Gnarly Waves

Donna Westbrook, an Encinitas resident, appeared before the city council on June 9 to address a recent administrative approval for the installation of WiMAX antennas in the coastal zone of Encinitas. WiMAX antennas, according to Westbrook, are capable of transmitting wireless internet up to a radius of 30 to 50 miles. She also noted that the City is using "smart meters" from SDGE that monitor and transmit energy-consumption information wirelessly.

“I understand people don’t think it means much," said Westbrook, "but we’re being bombarded with waves — electromagnetic, radio frequency. Other cities are now looking at this as a health issue, and they’re trying to get the FCC to do something and do some type of study.”

Westbrook said that the community has had little say in the installation of the new technology around their neighborhoods. She said that WiMAX and smart meters are being advertised to the community in a positive light with little to no explanation of potential hazards. She added that if the technology were to be discovered as problematic, it would already be too late.

“Will the council please bring up some type of agenda issue on this, perhaps based on what other cities are doing?” asked Westbrook.