[Atmob-discuss] preventive action on lighting

[Mario E. Motta]

To all,

  Tonight at the Gloucester Energy Committee, listened to a business man 
that wanted to get the city to put up 18 streetlights on Condelin Road. 
Turns out it is not a residential road, only a Industrial park. The 
business's are only day operations, no operations at night at all. (No 
foot traffic, no restaurants, no shopping). So I asked.. why does the 
city of Gloucester need to put up 18 lights, cost of $100/year per light 
all night long, for next 20 years, when the city has a deficit, and...
1. No one lives or works there at night..
2. No traffic at night
3. No intersections
4. No pedestrians

Answer was to "beautify" the area. Turns out not every business even on 
board. (Came out when asked why not fund by the business's themselves). 
Also to keep kids from using area for racing. Turns out this happens in 
daylight, and pointed out may actually encourage "night" racing if lit!
When I asked these series of questions, even the proponent admitted that 
maybe this did not make any sense.
Hopefully squashed 18 new lights tonight.

We could have more control of our towns if every ATMOB member adopted 
one home town and joined an energy comm, etc. and gave testimony on bad 
lighting ideas. Most town managers know next to nothing on the subject.

A notice on the Gloucester Star party will be in Gloucester Times early 
next week for Earth Hour, March 29, we will ask residents and business's 
to cut outdoor lighting for that event   (see   www.earthhour.org )

Mario Motta