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Residents press Modesto officials to connect them with county over planned 5G antenna near Ohio Avenue homes
Summary
Residents told the Modesto City Council they received no notice about a planned 5G antenna at 1535 Ohio Avenue and described health and quality-of-life concerns; the city manager said the site is in county jurisdiction and the city will connect residents with county officials.
Dozens of residents packed the Modesto council chamber on May 12 to object to the planned installation of a cellular antenna at 1535 Ohio Avenue, saying the property owner did not notify neighbors and that the device would be installed directly in front of nearby homes.
"We feel attacked in the worst of ways, endangered," said Elizabeth Sandoval, one of the neighbors who spoke during the public-comment period, urging council members to help stop the installation. Sandoval said residents were not told about the proposal until about two weeks before the meeting and that the owner of the house where the antenna would be mounted does not live there.
Erica Guerrero, a longtime friend of the Sandovals, told the council the family maintains an organic lifestyle and believes the antenna would undermine the household’s efforts to avoid wireless exposure: "The installation of the 5G tower directly across from their property would greatly impact the lifestyle and environment they have worked for so hard to maintain," she said.
City Manager (spoke) responded that the location of the planned antenna is across the line that separates city and county jurisdiction. "This jurisdiction is actually in the county jurisdiction, so the city does not have jurisdiction over this matter," the manager said, and offered to pass residents' contact information to the appropriate county offices.
Council member Alvarez said he would help by connecting residents to Supervisor Terry Whitlow and emphasized the urgency of the neighbors’ concerns.
No formal action by the council was taken on the antenna; the city manager said staff would provide contact information and refer residents to county resources for permitting and enforcement questions.
What happens next: City staff said they will forward residents' information to county officials and the councilmember for the affected district offered to facilitate additional outreach. The council did not, and cannot, directly block a county-permitted installation at this meeting.
