5G Cell Towers Cause Concerns For South Tulsa Neighborhood

The installation of poles for new 5-G cell towers in a South Tulsa neighborhood prompted a backlash over the placement and the potential for adverse health impacts. Both the FDA and CDC say there is no evidence linking 5-G cellular technology to health issues.

Neighbors in the Walnut Creek neighborhood complained to City Councilor Jeannie Cue as soon as they were installed three weeks ago.

Cue said since then, one of the permits for a tower was revoked over shoddy installation issues.

Four poles were installed at less than two block intervals. Several neighbors said there was no notice the poles were coming, some of which were installed on property lines between houses in front yards.

“Did residents have a say? Did they know who was putting them up? Were they notified in advance? All of those are concerns that I have," said Councilor Cue.

She said city records show more than 200 5-G towers are already active in Tulsa.

On the poles in Walnut Creek, resident Shelli Landon posted “cease and desist” notices, informing installers they shouldn’t continue work.

She’s concerned the poles weren’t properly installed and might fall in an earthquake, they might attract lightning or become a projectile during a tornado.

She doesn’t like the looks of them either and worries her property value will go down. Mainly, she’s worried that after surviving cancer once, she’ll be exposed to an electro-magnetic field from the new towers.

They’re lower than traditional towers and are about the same height as street lights in the neighborhood.

"If this tower stays, I'll have to live 100 feet away from the possible damage of those frequencies" she said.

The claims about harmful radiation are rejected by government scientists at the FDA and the CDC. While the FAA is studying whether 5-G installations interfere with aircraft navigation, Tulsa is not on their list of airports where that's a concern.

Landon believes the harm has been hidden from the public and that research that shows 5-G is not harmful - isn't good enough for her to accept the towers in her neighborhood.