By Michael Perlman
In a democracy, it is believed that the majority of united quality voices will be heard, and their wishes will be fulfilled by city, state, and federal agencies and representatives. At large, that is not the case for Forest Hills advocates among other residents for the past few years. The rise of massive metal 5G Towers citywide are not only leaving residents with great concerns about potential health risks, but aiming to prove how their 32-foot height and Brutalist style sharply contrasts with the architectural style of historical and traditional buildings, and harmonious landscapes and gardens. The intrusion does not discriminate between residential or commercial districts, or even alongside a school.
An online petition to stop the construction of a 5G Tower is garnering numerous signatures and comments, but fell upon deaf ears, as a tower recently rose in front of the P.S. 144 pre-k playground in Forest Hills: https://forms.gle/6aZSMzLK4tZ4sYzk6
“I do not want kids to be exposed to RF and EMF, and I do not want people who do not have access to the internet to gather around a school playground,” said petition signer Yelena Timasheva in October 2024. “5G Towers should be far away from developing brains,” said Jenn Shaffran in November.
February 2025, Llubica Janjic stated, “We don’t need this 32-foot 5G tower in our community. We never had the need for it. This is a residential neighborhood where we pay huge taxes. We like to live in a nice environment. The tower is going to make our streets look like a commercial area. We would like to preserve the beauty of this neighborhood, and keep our community safe from any long-term health effects.” In April 2025, Peggy Cecil said, “I object to the proposed site. It should be nowhere near a school for elementary age children. That is the most irresponsible act.”
Odette J. Wilkens is a community leader who calls Forest Hills home since the late 1960s, and is on a mission to preserve local character and advocate for the health of residents. She took the initiative to launch a nonprofit, Wired Broadband, Inc. to conduct further research and advocate for technology that harmonizes with the community’s intent and wishes. She has been pursuing the historic preservation review of Forest Hills and Rego Park, in conjunction with the 5G Tower that was proposed for P.S. 144 in Forest Hills’ covenant-safeguarded Van-Court section.
“The Federal Communications Commission requires that the site developer for the 5G Tower, CityBridge, conduct a historic preservation review for each of the 2,000 5G towers planned for NYC. The purpose is to determine whether the area or the structure in front of which the 5G Tower is proposed, has such historical significance, that the 5G Tower would visually mar the aesthetics of the area and/or the structure,” explained Wilkens.
In Rego Park, east of the 63rd Drive subway entrance on the south side of Queens Boulevard, a 32-foot 5G Tower was erected in front of a distinctive Art Deco commercial strip, in addition to a nearly identical multi-block 1930s assemblage on 63rd Drive, clashing with the harmonious flow that acclaimed architect Morris Lapidus played a role in.
The review is required under federal law, the National Historic Preservation Act (NHPA). This process enables consulting parties to comment, and the site developer will forward it to the NY State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO), to decide whether to approve or disapprove a proposed 5G Tower location. Wilkens is a consulting party for Forest Hills and Rego Park. 
Wilkens’ interest in technology originated in her early days at HBO, at the cusp of a booming pay-TV industry, working as a paralegal. After law school, she joined a technology law firm and served as a corporate transactional attorney in technology for 20 years. In a November 2023, interview, she recalled, “When I heard about the 5G Towers coming to NYC, I began my in-depth research, and became increasingly concerned about a number of issues that were adversely affecting individuals. Many people approached me to complain about antennas everywhere, including rooftop antennas. When technology helps people, I’m all for it, but when some technologies bear the potential of running contrary to the health and aesthetics of neighborhoods that residents worked hard to maintain, that’s where I draw the line.”
That November, Wilkens submitted a 34-page consulting party factual report with photos, renderings, and maps to CityBridge and SHPO regarding the proposed 5G Tower site at P.S. 144, as well as the impact upon the surrounding historic vicinity of a 500-foot radius. Besides the architectural and landscaped-based restrictive covenants of Forest Hills Gardens, the community maintains covenants in the Van-Court section, as well as in Arbor Close and Forest Close.
On April 1, 2025, local residents could not be fooled, as they took to the streets with a rally at P.S. 144. Dynamic Forest Hills residents Emily Otalora and Wilkens partnered to bring the event to fruition. The Van-Court community is home to the historic P.S. 144 (Col. Jeromus Remsen School), “a second home” for pre-kindergarteners to 5th graders. Residents learned that the 5G Tower would be located in front of the pre-k playground, which would sadly become one of the students’ earliest encounters. It would consist of five bays for antennas, where one accommodates complimentary Wi-Fi and the other four bays accommodate 4G and 5G for paying customers. “This makes the 5G Tower largely a private enterprise using our public rights-of-way. Therefore, our community should have a say in whether it is needed,” explained Wilkens and Otalora.
P.S. 144 was completed in 1931 and erected by the John Kennedy & Co, acclaimed for Roman Catholic schools and churches and large buildings, such as the landmarked St. James Building at 1133 Broadway. It was designed by the notable Walter L. Martin, NYC Superintendent of School Buildings. The report also references that SHPO determined P.S. 144 to be “Eligible” for the National Register of Historic Places.
Otalora introduced the speakers. The Forest Hills Van-Court Association, Inc. is a homeowners association that oversees the district, including the site of concern. “The Forest Hills Van-Court Association voted unanimously against the Tower being erected here. We represent a community of 300 people,” said Association Vice President Steve Reichstein. The Association joined as a signer to the November 2024 submission to SHPO in opposition of the 5G Tower at P.S. 144. The submission was led by Wired Broadband, Inc, and numerous residents endorsed it as signers.
Young-ah Hur, a 35-year resident living across the street with her family, has a son who attended P.S. 144. She focused on wireless radiation’s adverse biological impacts. As a healthcare professional and former registered nurse at hospitals, she discussed the unfortunate reality of what may transpire for residents living near cell towers. She cited “headaches, fatigue, irritability, concentration and memory problems, depression and anxiety, cardiovascular issues, and muscular and joint pains.” “When people moved away from cell towers, their symptoms vanished. Sweden, Italy and Portugal banned the 5G Towers near schools, nursing homes and residential areas, but not here,” she said.
“Nobody knows what’s going to happen in five years, ten years. There’s a young kid here, who may get leukemia. There is not a guarantee that electricity and magnetic fields do not affect our health,” explained her husband, Hur.
Retired physical education teacher Bernard Otalora referenced P.S. 144 as a bridge to the future that is at risk of being under an electromagnetic field 24/7. He explained, “The children, the teachers, the staff, and the school principal are all at risk. Health is our most precious capital, and we cannot play Russian Roulette. We do not need this 5G Tower. It will be a magnet for vagrants. We need a safe environment. We would like the school superintendent and all elected officials to have this project nipped in the bud. P.S. 144 must remain a haven for all future generations. Fight for the children as a community.”
Retired travel consultant Maria Luisa Otalora called the 5G Tower “a manmade disaster in the making that is threatening our health.” “Many studies that the telecommunications companies refer to are outdated, and they ignore the truth about the 5G Towers… We need to tell our elected officials that this community has no need for 5G Towers, and it will serve no purpose other than to cause physical harm to residents, students, teachers, and staff at P.S. 144, and the community at large.”
Lifelong Forest Hills resident Samantha Wolner is in the scientific publishing industry and has an eight-year-old son who attends school nearby. She addressed the technology and smartphone addiction among children, as chronicled in Jonathan Haidt’s book, “The Anxious Generation: How the Great Rewiring of Childhood is Causing an Epidemic of Mental Illness.” She referenced how the World Health Organization classified wireless radiation as a Class 2B possible carcinogen.
Wilkens coordinates a number of greater community outreach Zoom meetings and hearings monthly. There are some wise representatives who embrace “power to the people,” value aesthetics, and are health conscious. A Committee on Technology Hearing was conducted on April 29. “Disgraceful!” said Brooklyn Councilmember Lincoln Restler regarding NYC Office of Technology & Innovation’s “complete lack of community engagement.” Restler echoed frustrations from his constituency with statements including “On private property in front of people’s homes” and “No communication with property owners whatsoever.” He pinpointed absent communication from OTI, besides letters to the community board, borough president, and himself.
“Never have I encountered a process that is so inconsiderate,” said Councilmember Restler, who referenced that DOT communicates with every property owner prior to installing Citi Bike lanes. Then OTI’s Brett Sikoff refuted that by stating the OTI dedicated many hours attending community board meetings. Restler then stated, “Instead of OTI taking responsibility to notify the stakeholders, it’s the responsibility of the community boards? I don’t understand how an agency can be so inconsiderate without meaningful community engagement.” Restler publicly assured that he would pursue legislation that would delineate the process that OTI should take “to talk to every stakeholder.”
“Having grown up with the values of building community by helping others in need, I saw the need to take action, since staying silent isn’t going to help anyone,” said Emily Otalora, who neighbors regard as their spokesperson. “The city continuously intrudes upon our lives without providing us advance notice how this will impact us, or a chance to voice opinions and concerns. When hearing about the 5G Tower, we were immediately concerned about it impacting us negatively.”
Wilkens aims to obtain the involvement of various civic leaders, who would ideally inform their memberships about the need to raise awareness with the elected officials. “City Hall and OTI are only listening to the telecom industry, rather than their constituents,” she said.
Otalora explained that although the 5G Tower was erected after the rally, the community should not view it as a losing battle. “Many folks think once it is built, it’s a done deal, but they need to know that is not true. The towers can still be taken down. The city needs to increasingly hear from the community that they want it gone,” she explained.
Democracy exists based on the ability to advocate for one’s self and others. “When a community presents a united front and delivers that message to their elected officials, with hopes they are heard and honored, that is the important power of advocacy. Without that, democracy is broken.”
Resistance from decisions-makers is inexcusable. “Their first responsibility is to their constituents. If a decision-maker is incapable of respecting the wishes of their constituents, then their time in office should come to an end. When campaigning you should not follow the corporate money, but listen to the people and act on their behalf,” continued Otalora.
To help defend your community, email owilkens@wiredbroadband.org
