[Vision2020] light pollution

[Steven Basoa]

Mr. Harkins,

Please do your homework about neighbors before you post.

It's wonderful that you, as a rural property owner, "respect the  
concept of light pollution and manage my light use to be as  
unobtrusive as possible."  It is to be applauded that you and your  
neighbors are able to work out problems such as light pollution.  I,  
too, am a rural property owner and have enjoyed good working  
relations with my neighbors.

However, some neighbors simply don't give a crap.  They do what they  
do and don't consider anything but their own amusements.  If their  
night lights are pointed directly into your living room, it's your  
problem, not theirs ('put up heavier curtains' they might say).  Some  
neighbors will be understanding and listen to reason.  Others will go  
out and increase the wattage.  It's a crapshoot.  You and I, we're  
lucky to have good neighbors.  Many others are not so fortunate.  And  
with the current trend of building a house on top of every hill in  
the county,  light pollution is bound to get worse.

I support the draft ordinance requiring shielded lights.  This shows  
consideration for neighbors and still allows excellent visibility for  
property owners.  I fail to  see how this requirement will cause more  
"damage and injury to property and persons" or cause more "damages to  
animals and crops harmed by predators and foragers".  My unshielded  
lights (granted, they are not high wattage mercury vapor lights) do  
not keep the deer and moose away nor do they stop the coyotes from  
their nightly prowls.  As to "damages resulting from burglary,  
trespass and general mischief", well, shielded or not, lights alone  
will not deter a determined burglar or general mischief-maker.

I take great pleasure in viewing the night sky, unobstructed from  
most neighbors lights.  I am very fortunate in that regard and wish  
to remain so.  This proposed ordinance is a positive step towards  
preserving one aspect of this wonderful quality of life we currently  
enjoy here in Latah County while causing few, if any, real problems.

-Steven

On Jan 21, 2006, at 11:46 PM, Jeff Harkins wrote:

Mr. Evans,

Please do your homework about the physics of light before you post.

For the rest of you interested in this topic, consider that with a  
bit over 1000 square miles of land in Latah County, there are 500  
rural farm lights (yard lights).  That is 1 light per 2 square  
miles.  Since many of the lights are clustered in areas around the  
urban centers, the average number of light units per square mile  
drops considerably.  It is dark in the rural parts of this county.

As a rural property owner, let me assure you that I do respect the  
concept of light pollution and manage my light use to be as  
unobtrusive as possible.  All of us in our "neighborhood" work  
together to not impose on each other on most issues, including  
lighting.  If there was a problem, we would find a way to work it  
out.  I don't recognize your name and I am rather confident that you  
don't live near me.  So why, exactly, are you attempting to dictate  
lighting issues to me and my neighbors.

If you, Mr. Evans, would be willing to demand that the County accept  
all liability for damage and injury to property and persons that  
result from reduced lighting on rural property, would support a fair  
compensation to me (or my neighbors) for damages to animals and crops  
harmed by predators and foragers, would support public funds be  
raised to reimburse me (or rural residents) for damages resulting  
from burglary, trespass and general mischief, we can pursue a  
dialogue.  Frankly, I would rather invest such scarce public dollars  
in county infrastructure and schools ....

Until then, I will not compromise my responsibility for the health  
and safety of my family, my neighbors or my friends for your dark sky  
agenda.

Until you support full financial responsibility by Latah County for  
the consequences for what you are asking me and my neighbors to do in  
our neighborhood, why don't you work with your neighbors to deal with  
the light pollution in your neighborhood?  I assume that you live in  
Moscow.

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