Loudon Letter

With Respect

As a neighborhood, we are writing to express our disappointment—and frankly, dismay—with the way the Crown Castle cell phone tower issue has been handled by our local government.

We understand that this issue is a complex and nuanced one.  We understand that the City Council is weighing many factors: federal law versus the capabilities and limitations of local law; risk assessments of various courses of action and the implications of each; technology infrastructure in various permutations both now, and conceivably in the future; precedential issues; citizen concerns.  We understand that this is not a clear cut or simple topic.

What we don’t understand, however, is the manner in which this topic has been addressed by (some of) our elected officials. For an issue of such obvious concern, why hasn’t a committee or task force composed of local officials and citizens been created? Why is there such opacity to the work the Council has done to evaluate our options? The lack of open communication is concerning. And of even deeper concern is the open contempt with which the concerned citizens of Rye—City Council’s constituents—have been treated. The disrespect shown the citizens is unbefitting the community we have built and seek to preserve and is simply unacceptable.

There must be a way to govern more respectfully. More cooperatively. More effectively. We implore Rye’s City Council to find a better way.  The formation of a joint committee would be a good first step.

– <Loudon Woods Neighborhood Association>