Evanstonians are angry. They’re complaining that the recently installed AT&T boxes are not only ugly threats to property values, but also hiding places for rapists, traffic obstructions and dangers to children.
The refrigerator-sized structures first appeared in the fall as a part of a cable network for Evanston and surrounding suburbs to provide cheaper services to more people. About 60 residents voiced their opinions Thursday night at an open forum in the Robert Crown Center, 1701 Main St. AT&T representatives and city officials also attended the meeting.
“We’re getting spit at and stepped on,” said Evanston resident Elizabeth Beckman in response to the ongoing construction of 99 cross-connection boxes throughout the city on both public and city property.
Marc Blakeman, regional vice president of external affairs for AT&T, and John Burke of the Evanston public works department, said AT&T was in full compliance with both state and city law. Construction of the boxes was permitted by the Illinois Cable and Video Competition Law of 2007, as well as Evanston ordinances. AT&T obtained permits and discussed sites with city officials, Burke said.
Blakeman explained that the size of the boxes satisfies the minimal requirement for the technology they provide, in accordance with the clause of the law mandating that the devices “have minimal impact on property owners” and are of the “smallest suitable” variety.
“There were literally dozens of organizations that had a hand in drafting the legislation,” Blakeman said.
To offset the unfavorable look of the boxes, Burke said that each resident will be given a $1,500 reimbursement for material and labor costs of landscaping around the devices. The city will also receive 6 percent of AT&T gross profits .
Many residents felt “hoodwinked” by the law, and also questioned if the orders to build the devices were given before the law was ratified.
“It’s our state legislators who failed us here,” said Stelios Valavanis, another Evanstonian.
“Shame on you,” said Joan Corwin, another Evanston citizen, in response to the seemingly shady manner in which the box project was carried out.
Attendees also questioned the economic benefit of the boxes, convinced that comparable, cheaper services were available through Verizon and Comcast.
“The mind-boggling think is that you people think we’ll appreciate the competition,” said resident Neal Levin, to audience applause.
“It seems like you’re externalizing these costs to the customer. Did you take microeconomics?” said Rob Bruin, a resident who also displayed a photo of him and the box outside his home at the meeting. “I don’t even want to think about what it will do to the value of my home.”
The audience included Ald. Lionel Jean-Baptiste (2nd), Ald. Elizabeth Tisdahl (7th) and Ald. Steven Bernstein (4th), who acted as residents, though Bernstein and Jean-Baptiste announced that they had no knowledge of plans to erect the boxes until they appeared.
“If you start messing with free speech and rights in Evanston, look out.” said Evanston resident Scott Sanders, warning Blakeman that citizens will remain persistent until changes are made.
A second meeting is scheduled for Oct. 16 with a panel including state Reps. Julie Hamos (D), Beth Coulson (R) and state Sen. Jeff Schoenberg (D).
