Riddle Me This

Though the March 11 Point Loma Community Park and Recreation Council meeting was scheduled to start at 6:00 p.m., it began at 5:30 p.m.

The first item on the agenda turned out to not be on anyone’s agenda: it was discovered during the meeting that the item was on a revised agenda not in the possession of council members. What was that first item? An action/adoption item for T-Mobile’s Presidio Park Project. T-Mobile spokesperson Debra Gardner was in attendance.

I posed two questions to Gardner: "Will the community be notified of this proposed telecommunications site at Presidio Park and allowed to vote as to whether or not they want this site at their park?" And, "Has T-Mobile or any other entity or organization addressed or made the public aware of the health risks associated with the increased number of telecommunication sites T-Mobile is planning to install throughout densely populated neighborhoods in both Presidio Park and Kate Sessions Park in La Jolla?"

Gardner's response was, "The amount of EMFs that comes out of a tower is less than what comes out of a cordless phone. We're not allowed to discuss health and safety issues...the public was noticed."

Point Loma Community Park and Recreation president Steve Riddle repressed further questioning, stating, “This isn’t the time or place to banter. She [Gardner] is just here to present her item, and we approve or disapprove it."

“Yes, sir," I responded.

The council went on to approve the item.