Green Party Letter in Opposition to ZTA 18-11 5G Small Cell Deployment in Montgomery County Maryland

Dear Montgomery County Councilmembers,

The Green Party of Montgomery County is opposed to the increase in microwave radiation of our people and environment that will result from the deployment of small cell towers throughout our communities, and urges you to vote No on Zoning Text Amendment 18-11.

We take this position for the following reasons: 

1) Precautionary principle - new technology should not be deployed without extensive testing, for human and environmental welfare especially when many hundreds of scientific studies show significant biological harm. This has not occurred, and the technology has not been shown to be safe.

2) Cimate change - increasing microwave radiation of our environment when our planet is already overheated with global warming gasses, undercutting the work being done by all responsible parties are working to reduce global temperatures, is the exact opposite of a rational policy. One cannot claim to be an environmentalist and support small cell deployment, for 4G or 5G, under ZTA 18-11.

3) Human safety and health - many national and international medical groups and radiofrequency experts have recommended against this deployment based on published, peer-reviewed journal articles. Many countries in Western Europe and Israel are withdrawing wireless from schools based on these studies. 

3) Grassroots democracy - the reduction in citizen input and control over their communities by eliminating public hearings on placement of the cell towers in ZTA 18-11 is also the opposite position for representatives that respect the intelligence and rights of citizens.

4) Political integrity - the misleading information provided by the Executive's office to the Councilmembers over the past two years, and acceptance of corporate donations by most of the Councilmembers, indicates that the proposal and its amendments have not been developed with a fair and honest process. The consideration should be re-started with all the facts and after the election in two weeks. If the Democrats in Congress insisted on delaying Judge Kavanaugh's vote since it was so close to a major election, the same approach applies to the Democrats on the Montgomery County Council for ZTA 18-11.

We urge you to vote No.

Take care,

Nancy Wallace

Co-chair, Montgomery County Green Party (MD)

Co-líder, el Partido Verde del Condado de Montgomery (MD)