/story/2019-09-04/5gs-a-hard-cell-residents-sour-on-towers-going-up-across-la-jolla

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More honest study needed on 5G towers

The Sept. 5 issue’s article about 5G wireless shows the increasing concern citizens have with a 24/7 transmitter located right next to their home. Unfortunately, it fails to point out all the science and public policy details like: 1) science that is not funded by the wireless industry shows overwhelmingly that serious biological effects occur in humans, animals and plants; 2) the FCC is a “captured” agency trying to force- feed Americans the product of the wireless industry without any safety testing using tactics that go beyond their legal authorization, and in some cases violate U.S. law (City of San Jose v. FCC, 10th Circuit No. 18-9568); and 3) City Hall does not care one iota about the health issue and instead seized on the financial aspect — make money without regard to safety or citizen interest.

This issue started surfacing in 2015 when the City and wireless companies conspired to surreptitiously install mini-cell towers near about 400 homes and expose citizens to dangerous amounts of cell phone radiation (microwaves). With the unnecessary 5G, now many more people get to join in the exposure.

While the Light mentions the U.S. National Toxicology Program (NTP) study, it neglects to mention a similar study by the Italian Ramazzini Institute, which provided similar results. A panel of scientists reviewing these two studies have made remarks like: clear evidence of an increased risk of cancer. For more information, see the analysis by UC San Diego’s Beatrice Golomb, M.D. Ph.D. and other experts on non-ionizing radiation at bit.ly/golombstudy

The 1996 Federal Telecommunications Act (FTA) is old and based on old scientific data. It is ridiculous that this piece of legislation has not be updated to incorporate clear cut biological effects that non-ionizing radiation like microwaves have been proven to cause above and beyond the FCC allowed “thermal effect.” It must be changed to include the ability to reference environmental and health effects, just as it has been in more advanced countries that put their citizens health ahead of the profits of the wireless industry. At the very minimum, a section of our society is at great risk due to the constant exposure of non-ionizing radiation.

Allowing these individuals to be disadvantaged (get cancer) so that others can watch videos on their cell phone seems like it would be a blatant violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act. It is embarrassing that our City makes a big deal of “strict regulations,” which is simply an aesthetic issue while other cities take a stand more focused on health — 5G towers are banned in Palm Beach, Florida; Mill Valley, California, etc., or the transmitters must be at least 100 feet from a home or school (Encinitas).

While the 1996 FTA forbids the reference to environmental or health effects for cell tower siting, it retains local authority, which is properly exercised by many cities other than San Diego. More advanced countries like New Zealand and Israel that do not have an FCC, have more reasonable setback rules, like 100 to 200 meters.

People are being force-fed the concept that they must have this technology, when in fact, most people will not need it, will not use it and will not even want it if they know the truth about the biological effects the wireless industry is trying to hide. Consider the fact that the wireless industry has been fighting tooth and nail to prevent the City of Berkeley from publicly posting the safety information that the FCC requires for all wireless devices. This information is usually hidden deep in a cell phone in tiny print that cannot be expanded!

David N. Haney, Ph.D.; Biochemistry, Northwestern University

— See the mentioned story, “5G’s a Hard Cell: Residents sour on towers going up across La Jolla,” at lajollalight.com/news/story/2019-09-04/5gs-a-hard-cell-residents-sour-on-towers-going-up-across-la-jolla

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5G towers do not merit health scares

It is always amusing to listen to and read more FUD (Fear, Uncertainty, Doubt) about 5G. The facts are that according to experts on the biological effects of electromagnetic radiation, radio waves become safer at higher frequencies, not more dangerous. This is in contrast to extremely high-frequency energies, such as X-rays, that behave differently and do pose a health risk.

Believe it or not, all this nonsense about the risks of wireless technologies started with one man, Dr. Bill P. Curry, in 2000 when he was doing a risk assessment of WiFi in the Broward County School System (Fort Lauderdale). He promoted his theory of the dangers of wireless and yet, here we all are.

The biggest winners in the 5G world is us. Speeds up to 30 times 4G will enable new technologies that will save lives. The biggest loser is the cable companies. I unplugged with 4G and now watch all video OTP (over-the-top). Many choices. I like Netflix. So if anyone should be scared of 5G, it is Spectrum Cable and their direct competitors.

Edward Chopskie

— See the mentioned story, “5G’s a Hard Cell: Residents sour on towers going up across La Jolla,” at lajollalight.com/news/story/2019-09-04/5gs-a-hard-cell-residents-sour-on-towers-going-up-across-la-jolla

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Classier fencing needed along La Jolla Cove

After reading the great article on the history of the 939 Coast Boulevard Building in the Aug. 1 La Jolla Light, I hope someone can inform us on the history of the Cadillac fencing that is in front of the Goldfish Point Café at 1255 Coast Blvd. This short stretch of fencing is a beautiful example of what we should have along all of the perimeter of The Cove down to the lifeguard tower. The Cove is why visitors from all over world come to La Jolla. So why is this fencing just confined to the small Cove frontage at the café?

The remaining fencing is in very bad condition and is falling apart. I hope someone can explain this situation and help with a solution to extend the Cadillac fencing around our world-class Cove.

Jerry Allen

— See the mentioned story, “How this La Jolla high-rise got built: 18-story 939 Coast Blvd. building leads to coastal-height limit,” at lajollalight.com/news/story/2019-07-30/how-this-la-jolla-high-rise-got-built-18-story-939-coast-blvd-building-leads-to-coastal-height-limit

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Further clarification on forensics case story

On Sept. 5, the Light published a comment by Melinde Lutz Byrne asking for a correction to its July 29 story, “Justice for John Doe” regarding my involvement in the Gold State Killer case. The article mentioned that I had worked on the Golden State Killer (GSK) case, but Ms. Byrne believed that this was an error, and asked that it be corrected.

In fact, I did work on the GSK case starting in about 2012. I assisted at least two of the agencies involved with the GSK with the comparison of the killer’s Y-profile to the genetic genealogy Y-DNA databases. Since Y-DNA is passed along the exclusively male line of the family, a match to a genetic genealogy database would provide a possible last name for the GSK. I was also involved in very early discussions of using Ancestry-like testing to identify him and assisted Michele McNamara with her book “I Will Be Gone in the Dark: One Woman’s Obsessive Search for the Golden State Killer.”

I would like to set the record straight only to say that I did assist in the investigation, although in a much more modest role than is implied by the article. In the end, Barbara Rae Venter gets the real credit for the work she did on the case. She changed the world.

Colleen Fitzpatrick, Ph.D.; Identifinders international, Fountain Valley, California

— See the mentioned story, “Justice for John Doe: La Jolla native solves cold cases with forensic genealogy,” at lajollalight.com/lifestyle/story/2019-08-28/la-jolla-native-solves-cold-cases-with-forensic-genealogy

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It’s hello crows, goodbye blue jays

In response to the Sept. 5 letter “Where have all the blue jays gone?’ ” they have gone into the bellies of crows, cats and rats. While we used to see and hear songbirds everywhere, many have been wiped out by squadrons of those three predators. Rats and cats have always been abundant, but crows were rare. Now, protected by the Migratory Bird Act (even though they are not migratory), crows have proliferated beyond all reason.

Crows and rats are opportunistic omnivores; they will eat just about anything, which means that bird eggs and baby birds make a piquant hors d’oeuvre, if not a fully satisfying dinner. Crows and rats are subsidized predators, as are cats. Feral and owned cats kill between 1.3 and 3.7 billion (with a B) birds each year in the United States.

Solutions: 1) politicians who will stand on their hind legs to change existing laws, which allow a lot of the above mayhem; 2) clean up uncovered trash, leftover dog/cat food; 3) keep cats indoors, 4) support the Audubon Society.

Althea M. Brimm

— See the mentioned story, “Our Readers Write: La Jollans speak out about overflowing trash, scooters and other local matters,” at lajollalight.com/news/opinion/sd-cm-ljl-letters-5-20190904-story.html

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Friday Kiwanis Club of La Jolla meetings open to all

The Kiwanis Club of La Jolla has speakers scheduled for its September meetings who will inform Kiwanians and guests about local issues. Members of the community are welcome to attend. Meetings begin at noon and end at 1:30 p.m. Reservations are not necessary. Meetings include lunch, brief club business and the presentation. The lunch cost is $15 per person.

On Sept. 13, restaurant owner, Mike Morton, Jr., will provide an update on the Brigantine Port Side Pier, the company’s latest project set for Harbor Drive. This meeting will take place in the social hall of La Jolla Presbyterian Church , Eads Ave.

On Sept. 20, EMT Chief Andy Parr will discuss EMT services in San Diego County. This meeting will take place at the La Jolla Community Center, 6811 La Jolla Blvd.

On Sept. 27, a spokesperson from the San Diego Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) will talk about the forthcoming mid-coast trolley line. This meeting will take place in the social hall of La Jolla Presbyterian Church, Eads Ave.

For more details, call Craig Bratlien at (858) 945-2280. Kiwanis is an international organization dedicated to serving the needs of young children.

Suzanne Weiner

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What’s on YOUR mind?

Letters published in La Jolla Light express views from readers in regard to community issues. To share your thoughts in this public forum, e-mail them with your name and city of residence to editor@lajollalight.com or mail them to La Jolla Light Editor, 565 Pearl St., Suite 300, La Jolla, CA 92037. Letters reflect the writers’ opinions and not necessarily those of the newspaper staff or publisher.