HI State Parks at Risk! 😱 URGENT! ACTION Needed NOW!

Published: Sun, 11/08/20

When we called the agencies (original email below, sent Thursday) to save our state parks, some officials apparently have stopped taking calls, and others said they don't know what we are talking about.

Here's a copy of the Memorandum from Luke Sarvis, DLNR Project Development Specialist, announcing AT&T/New Cingular's plans to take over the lease of the old cell tower in Waimea Canyon.

https://keepyourpower.org/wp-content/uploads/Kauai-ATT-New-Cingular.pdf

The TMK numbers and the agencies that have been notified are listed on the first page with checkmarks. If anyone says they don't know what you are talking about you can download and send them the document.

We now have their email addresses and email is better as it gives a record of correspondence and you can do it NOW (no need wait for office hours to call)! Please see below for sample email message.

Here are email addresses (some updated phone #s below if you want to call):

Suzanne Case, DLNR Chair: dlnr@hawaii.gov

David Smith, Administrator, Division of Forestry and Wildlife: david.g.smith@hawaii.gov

Samuel Lemmo, Administrator, Division of Conservation & Coastal Lands: sam.j.lemmo@hawaii.gov

Alan Downer, Administrator, Historic Preservation Division: alan.s.downer@hawaii.gov

David Tsuchiya, Superintendent, Kauai Division of State Parks: david.h.tsuchiya@hawaii.gov

Todd Raybuck, Kauai Police Chief: kpdchiefsoffice@kauai.gov

Ka'aina Hull, Director, Kauai Planning Department: planningdepartment@kauai.gov

Sample Email Message (IMPORTANT: Please add your own words!):

I'm reaching out with regard to AT&T/New Cingular's application to take over the lease of the old cell tower in Waimea Canyon.

This is a public park and I don't want AT&T to have access to that tower. There has been no public process and we deserve to have a voice about what happens in our state parks.

If you allow AT&T to take over that lease, and they are successful in their proposal, there would be no stopping them from renting out space on that tower to Verizon, T-Mobile and other corporations, making money off that tower and stealing from the state. The tower is on state land.

Please oppose the proposal and give the tower lease to the state. We want to maintain control of our public parks for the people of Hawaii, not for multinational corporations.

Thank you!

In case you missed it... Message sent out Thursday, November 6:

AT&T/New Cingular is flying under the radar, avoiding community process, to gain control of a tower in pristine Waimea Canyon State Park on public land on Kauai.

If they are successful, state parks and public land will be up for grabs throughout the Hawaiian Islands.

The old 100' tower is not currently being utilized. It is leased out to a mainland company that is behind on their rent payments. AT&T caught wind of this inside information on DNLR controlled land.

We must ask ourselves: How did that happen?

Because the tower already exists, no permit is needed. That means no public hearing, no public process whatsoever.

AT&T/Cingular can quietly take control of the lease and, after that, basically do whatever they want with that tower. No environmental assessment, no permits required.

What stands in the way of this land grab is the state Department of Land and Natural Resources (DNLR) and Kauai officials.

And you!

Please take action now! Time is of the essence!

Here is the contact info for those involved in the decision (Sample message below): Please email and call if you can, as some don't have public email addresses.

Suzanne Case, DLNR Chair: 808-587-0401 dlnr@hawaii.gov

David Smith, Administrator, Division of Forestry and Wildlife: 808-587-0166

Samuel Lemmo, Administrator, Division of Conservation & Coastal Lands: 808-587-0377 sam.j.lemmo@hawaii.gov

Alan Downer, Administrator, Historic Preservation Division: 808-692-8015

Kauai Division of State Parks: 808-274-3444

Todd Raybuck, Kauai Police Chief: 808-241-1603

Ka'aina Hull, Director, Kauai Planning Department: 808-241-4050 planningdepartment@kauai.gov

Sample Message to Those You Contact:

1) I'm reaching out with regard to AT&T/New Cingular's application to take over the lease of the old cell tower in Waimea Canyon.

2) This is a public park and I don't want AT&T to have access to that tower. There has been no public process and we deserve to have a voice about what happens in our state parks.

3) If you allow AT&T to take over that lease, and they are successful in their proposal, there would be no stopping them from renting out space on that tower to Verizon, T-Mobile and others, making money off that tower and stealing from the state. The tower is on state land.

4) Please deny the proposal and give the tower lease to the state. We want to maintain control of our public parks for the people of Hawaii, not for multinational corporations.

5) Thank you!

The Backstory...

In a diabolical plan that has taken communities by surprise, AT&T is using First Responders as a way to grow their wireless network across the country. Under the guise of public safety, AT&T (aka Cingular) is seeking official public utility status that would give them access to public lands where commercial installations would previously be restricted or not allowed.

Powerful AT&T lobbyists are going straight to police departments, fire departments and other First Responders to hard-sell them on their FirstNet plan, an elaborate land grab that is unnecessary especially in Hawaii. The First Responder network currently in place works just fine here.

FirstNet is complete overkill. It is a wolf in sheep's clothing. A trojan horse.

The plan involves AT&T gaining official public utility status which would give them access to erect cell towers on public land that would normally be off-limits to industrial installations from a massive multinational corporation.

In the case of Waimea Canyon State Park, the proposed lease is for 55 years! If AT&T/New Cingular gains control of that tower, on public land, without public input, there is nothing to stop them from leasing out space to Verizon, T-Mobile and others and they install countless commercial antennas on that tower.

Beautiful Waimea Canyon becomes a cash cow, a money making machine for AT&T, with an ugly behemoth 100' tower covered with antennas of all varieties spraying out harmful wireless radiation 24/7/365.

If this can happen in Waimea Canyon State Park, it can happen anywhere on the Hawaiian islands. Precedent will be set. Please follow the instructions above to make your voice heard.

Thank you for all you do! Together we are stronger.