CITY PLANNING AT ITS WORST

Eureka: I've discovered the key to immortality! Just show up to a meeting of the City of Santa Monica's Planning Commission. You'll feel like you've been around forever. I attended a meeting on Wednesday night, to support a group of neighbors who have been trying to prevent Verizon from building an industrial cellular tower on top of their building. It's a long story, which I first reported last July 16, but -- in a nutshell -- the condominium owners at 404 San Vicente made a terrible mistake. They agreed to allow Verizon to build a high-capacity transmitter on top of their building, a first for the City, without realizing what they were getting themselves into. As soon as they learned about the medical risks involved -- risks so great that even Verizon's own employees admitted they'll be wearing radiation suits when they come to visit-- they tried to pull out of the deal. But, alas, the City Planning Commission ruled against the homeowners in favor of Verizon and on Wednesday they upheld that decision. If that's not enough to get your blood boiling, the Commission also sided with the developer over local homeowners regarding construction of a grocery store in a proposed "mixed use" complex near Stanford and Wilshire. For more than three hours, a parade of local homeowners -- some so upset they could barely speak -- complained that traffic and street parking were already major problems in their neighborhood and that a grocery store would only make things worse. But the Acting Chairperson of the Commission -- Hank Koning -- knew better. "I ran a Google search," he said, "and saw available street parking in the area." How nice to know that Mr. Koning took the time to run a Google search. Maybe one day he can also search for his group's own mission statement. Its main objective is "to promote the health, safety and general welfare" of the community.

UTILITY FUTILITY ... AT 404 SAN VICENTE

It was an Exercise in Futility last night at Santa Monica City Hall as Kathy, Genevieve and I attended a public hearing to discuss Verizon's plans to install an industrial-sized "cellular transmission facility" atop the residence at 404 San Vicente. Here's the scoop: Verizon, in its infinite wisdom, decided that the perfect spot for a new cell phone base facility -- capable of processing hundreds of calls at a time -- would be on the roof of a condominium at the corner of Fourth and San Vicente. They approached the President of the Homeowners Association with a lucrative offer he couldn't refuse and he, in turn, presented it in the most glowing terms to the building residents. Later, after the deal was signed, the residents realized just how glowing the terms would be: They, and the elementary school nearby, would be bombarded with radiation morning, noon and night. They tried to get out of the deal but by that point it was too late: Verizon wouldn't budge and the initial proposal had already been approved by the City Planning Commission. Last night's hearing was to discuss an appeal, filed by some friends of mine who live directly across from the building-in-question. Residents, many of whom would be sleeping five feet beneath Verizon's transmitters, outlined their case: They're terrified of the health risks and feel they were tricked into signing the deal with Verizon. While they were arguing their case, I reviewed some relevant research Kathy had given me and made a list of all the health issues associated with long-term exposure in close proximity to cell phone transmission facilities: Leukemia, Cardiac Problems, Cancer (especially brain tumors), Mood Swings, Indigestion, Ulcers, Joint Pain, Suppressed Immune Function, Alzheimer's and more.

Five representatives from Verizon argued that the radiation from their equipment would be no more dangerous than a Gentle Ocean Breeze. One of them, pictured below, kept twitching his hands nervously as he spoke. "Look at how he's hiding his hands behind his back," said Genevieve, "That's the weirdest posture I've ever seen." "It must be an occupational hazard," I said, adding Neurological Disorders to my list. Verizon, for their part, admitted that they won't send anyone near the equipment-in-question unless they're wearing a Special Radiation Suit. How did our City Planning Commissioners respond to all this? Four of them -- Gerda Newbold, Hank Koning, Gwynne Pugh and Jim Ries -- seemed to wash their hands of the issue: They "sympathized" with the homeowners but said that the health concerns were beyond their jurisdiction. Only one, Jay Johnson, said he was inclined to vote against Verizon on the basis of the homeowners' concerns. Afterall, he noted, this was the first time that the City had ever considered allowing a major cell phone transmitter to be placed atop a private residence. He also reminded everyone that there already is a cell phone tower -- a Sprint transmitter -- directly across from 404 San Vicente. But it was all to no avail. Verizon prevailed in what I consider a Tremendous Miscarriage of Justice. Speaking of which, according to Dr. Neal Cherry, a biophysicist at Lincoln University, "prompt effects" of living in close proximity to cell phone base stations might also include miscarriages.