The cell phone companies have reared their ugly antenna situation once again in our beautiful Village of Mineola. They have commenced legal action against the village, piggybacking a favorable court decision, which forces the village to issue a permit to erect and install cell phone antennas on Betty Lane. This court decision should have no bearing on the erecting of 36 additional antennas on the Maple Place tower.

This tower is located in the middle of a residential neighborhood. This tower is in violation of numerous village ordinances. This tower and the multiple communication companies being serviced thereat have created an atmosphere of an industrial area with absolutely no concern for the residents living within the prohibited feet of such a structure. The cell phone tower and its companies are only interested in making money without any regard to the quality of life of the residents or the village ordinances of Mineola.

The owners of the tower have removed beautiful healthy trees so as to not affect the tower's ability to transmit their cell phone signals. This action has left a bare and ugly parcel of land surrounded by a barbed wire fence. Warning signs were affixed enlightening the residents of the dangers of the site. This aesthetic affecting action has intensified the property value of our homes on Maple Place to nosedive. This is a fact! Real Estate Assessment experts have so stated.

Mineola is a 2.5-mile village in the hub of Nassau County. Since the request for the installation of the additional cell phone antennas were denied by the Mineola Village Board, many, many antennas have sprung up on commercial and apartment structures. Many of these structures are only a few feet or blocks from the Village of Mineola; yet the companies continue to press for more with the attitude of damn the people, "We are backed by the federal law, you can't stop us." This attitude was displayed by the actions of the attorneys representing the companies at the village board meeting.

The companies appear at village board meetings and present elaborate colorful displays all of which reflect the need for more antennas to serve the people of Mineola. They appear eight to 10 people strong, "all experts in creating the false atmosphere of need."

The village board and mayor have rightfully challenged the misleading, inaccurate display of false and/or unproven facts. The companies have admitted that some of the results of their tests could have resulted in other findings if the test was conducted in a different manner. They at one time admitted that the need is actually for parkway usage and not Mineola.

The new request by the tower and cell phone companies is to lower the existing antennas to 75 feet and add new sets (36) to a higher location on the tower. This is for far reaching signal ability. The lowering of the antennas and removal of trees will, and have, interfered with the media signals needed by the residents to enjoy the comfort and normalcy of radio and television in their homes. The residents now must have cable to get an interference free program.

I petition the Village of Mineola backed by the signing of approximately 1,400 families to remain strong and adamant in protecting the citizens of Mineola.

I implore the federal authorities to realize that the need for this antenna usage is not one that falls into the prohibited area of concern but it is a strong infringement against the constitutional rights of citizens who seek the comfort and quality of life that was expected at time of settlement.

Mineola is surrounded by over 100 cell phone antennas.

Mineola has certainly cooperated with the cell phone industry to advance communication ability.

It is quite evident that the companies want the Maple Place tower because it is already constructed, it's high and strictly a money entity without any consideration or regard for the quality of life of the Maple Place residents.

We are citizens of this great country, we are taxpayers and we should be afforded the constitutional protection set forth in the constitution of the United States.

Walter V. Crosby