Posted on 10/24/2007 7:57:40 AM PDT by SmithL
Berkeley -- Berkeley is home to some of the world's leading scientific, technological and telecommunications research, but good luck getting a cell phone connection there.
Coverage in the bustling college town has been notoriously spotty since the city imposed restrictions on cell-phone towers six years ago amid health and aesthetic concerns, phone users say.
Telecom giant Verizon recently filed a lawsuit in federal court to try and force the city to approve the towers, but little has changed.
The City Council on Tuesday night considered whether to approve five new antennas for Verizon and six new antennas for Nextel. But after a 90-minute public hearing, the council took no action - all five members abstained from deciding the matter.
City Manager Phil Kamlarz had recommended that the council overturn the city zoning board's denial of the permit and allow the antennas to be installed on the roof of the UC Storage building on Shattuck Avenue south of downtown.
The council is scheduled to take up the question again, and possibly take another vote, on Nov. 6.
Before the vote, the City Council met in closed session to discuss settling the Verizon case, which the city's outside attorneys are recommending it do. Other cities that have banned cell-phone towers have lost legal battles, and Berkeley stands to lose about $1 million in attorneys' fees if it loses. But no action was taken in that closed meeting.
"I don't think we have much choice (but to settle)," said City Councilwoman Betty Olds had said before the meetings. "I don't want the city to lose a million dollars. You've got to be realistic about these things."
Verizon sued Berkeley in August over the permit denials, saying that federal law prohibits cities from banning cell-phone towers on the basis of health or aesthetic concerns.
(Excerpt) Read more at sfgate.com ...
The People's Republic of Berkeley SHOULD put its money where its mouth is. I hope that they stand their ground, even if it Bankrupts them. Especially if it bankrupts them!
Busniesses would be smarter to simply cease providing any service what-so-ever in such hostile areas.
How are they going to coördinate protests if they can’t use their cell phones?
Exactly. I think they should ban all cell phone toowers in Berkely. Let the liberals taste the salt of their own tears.
The city of Berkeley wants their cell-phone towers to be placed near coffee plantations, to provide shade for the shade-grown coffee that they covet so much.
Verizon does not have a case.
If they’re worried about aesthetics they should ban ugly feminists...oh...wait...then most of their citizens would have to leave town.
Cell phone companies can place cell phone towers on boat masts offshore as well as on blimps above...both are areas where federal law prohibit city interference.
...but why?! Berkeley having crappy cell phone service serves the Berzerkers right. For that matter, electricity towers should come down there, too. Let them live by their own words. No towers.
No water towers. No electricity towers. No cell phone towers.
That’s how Berkeley should be.
Verizon routinely wins these suits.
"Health concerns"? But this is Berzerkley - their tinfoil hats will protect them.
Verizon should offer to make the towers look like giant dildos.
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