South Tulsa residents battle 5G tower installations
TULSA, Okla. (KTUL) — It's a lovely south Tulsa neighborhood, but lately residents of Walnut Creek have noticed some not so lovely things cropping up in the community.
"It has immediately lowered my property value," said Dr. Shelli Landon.
Landon is none too pleased to find out that 5G towers are trying to call Walnut Creek home as well.
"About three weeks ago, suddenly 5G towers, in their rawest state of being, four of them, were just plopped down in the soil in our neighborhood with no notification to any of us," she said.
"There’s property values that are very affected by having a big pole in your yard," said Tulsa City Councilor Jeannie Cue.
She says that with the mayor's help, they've been able to temporarily halt the installations, but that the problem is anything but a quick fix.
"Have been told there’s nothing that they can find that we can do about this because there’s state statute and federal FCC regulations, but we just have to do more," Cue said.
City officials told NewsChannel 8 that "state and federal laws are very deferential to the communications companies and limit the extent that municipalities can regulate the placement of wireless communications facilities. The City of Tulsa is working to ensure the placement and permitting of the pole at 81st & S. Evanston is compliant with federal, state and local requirements."
None of which is too encouraging to hear and has residents well beyond Walnut Creek keeping their eyes peeled also.
"So other people are concerned and they’re checking other neighborhoods as well," said Barry Landon.
And on top of the property value issue, Dr. Shelli Landon is also worried about potential health implications.
"As a cancer survivor of a Stage 3 cancer, I wasn’t expected to live," she said. "I’m really not too happy about that, being less than 100 feet from one of the towers."
Residents are holding a meeting to discuss the issue and are inviting the public. It will be Monday, Feb. 21 at 7 p.m. at Victory Christian at 7700 South Lewis Avenue.
