Best Wishes to Rose, Toby and now, Joe!
August 29, 2014 Voice Your Opinions! Letters to the editor make a difference. You can send a 150-200 word letter to the Anchorage Dispatch News by e-mail (letters@adn.com); or by fax or mail (call them at 257-4308). Send letters to the Anchorage Press via e-mail editor@anchoragepress.com or by mail to 540 E. Fifth Ave, Anchorage, 99501. Feel free to call us if you need factual information to help you write a letter. Contact the Governor. The Governor can be reached at 269-7450; sean.parnell@alaska.gov; or www.alaska.gov. Contact us. My office can be reached at: 733 W. 4th Ave, Anchorage, AK 99501; by phone: 269-0106; visit my website at http://gara.akdemocrats.org; or email: Rep.Les.Gara@akleg.gov  |
Dear Friends and Neighbors:
The delayed-again City Planning and Zoning Commission Public Meeting on GCI's proposed cell tower in South Addition has been, well, delayed. It's now been moved to October 6 so there is time for a meeting in September at the South Addition Community Council. The Planning and Zoning meeting will be at 6:30pm at the Loussac Library. The September Community Council meeting is at the Pioneer Home, on the 5th floor, on Thursday September 18 at 7pm. Stay in touch with us or Commission staff Shawn Odell, but we think the October 6 meeting will occur.
Pasted at the bottom of this e-mail is the letter Senator Ellis and I sent to residents in the neighborhood if you would like background.
Last but first. My aides Rose Foley and Toby Smith are moving on - and I want to wish them the best. Rose, as you may know, had a baby last year, and travelling to Juneau has been difficult for her, baby Axel, and her husband Nils. She will be working in Anchorage now for the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs. Rose did great work for us.
Toby Smith will also be a great loss, and did great work for all of us too. He left earlier this summer. Toby has been caring for family members out of state, and is at a point in his life where he's needed most there.
Joe Caissie, who has previously worked in the Legislature, is a bright law graduate and former Alaska Supreme Court Clerk. He will be filling all four shoes for now. Please be nice to Joe as he does the work of two people for the time being. Then, when we have our second staff member, you can be tougher on him. Kidding. I'm kidding.
That's it for now.
As always, call with any questions.
My Best,
![[signed] Les Gara](../../images/signatures/5.jpg)
Alaska State Legislature
Senator Johnny Ellis
Representative Les Gara
716 W. 4th Avenue, Anchorage, Alaska 99501
Dear Neighbors,
We are writing to let you know that GCI is proposing to build a cell tower in our neighborhood. While we are state legislators, and zoning approval is a city issue, we thought you would want some information about the proposal and your chance for public input at the city level.
The cell phone signal tower will be located at an existing power pole at 1220 E Street near 13th Avenue. GCI’s antennas will be affixed to the top of the existing 80 foot power pole, adding 10 feet to the overall height and presence of a structure that is in the middle of a residential neighborhood. Please call Planning and Zoning to make sure the date doesn't change if you plan on attending for public comment. The contact number for this project is 373-7943, and the contact person is Shawn Odell.
The proposal to build this tower has not yet been approved by the Municipality of Anchorage, and a public hearing before the Planning and Zoning Commission is scheduled for Monday, August 11. Written comments are also being accepted. They can be submitted to the Planning and Zoning Commission via email at OdellSM@muni.org or online http://munimaps.muni.org/planning/home3.htm The case number for this project is 2014-0119.
The upcoming meeting will be at the Loussac Library Assembly Chambers at 6:30. We encourage anyone who is concerned about this addition to the neighborhood to attend, ask questions, and share your thoughts.
We initially had safety questions. The short term evidence indicates that cell phone antennas and towers pose no real health risk, unless you are at their height level and very close to them. No one can fairly say that long term studies have been done, however. If that's your concern you can view information at sources including the American Cancer Society website.
The American Cancer Society takes the position that based on current evidence, these towers are not a danger. But they also note the lack of long term studies. Their website notes in part: "At this time, there is very little evidence to support this idea. In theory, there are some important points that would argue against cellular phone towers being able to cause cancer." You can read more detail at their site: www.cancer.org/cancer/cancercauses/othercarcinogens/athome/cellular-phone-towers We can send that to you if you don't use the internet.
We hope you are enjoying your summer, and, as always, please call us if you have questions.
Our Best,
Rep. Les Gara |
 Sen. Johnny Ellis |
