Protect Your Property
Fire Hazard • Insurance Hike • Devaluation
The Risk to Residential Property Value in Marin County
The Risk of Fire
Living in Marin has so many benefits, yet it also comes with the risk that we are all prone to wildfires. Did you know that currently we have a countywide ordinance-Title 22- which is not strong enough to protect us in the event that high winds knock down lampposts, telephone and utility poles if small cell Wi-Fi antennas are placed on them? Such a frightening scenario puts us at further risk of wildfires than we are already facing.
All over the country, small cell Wi-Fi antennas have proliferated. They’ve been placed on phone and utility poles throughout residential communities. If these should come down during high winds they easily start extremely dangerous electrical fires; firefighters have to wait until the grid is shut off – which can take anywhere from 20 minutes to an hour for PG&E to complete – before they can address the damage. A whole town can be lost in a high wind. These “small cells” could cost you your home!
Property Devaluation
In addition to the risk of fire, why do we need this ordinance right now? Having a cell tower near you or outside your home can devalue your property by up to 20%. This will also influence tax revenue of our county. These small cell antennas and cell towers are electrical installations. California has had at least four major fires in the last four years that have been attributed to faulty telecom equipment. For instance, the Woolsey fire in 2018 cost $6 billion of damage, destroyed almost 100,000 acres of land, evacuated 295,000 residents and caused 3 deaths.
Home Insurance Cancelations and Hikes
Did you know that many of the home insurance companies, such as State Farm, are no longer ensuring homes in Marin and all throughout California?
The term “small cell” refers simply to the smaller size of these transmissive antennas, described as having the shape and dimension of a pizza box. It does NOT have anything to do with cellphones, which function via their various telecom carriers. Small cell can, however, be very powerful in the intensity of radiation it emits. This wireless technology is also known as radio frequency (RF) radiation, and in the higher ranges, millimeter wave radiation.
To clarify: 5G is designed to increase Internet speeds over 4G — which is already plenty fast. It is NOT needed to make a call on your cell phone. It is just an add-on.
Small Cell WiFi Antennas Are Everywhere
Small cell WiFi antennas are popping up everywhere, often unnoticed as they are easily added to the existing streetlights, traffic lights or utility poles.
You can do something about it!
CALL TO RESIDENTS OF MARIN COUNTY
Write a short email to your District’s Supervisor
Tell your supervisor that:
You support the 5G small cell antenna ordinance drafted by attorney Andrew Campanelli, which will:
• Strengthen Marin County’s existing Title 22 ordinance;
• Give County officials the tools they need to refute telecom industry lawsuit threats with confidence; and
• Responsibly protect Marin County residents, wildlife, and the environment, including the vulnerable, unspoiled charm of Marin’s hidden villages, historic towns, rolling hills and agricultural lands we all cherish.
If other than Supervisor Rodoni / District 4, please cc him on your email as Dennis is also president of the Board of Supervisors this year.
Say No to Small Cell Wi-Fi Antennas Near Your Home
Email addresses for Board of Supervisors
DISTRICT 1: Mary Sackett (mary.sackett@marincounty.gov)
(Includes the majority of the City of San Rafael, and unincorporated Lucas Valley, Marinwood, and Santa Venetia)
DISTRICT 2: Katie Rice (katie.rice@marincounty.gov)
(Includes Fairfax, San Anselmo, Ross, Larkspur, southwest San Rafael, Kentfield, Greenbrae, Oak Manor, and Sleepy Hollow)
DISTRICT 3: Stephanie Moulton-Peters (stephanie.moultonpeters@marincounty.gov)
(Includes Sausalito, Floating Homes, Marin City, Tam Valley, Almonte, the majority of Mill Valley, Alto-Sutton Manor, Strawberry, Tiburon, and Belvedere)
DISTRICT 4: Dennis Rodoni (dennis.rodoni@marincounty.gov)
(Includes Coastal West Marin – Muir Beach, Bolinas, Stinson Beach, Olema, Point Reyes Station, Inverness and Inverness Park, Marshall, Tomales, Dillon Beach; the inland rural corridor – Nicasio, Chileno Valley, San Geronimo Valley, and west Novato; and parts of east San Rafael, San Quentin, Corte Madera, Larkspur, and the unincorporated area of Mill Valley)
DISTRICT 5: Eric Lucan (eric.lucan@marincounty.gov)
(Includes the majority of the City of Novato, and the unincorporated areas of Bel Marin Keys, Loma Verde, Black Point, Green Point, Rush Creek/Atherton Corridor, and Indian Valley)
Board of Supervisors’ Districts
You can also send a message to any supervisor or their aide online by visiting Marin County Board page.
