LETTERS TO OUR LEADERS: Hello. Is there anybody out there?

From time to time, with permission, we will print examples of some real letters that have been sent to our various school board, county and state oficials. These letters are offered as examples of the support we are receiving for our countywide, combined effort to stop cell towers from being placed on public school proerty.

Get the Cell Out - Atlanta Chapter was formed to help inform the parents and community members surrounding 12 schools named by T-mobile in a proposal submitted to our school board. The board elected to approve towers for 9 of those schools properties for a lease of 30 years each. These 2 high schools, 1 comprehensive school and 6 elementary schools will have to give up a large 60' x 60' square area (larger than a typical house in most areas) and endure round the clock mainenance of a structure that is 150' tall (taller than the tallest tree).

These spaces are ones that are on campuses currently in use and supported by taxpayers. The lease will allow a corporate entity (T-mobile) to avoid certain commercial taxes, avoid following the county's approved regulations for the siting of cell towers and avoid public notification and input into the process.

To date, the final, signed lease agreement has not been posted by the school board for inspection or review as is required by the Georgia Open Records Law despire written requests send by at least two individuals in the county working with GTCO-ATL.

In addition, the board may have violated several state rules regarding use of active school property for commercial purposes, informing the community about issues of controversy in order to provide public input before rendering a decision and voting on a matter not related to education by board members who have a personal stake in the outcome.

By remaining quiet about this issue, other communities may soon find their own school on a similar list this year as the precedent shall be set if there is no strong protest or opposition to the actions that have alredy taken place. If you are disturbed by this idea, please take the time today to email, write or call your elected officials. And, please don't foget to sign our countywide petition. You may indicate a specific school in your comments if you wish to identify your specific concern. The petition can be found at the top, left of our page or directly at www.thepetitionsite.com/1/GTCO-ATL.


Here are our first few exerpts. As a special note, the fist note helped restore our faith that there are still people out there who are willing to stand up for what is right, so thank you to its author!

____________D e a r J a y _______________________________

Oct. 10, 2011

Dear Jay, (cc to all other board members)
... (letter edited for privacy and for space constraints)

I and my neighbors are strongly opposed to the proposed T-mobile cell phone tower and very disturbed by the fact that the directly affected neighborhoods (Meadowbrook Glen, Dogwood Manor, Rivermist, Dogwood Hills) were not made aware of this beforehand. When we walk around the school down to the nature trail, there are no signs posted about the proposed cell phone tower as signs are normally be posted for other proposed developments. For your information, when MLK H.S. was being planned, we invited Dr. Stan Pritchard to our homeowner meeting and he who showed us the plans and answered our questions. We suggested another access road to alleviate traffic which was built as the back entrance to the school. With this cell phone tower project, we were not extended the same courtesy. Hence, you all are now experiencing an uproar or backlash which could have been avoided.

Additionally, property values in zip code 30038 have severely declined over the past few years. A cell phone tower located in a residential area will surely have a negative effect on the value of our property. I understand the school may receive a small amount of money over a long period of time from this arrangement but I don't think it's worth it. Surely there are other ways to get revenue for the school that will keep intact a positive relationship with property owners who fund the school system.

If you all decided to not build these towers at other schools that were on the original list of 12 you should have decided not to do it at the remaining 9 schools. I would say none of these towers need to be built in residential areas. The cellphone companies do have other options. Someone suggested this as an easier way and did not think of or care about the residual effect on the community because they don't live here. But we do and you do. The school and the community are one. We see you at church, in the grocery store, at the mall, etc. By the way, when I shop, I stay local (in Dekalb county) so that my tax dollars go to support our schools and facilities.

I have lived in this neighborhood for over 20 years. I love MLK H. S. and the area. That's why we stayed here when we could have gone elsewhere. You must consider the neighborhoods that would be affected by this project and listen to their concerns. It is only the right thing to do. It's hard trying to keep up with all of these issues when you work full time to support your family and I shouldn't have to take off from work to voice my opinion to you in one of your meetings but I will if that is the only way you will believe that we are opposed to this project. This is very important to me.

____________D e a r M s. T y s o n _______________________________

July 7, 2011

Dear Ms. Tyson, (edited for privacy and space concerns)

I am writing to you because my prior letters to my principal,
representative and super-district representative have not been responded
to and I am hoping you can help.

I am having difficulty determining when you are expected to have a
discussion and possible vote regarding the 12 cell towers proposed for
DeKalb County. I have submitted a request to Mr. Donahue for a copy of the proposal so that the parents and the public may see it. We cannot be asked to assume a risk without even knowing what the benefits may be. Perhaps
it would shed light on the reason you would even consider this proposal,
but in my opinion, my child's health is not worth any amount of money,
especially since coverage in our area for cell service is fine.

The money being offered does not compare to what they would have to pay
for a commercial location and, even at that we have not even seen what
kind of money they have even offered. Please do not be the board that goes down in our history for allowing a bad business deal go through. You could harm our children and it will lead to lower enrollment which could eventually close our schools.

Cell towers have nothing to do with education. They are dangerous structures that have been known to fall over, contain HAZMAT materials at the base and produce RF radiation which is a known carcinigen at high levels and a possible carcinigen at low levels. They invite strangers to our
schools on a 24/7 full access basis, they present traffic problem, noise
problems, lighting problems, dangers from falling debris. They are not
wanted by the neighborhoods and will cause further decline in our
property values and further decline in our belief in our school system.

Please do the right thing and remove this agenda item permanently. All
eyes are on you now. Please do the right thing.

_________ More to Come _____________________