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To: Redwood City Council <br />1017 Middlefield Road <br />Redwood City, CA 94063 <br /> <br />Mayor Elmer Saballos <br />Vice Mayor Kaia Eakin <br />Councilmember Isabella Chu <br />Councilmember Jeff Gee <br />Councilmember Diane Howard <br />Councilmember Marcella Padilla <br />Councilmember Chris Sturken <br /> <br />From: Cindy Russell MD <br />Executive Director of Physicians for Safe Technology <br /> <br />Re: Updating Wireless Facilities Ordinance in Redwood City, California <br /> <br />Date: June 9, 2025 <br /> <br />Dear Redwood City Mayor and Councilmembers: <br />The blight of cell towers proliferating in cities is a serious and timely problem that needs to be <br />addressed by each city individually with an upgrade of their wireless facilities ordinance. It is <br />advised that Redwood City follow what other cities have done in recent years to maintain zoning <br />authority by upgrading their wireless ordinance. This will allow council members to make the <br />best decisions with regards to cell tower placement, avoiding redundant wireless infrastructure <br />and preventing adverse impacts to residents and the community. <br /> <br />Once constructed, people living close to cell towers, animals, as well as local ecosystems are <br />permanently and involuntarily exposed to the harmful and cumulative effects of radiofrequency <br />electromagnetic fields (RF-EMF). (Levitt 2022) Some will be more affected than others but it is <br />likely that all will have some physiologic effects, whether or not it is identified. There are now <br />anecdotal reports of animals falling sick after cell towers were placed. As more and more cell <br />towers are positioned on every city bock there will be no area residents can go to either reduce <br />health risks, protect animals or escape neurologic symptoms if suffering from electromagnetic <br />syndrome. <br /> <br />It is my understanding that AT&T has begun modifying its Palo Alto cell towers so that they <br />now emit so much radiation they need to be shut down if any worker (e.g., a Palo Alto Utilities <br />employee, an AT&T worker) is going to be within 21 feet of the antennas for any length of time, <br />no matter how short a time. It is my understanding that these cell towers can be placed 20 feet <br />from homes. This appears to be a dangerous contradiction. Cities can adopt ordinances to <br />thoughtfully evaluate these issues to serve and support the health and well-being of their <br />communities. <br />