Cellular transmission equipment was installed on the roof of a building near St. Elizabeth’s School in Ozone Park — news to the school and parents.Small laminated signs posted around St. Elizabeth’s School in Ozone Park warned parents that their children are in danger and urged them to call local politicians for help.
Neither the school, nor Assemblywoman Audrey Pheffer (D-Ozone Park) knew of the signs or the situation that prompted their creation — the installation of a cell phone tower on the roof of 84-04 95th Ave.
“The radiation that is released by cellular antennas ... is especially damaging to children,” the signs read. Some words were highlighted for emphasis and, to passersby, seemed to link St. Elizabeth’s and Pheffer to “danger” and “radiation.”
Cell towers are unlikely to cause cancer, according to the American Cancer Society. Studies on the effects of radiowaves and radiofrequency emitted by the transmitters have not determined potential health risks to the general public, but have found possible problems relating to occupational exposure, according to the World Health Organization.
St. Elizabeth’s principal, William Ferguson, was upset about the use of the school’s name on the signs claiming the tower is a health risk. The signs’ creators are most likely also responsible for e-mailing an anonymous letter to a handful of elected officials and newspapers demanding they take action.
“People misread it,” Ferguson said. “The tower is not on our building and they shouldn’t use our name. (The signs) weren’t authorized by us.” He fears parents will associate the school with the tower installation and pull their kids out.
“I have to look at it as a positive,” Pheffer said of having her name associated with the situation. “People felt that something was wrong in the neighborhood, that they should call my office because they get results.”
Cell phone tower installations have become common in the last few years, the assemblywoman said: “as people increase cell phone usage, (the companies) need towers. To install towers, they need a buildings department permit.” Pheffer has asked the Department of Buildings to inspect the tower near St. Elizabeth’s and make sure it adheres to the permit.
She is also reviewing legislation proposed in the Assembly that prohibits the placement of cellular transmission equipment, including towers and antennas, within 500 feet of a school in New York City.
An unsigned e-mail, with return address Concernedparishioners@yahoo.com, was written on behalf of St. Elizabeth’s School and Church, despite the “concerned parishioners” failure to notify either of the problem. E-mails requesting a name or contact number were not returned.
The concerned parishioners — who may not even be affiliated with St. Elizabeth’s Church, according to Ferguson — urged readers to support the Assembly bill.
They also suggested that a temporary restraining order be placed on the wireless service provider responsible for erecting the tower, which the concerned parishioners claimed had not yet been operating last week.
Because there is no current law restricting the installation of cellular transmission equipment near schools, the tower on the roof of 84-04 95th Ave. is as of right. “On a private house, as long as they have the permit, at this point, there’s nothing that we can find that would demand that they remove it,” Pheffer said.
Ferguson said there is no question that he would call for the tower’s removal if it posed a danger to students. But currently, he said, that has not been proven.
Several parents who had not heard anything of the situation indicated they would have to research the potential health risks involved with cellular transmission equipment in order to become concerned.
“I’m going to try to find out what the downsides are,” said Edwin Diaz, while waiting to pick up his 10-year-old.
One way to do that, he added, is holding an informational meeting between parents, school officials, the building owner and the wireless service provider.
When reached by phone, building owner Raymond Masaitis refused to answer questions about the tower installation, and calls to wireless service provider Metro PCS were not returned. But it appeared that parents weren’t demanding answers because they were not informed of the situation.
Kathy Afnaime, whose two children attend St. Elizabeth’s School, was angered that she did not receive notification of the tower installation. She considered circulating a petition calling for the tower’s removal, despite not yet knowing its possible effects.
Confused about what is considered a safe distance between a tower and a place where children congregate, Maria Rodriguez wants to research the matter. She picked up her twin sixth graders and headed home. “I’ve got some homework to do.”
