Is the outcome of a month-long protest by south Culver City residents opposed to an additional cell phone tower in their neighborhood a fait accompli?
Protestors believe the proposed rooftop tower may endanger their health. However, 36 cell towers already are distributed around Culver City. One is as close as directly across the street from the disputed site.
Although a T-Mobile representative indicated at a City Hall meeting last week the company might be open to surrendering its chosen site, Cash ‘n Carry office supplies, that prospect now looks as cloudy as this afternoon’s weather. A T-Mobile spokesman told the newspaper he would provide a response by tomorrow morning.
Late today, City Manager Mark Scott still was awaiting a callback from T-Mobile to the question of relocation. He had promised about 40 anxious neighbors last week that he hoped to have an answer from the cell phone company within seven days. He explained to the objecting residents that City Hall was constrained by federal regulations that severely narrowed options.
Dan Israely, founder/owner of Cash ‘ Carry, 5680 Sawtelle Blvd., near Sepulveda Boulevard, said a T-Mobile representative told him that changing locations would be “ridiculous.”
“He told me that after spending two years before settling on Cash ‘n Carry, he doesn’t believe the company will invest another two or three years searching for a different place,” Mr. Israely said.
According to the owner, the T-Mobile person said, “Even if we did move, say two or three blocks, to Sepulveda, there would be protests all over again, and perhaps from the same neighbors.”
As T-Mobile awaits formal City Hall approval, possibly by early spring, objecting neighbors are holding a private meeting on Tuesday evening to re-visit their strategy and prospects.
