5G In Nassau: Local Legislature Candidates Express Concern

PORT WASHINGTON, NY — Nassau County residents just tuning into their local elections can probably tell you what issue is most pressing for Legislature candidates — taxes. But a recent candidate forum's night in Manhasset shed new light on a lesser known issue that's quickly gaining momentum across the country: 5G.

Many people probably assumed 5G, or fifth-generation cellular wireless networks were simply the logical, speedier successor to 4G and LTE. After all, 4G revolutionized how people used their smartphones — leading to billion-dollar applications such as Uber and Snapchat — and 5G is supposed to be able to deliver speeds up to 100 times faster.

But many scientists and grassroots organizations have urged federal, state and local officials to put 5G on hold.

They say more studies are needed on how wireless radiation affects humans, animals and plants. This includes increased cancer risk, cellular stress, genetic damage, reproductive system changes, learning and memory problems and neurological disorders.

Furthermore, some say they frankly don't want to see ugly cell towers everywhere. Telecom giants like AT&T and Verizon have said they plan to place so-called "small cell" facilities on utility poles and streetlights. These facilities can contain electronics such as electric meters, cables and sometimes even a box on the ground the size of a refrigerator, according to Newsday. Wireless transmitters must be placed as close as 500 feet apart, so some towns could have hundreds of them.

Ajit Pai, chairman of the FCC, in August proposed keeping radio frequency exposure safety standards, which his office called among "the most stringent in the world."

"As Jeffrey Shuren, Director of the Food and Drug Administration’s Center for Devices and Radiological Health, wrote to the FCC, '[t]he available scientific evidence to date does not support adverse health effects in humans due to exposures at or under the current limits…' and '[n]o changes to the current standards are warranted at this time,'" Julius Knapp, chief of the FCC’s engineering and tech office, said in a news release.

Nassau County Legislature candidates aren't so sure, with several of saying more research is needed. Here's what each candidate in District's 9, 10 and 11 had to say on the topic.

District 9

Mal Nathan (D)

Technology is an essential part of peoples lives, Nathan said, and it helps keep people safe. He acknowledged he doesn't know how safe 5G cell towers are, but said they shouldn't be at eye level.

"I believe if we squawk loud enough to the federal government, they will listen," he said. "We need to place these in places above human level. I see them on water towers. I see them on building tops."

He added: "It's something we really have to be concerned about, but we need in our lives. So we have to find a happy medium."

Richard Nicolello (R)

Nicolello said the county has a limited role in the 5G roll out because it's towns and villages that have zoning rights.

"The real problem is that there is a specific federal statute that says this is preempted," he said, referring to cell towers and nodes. "Localities are preempted by federal law. There's very limited amount that you can do as a locality."

Some villages have taken on the federal government to prevent 5G from moving forward and now their challenges are moving through the courts.

"I don't know if ultimately they'll be successful," he said. "But as a local government, sometimes you have to take a chance. Sometimes you have to say 'no' and make them challenge you in court. So I think those villages are doing the right thing."

District 10

Ellen Birnbaum (D)

The issue has been brought before many villages, Birnbaum said, and that the Town of North Hempstead has also been addressing it.

"At the county we have not had any legislation dealing with this as of yet," she said. "I think it's definitely something that needs to be looked into further. We have to have more public input and have hearings."

See also: Nassau Legislature Candidates: Meet Ellen Birnbaum

Helene Sherman (R)

Sherman agreed with Nicolello that localities are hamstrung because they're preempted by federal law, but noted if scientific studies don't show 5G is dangerous, it should be permitted.

She stressed that she doesn't want anything dangerous in the community.

"If it's not dangerous and some people are against it claiming it's dangerous, but they just don't want it where they can see it ... we also need progress," she said.

People benefit from having cell service and internet at their fingertips and in their pockets, and people wouldn't like if that access disappeared, Sherman added.

"You have to say something for progress," she said.

District 11

Delia DeRiggi-Whitton (D)

DeRiggi-Whitton has increasingly heard "more and more" on the issue and believes public awareness is the first step.

"We don't know enough about it," she said. She later added: "I would like us to have a public hearing on this and I would be willing to see what we can do in a bipartisan way to draft it."

DeRiggi-Whitton noted she previously wrote legislation that would require people be aware of where modems are in office buildings.

"Because we all hear everything is safe but, if you're pregnant or if you want to maybe move your desk, many modems are hidden and I thought it was a good idea," she said. "Unfortunately that piece of legislation was never brought for a public hearing."

See also: Nassau Legislature Candidates: Meet Delia DeRiggi-Whitton

James M. Greenberg (R)

Greenberg said a common-sense approach could be to look at how other local governments have handled 5G and conduct more research.

"I do agree that homeowners' property rights are most important to defend as a county legislator, as a civil servant," he said.

See also: Nassau Legislature Candidates: Meet James Greenberg

Blay Tarnoff (LBT)

Tarnoff called 5G a nuisance issue, property rights issue, an environmental issue and pollution issue. Really it's an example of when the Legislature takes too much "space."

"This is really something for the courts to deal with," he said. "People have a right not to have a harmful anything come onto their property and we need to strengthen peoples' property rights."

Tarnoff acknowledged he has "no idea" whether 5G networks are harmful, and reiterated it's something for the courts to figure out. Neighbors also have to come forward, prove in court that 5G hurt them and hold companies liable, he said.

"It's really a court issue at this point because there's not enough information at this point so far as I know to determine whether or not this is actually something harmful," he said.