Letters: Smart meters in Saugerties (Part II)

No proof water meter signals are harmful

Donna Greco’s letter “Meters need to be studied” in last week’s opinion section of Saugerties Times issues from the fact-free zone, all too familiar in these days of what might well be called “scaranoia.”

Studying smart meters is a sound and cautious suggestion. However, the relevant “significant harmful biological effects” of the meters’ radio-frequency (RF) radiation to which Ms. Greco refers in alarm are well known and long known, not just to science, but to the general public.

The most familiar source of RF (co-named because of its bandwidth range, the same range as radio frequencies) is the microwave oven in most families’ kitchens. It’s a scientifically proven fact that very high levels of RF radiation can damage biological tissue via this rapid heating. This is how the microwave cooks food, and the basis for the urban myth about the exploding Chihuahua in the microwave. At levels too low to heat cold coffee and Toast’ems, scientific evidence for harmful biological effects is ambiguous and unproven. Stick your hand in there and feel for yourself.

There may be long-term harmful effects from RF radiation, but scientific principle (the well-established theory of radiant energy across the spectrum) and scientific fact (decades of revealed and available evidence and well-reasoned, peer-vetted conclusions from reliable research) argue strongly against any dire threats to life from radio-frequency radiation.

Spider Barbour

Town of Saugerties ecological consultant

Meter opponents are numerous

We just returned from the Saugerties Town Board’s dog and pony show regarding the smart meters, where representatives from the Sensus company who sold smart water meters to the Saugerties tax payers via our Town Board, defended their product, touting the safety of these RF [radiofrequency] radiation emitting devices. Not many townspeople bought their show, but were nonetheless amused by the company representative who stormed out early because he got himself into hot water. Opponents outnumbered proponents by at least four-to-one, voicing their opposition, often out of frustration, as many of us were not allowed to speak. We all silently wondered why this meeting was not held before the money was spent on changing out 1,810 properly functioning water meters with dangerous new smart meters. Several opponents from neighboring Woodstock voiced their opposition, knowing that the same dastardly devices will soon be imposed on them. Residents from other Saugerties districts attended, afraid they are next to receive these dangerous devices against their will. Like a shopaholic set lose in Saks Fifth Ave., our Town Board spent a fortune on unnecessary goods. When asked why they insist on new meters when the old ones work perfectly fine, the meter reps came up with several excuses to justify their profits from our hard-earned taxes. “There is lead in the old meters” was the assertion. To which Paul Jameson asked, “How much lead is in the old meters?” The representative proudly proclaimed that the brass alloy in the meters contained six percent lead. He stood corrected when Paul pulled out his research paper and read that the percentage of lead contained in the old meters was actually less than two percent. We all wanted to know why they were not replacing old pipes instead, which everyone agreed were full of lead, much more than the current meters contain. But this was a difficult question that received no answer. Probably one of the many reasons why, one by one, the company reps stormed out.

Although many residents were threatened with fines when they refused smart meters, the board asserted this isn’t so. This meeting was intended to set our minds at ease about the dangers of smart meters, but rather, it brought out more questions than answers. The majority in attendance signed the petition to stop the installation of smart meters across Saugerties. “We are the canaries in the coal mine,” said a Woodstock resident, the same analogy used in my letter to the editor last week. Although many people got a chance to speak, it was Kelly Myers and Freddie Costello who interrupted the people’s voice whenever there was strong opposition to the meters. Kelly was on her feet the minute a resident spoke forcefully against smart meters, insisting that we are only allowed to ask questions of the sales person. She tried desperately to silence the people but audience members shouted to let the residents of Saugerties speak. Kelly was infinitely out numbered. Fred Costello asked me off the floor to allow others to speak in my place, and did not insist on “questions only” if they were speaking in favor of smart meters. When elected officials only want to hear from those with whom they agree and silence opponents, it is called an autocratic government, better known as a dictatorship. The fact that our Town Board insists on doing damage control while people were speaking is evidence that they made a huge mistake purchasing smart meters without the consent of the people. Best they remember that this is an election year. Those who push dangerous smart meters on the people without consent do not deserve to serve. To join our group and get involved or to find out more about smart meters by attending informative meetings about the dangers of smart meters please email [email protected].

Donna Greco

Saugerties 
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