UPDATE Residents in New York’s Upper East Side have continued to battle with city hall to keep 5G small cell tower poles out of their neighborhoods.
Carnegie Hill is the latest section to join the fight, reports The Patch. A neighborhood group, CHN, discussed their opposition to the cell towers in their “Carnegie Hill News” newsletter. The main objection seems to be the appearance of the structures themselves. Adjectives used to describe the 5G poles included “disastrous,” “obtrusive,” and “outmoded.”
While the group claimed to appreciate the city’s efforts to deliver connectivity through the city, they questioned why they could not have more attractive streetlight poles or rooftop units like those in place in some other communities. The Upper East Side is slated for 32-foot poles in accordance with Mayor Eric Adams’ LinkNYC initiative, which anticipates erecting over 2,000 small cell units. LinkNYC operates under the umbrella of CityBridge, a consortium overseeing the rollout. According to LinkNYC FAQ’s, before any tower site is confirmed, public notices are posted and the public is given 60 days to provide feedback. Aesthetic concerns alone are unlikely to change plans.
In response to the complaints, an unnamed CityBridge representative commented, “New York City’s leaders should focus on providing reliable 5G service, free WiFi, and better at-home broadband to all New Yorkers rather than allowing a handful of unelected individuals to dictate the city’s infrastructure needs.” The representative further noted that the larger small cell towers are necessary to accommodate the needs of 5G delivery according to The Patch.
Council Member Keith Powers is one of many Carnegie Hill residents who say they are planning to attend the next community meeting. “We need clear answers on how the towers were installed without going through the appropriate review process and how specific locations are chosen,” said Powers. “Wednesday’s hearing will introduce much-needed oversight. I plan on asking several questions and look forward to an informative hearing.”
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