Residents, families, and students of the Agrarian Secondary School N°1 in San Vicente, in the southern part of the Buenos Aires conurbation, are protesting against the installation of a 5G antenna by the company Sitios Argentina 100 on the premises of a local club called "Porteño". The community also sought to inform the public through leaflets and a petition drive. Darío Leo, a local resident and father of two girls who attend the school, recounts that the Mayor, Mantegazza, only met with them once during a spontaneous approach by citizens. In 2024, after noticing activity in the area, residents submitted an official request to the municipality but received no response. During the antenna's installation, Leo says, four or five patrol officers surrounded them. "We told them that health is more important than their money, but all we got were insults and bad treatment," he explains. Later that same day, residents were received by Daniela Lasalle, an elected councilor and current head of the mayor's cabinet, who spoke with them. Students from the school got involved by staging a sit-in. "With this, we understand that there is no progress regarding our rights or our health," Leo affirms. The antenna's mast has already been installed, but the electrical and communication connections remain to be completed. Residents state that the company and the club claim the antenna is harmless, but their concerns are based on the antenna's proximity to the school where children study and numerous homes. They emphasize that the installation was carried out without prior community consultation. María Sol Dellamea, an environmental lawyer representing the residents, notes that during legal proceedings, authorities did not respond to their complaints. She also points out that the radiofrequency radiation emitted by these antennas can cause serious harm to health, leading to various diseases. Despite protests and legal actions, Mayor Nicolás Mantegazza has permitted the antenna's installation. Residents are demanding the creation of a multidisciplinary commission with specialists to assess the antenna's impact on health and the environment.
