'False Rumors' Email On 5G Released

WESTERN SPRINGS, IL — Western Springs has released an email from the Forest Hills PTA that the village president referred to last week in a speech about "false rumors." The letter alleged Verizon had filed an application to install 5G "towers" near Forest Hills Elementary School. Despite the president's assertion, the email appeared to be largely true because while Verizon had not turned in a formal application, it had submitted unofficial paperwork, including a map of possible antenna sites.

The email, which was obtained by Western Springs Patch through a public records request, is believed to have been sent to every Forest Hills family. It said one of the 5G towers was proposed for the front of the school and many more for the surrounding neighborhood. It included a map from Verizon's paperwork that pinpointed where the company wanted to set up its antennas. Residents in Western Springs and Hinsdale fear the health effects of 5G antennas' microwave radiation, but the industry denies any such impacts.
In an email Thursday, village spokeswoman Selmin Cicek said the village had already been aware of the map. "The map indicates proposed locations that Verizon was considering in terms of rolling out its small cell infrastructure plan; however, it was not submitted with a formal permit application," she said.

The PTA email encouraged parents to attend last Monday's village board meeting to express their opposition or get more information about the proposal. A PTA representative declined to comment.

On the morning of Jan. 9, the PTA sent the email, which village board member Nicole Chen then forwarded to the village president and manager. The village communicated with the PTA because the group sent a correction to parents about two hours after Chen's email. The PTA said its previous email was "erroneous," noting the village did not currently have any applications for 5G equipment.

The emails may have had an effect on the village board meeting's attendance a few days later. When Village President Alice Gallagher gaveled the meeting to order, she looked at the audience in amazement, saying it was the largest crowd at a meeting in her years at the helm.

Gallagher then warned residents to avoid the spread of "false rumors," referring to the PTA email.

"In the future, please verify any information you find that does not come directly from the village. If you receive an email from an organization other than the village, please contact the village before assuming it's true," Gallagher said.

At the meeting, Forest Hills residents noted stakes had been set up in their area, fearing it would mean the coming of 5G towers. Not long after the meeting, Elmhurst-based LTS Technical submitted a plan for fiber optic cable in village neighborhoods, mostly near Forrest Hills. Village officials say they are unsure whether the fiber optic is related to the installation of 5G antennas, and a company representative declined to tell Patch why it wants to lay down cable.

Earlier this month, the village rejected a 5G antenna application from Houston-based Crown Castle, saying it was incomplete and deficient. The company withdrew its plan and said it was looking for alternative sites. Its proposal called for a 7-foot-long antenna extending from a 24-foot utility pole.

Hinsdale has not reported any applications for 5G, which is the latest in wireless technology. In response to the outcry over 5G, leaders in both Hinsdale and Western Springs are pushing the state to give greater control over the placement of antennas.