One of the new high-pressure sodium street lamps that
have been installed around Easton recently
Posted by: Noël Jones
I've been hearing opinions on both sides of the new street lamp issue--some neighbors think they are great, because they are bright and light up street corners where they feel there are now less riff-raff hanging out up to no good. Others, like West Ward resident, Maurice Luker, feel that the new lighting has done more harm than good, as it does not used dark-skies technology to avoid light pollution that makes the streets look bleak and cancels out the ability to see stars in the neighborhood--something we've all pretty much been able to do from our back yards in Easton. Click here to read Maurice's letter to the editor in the Express-Times.
My main gripe about this choice in street lamps is that they appear to be high-pressure sodium, which
gives off a gross yellow-ish pink light and casts a pallor over the streets. This photo does not really capture it well, because I took it at twilight, but at night when the sky is dark, the light is a decidedly pinky-orange color, like the lights you see on the highway, or in large parking lots--the kind you're scared to be alone in at night. I appreciate the city's recognition that there are some dark spots in the neighborhood that need lighting, but I am disappointed that this decision was made for residential area, without resident input. It does nothing to make the neighborhood more appealing, in my opinion--quite the opposite. I would much rather have seen a porch light campaign encouraging residents to use energy-saver bulbs and leave their porch lights on. That would have created a consistent, gentler light on the streets for anyone walking, and would be more attractive to anyone driving through and deciding whether or not to buy a home here.
And if more street lamps must be put in, when there is dark skies technology available, I don't understand why this decision was made. I recently got an iphone with an app that allows you to point the phone at the night sky and identify planets, stars and constellations. I like being able to do that in my back yard. I want to keep it that way.
What do you think of the new street lights?
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17 comments:
I am pretty sad about a glaring light on Warren Street that totally lights up our back yard at night. I don't know if its sodium or not as it has been this way for several years. Just over bright and glaring. No way to create our own ambiance in our back yard. Its sad that such a choice intrudes on private property. If people want more light on their streets - turn on your front porch light! Put a motion detector light in the back. It costs pennies to do this - we have researched it and its what we do. I don't know why people won't take individual responsibility for this. May be it needs to be a law like shoveling your sidewalk - justifiably as both have to do with public safety. Because such a campaign to turn on your porch light has not worked in the past the government now makes a choice that we all have to live with whether we like it or not.
Noel:
You really need to get a life. Th shit you write about is pathetic. Please go volunteer your time at a hospital or old folks home!
Actually, I think this is worth talking about. Cathy contributed something. I think the damn lights are too bright (but still use less energy than what they replaced)!
Anon 7:58 - You have contributed nothing. Not nasty enough to be deleted, but sober up and come back to say something worth reading.
Anon 7:58,
If you don't like the program, simply change the channel. Goodness knows that there's a kizzilion other boots out there that you might approve of.
Don't go away mad, just go away!
Sorry. Blogs, not boots. (Silly autocomplete!)
Wow, first people complain that the streets are too dark and everybody wants a street light. Now we get these great lights which wioll reduce vandalism and crime but the main thing I read is that forst of all this program was done throughout the city; secondly they really help a lot; third the porch light program has never been successful, not even on National Night Out and people don't want their electric bill to go up.
I read where the city is saving 600,000 kwh annually and has reduced the street lighting cost by $48,000 per year. Isn't this the blog that wants to protect the environment? 600,000 kwh is nothing to sneeze at, this is real energy savingsm -- plus it provides a great deterent. I suggest that if you don't like your light call the Mayor and have it removed. Then the city can save even more money, but I am not sure you would be such a great hit with your fellow neighbors.
I thought a couple years ago the city was going to install lights closer to the ground that would not be so blinding. they were more efficient and made the neighborhoods look better
anon 10:32 I dont remember anything about street lights. I recall the city saving money with new traffic signal lights.
The absolute first thing we did when we moved here was add lighting.
At first we had complaints, from the local problem people, but they have almost all, since moved on. We'd still like at least one more actual street light, but maybe we're on the list. Truth be told, I did some research into whether or not we could pass a local ordinance requiring landlords to install porch and security lights that could not be turned off by tenants. I'm still looking into it. It is perhaps something of a shame that the lights aren't perfect, but cost considerations need to be in our minds as does just general safety.
Like it or not a lighted street is "Safer" than an unlighted one, period.
Our third day in Easton, someone came out of the dark section next to our house and trying to scam us for our cell phone, with his basher waiting in the also unlighted neighbors yard. We put in a spotlight, that has never happened again.
Just my two cents, but others on my block would also like more street lights.
Peace,
David
A quick aside here. The City of Easton is actually pretty good about energy efficiency. Many of our parking meters are solar as are most of the holiday lights downtown, and that sort of thing. If you look around a bit, at the details of our everyday things here in Easton, you'll find that we're actually quite ahead of the curve. Remarkable as this city doesn't have much money to spend and still has all of the issues of any major city. Kudos to Mayor Panto and his administration.
Peace,
David
As I said, the cost of lighting a front porch is a few dollars a month. I am a landlord and have lights installed at the front of all properties whether occupied by a tenant or not. The lights come on on dusk and off at dawn. Nobody even has to flip a switch. Back of the property gets a motion detector light. Sorry David - if I were your neighbor I would not appreciate a spotlight.
Actually they've gotten used to it and some even park in the otherwise long abandoned back yard now. I'm glad that you do what you do, but there are issues. Many renters around us don't use the lighting that they have and believe me with CFL's, it's cheap. More people on the block use lights now then they did, but it's an attitude / culture thing. They have the lights, they just don't use them, if they did or had, I wouldn't have had to take the steps that I have. I'm not risking my safety or my wife's for some one Else's wish to live dangerously. As well, I have liability issues to consider and the people who don't want lighting are going to be the first to sue.
Would I prefer a block where ever one does the right thing and we can all be happy....absolutely, I grew up on one. I don't have that here, so we make do.
Peace,
David
I love the new lights! Thank you City of Easton.
David, I haven't seen a single post here against lighting--just a preference as to the KIND of lighting. If it were a requirement for landlords to install inexpensive porch lights as Cathy suggests, that automatically turn off and on as the sun goes up and down, energy and tax money would be saved, no highway-style street lights would go in to residential streets, the streets would be more attractive and safer at night, and we could all continue to see the stars in our back yards.
There is no need to go to extremes in framing the arguments of others if your points are strong.
This bit of controversy could have been avoided if the city had taken in public input on this before spending the money and installing the lights.
That is a fair point. Personally I'm just happy to see lighting at all. I also wish the city had held some discussion on the matter. But I'm happy with the outcome.
I think the thing is that our blocks and neighborhoods vary so much that what might be one person's Easton experience just isn't that of another.
Anyhow,
Peace,
David
although I've made it a goal to not participate here anymore, this is a subject of interest to me.
some time ago I noticed that a streetlamp was 'missing' from my street, the intersection of Sassafrass St and N 7th St. we aregued back and forth but to make a long story short, the City finally agreed that there should be a streetlight there and the order was put in. some time later though Met Ed came back and said they couldn't put it in, no room on the pole or something. whatever.
anyway, the new light up the street on Bushkill and N 7th is much brighter than the old one and does a pretty good job of lighting up our street, which is very good.
over the years, I too have been approached in the dark by people with less than good intent (twice dealers and/or prostitutes have tried to get in my car while I was coming home!) so I'm all for bright lights.
porch lights DO NOT substitute for good street lighting! I have FOUR halogens in my porch overhang but my home is up off the street, they do nothing for the sidewalk. and the typical bulb in most porch lights aren't designed to project like a floodlight.
safety first, stargazing second.
welcome back, EHB. all opinions are important, especially when coming from personal experience of residents that these issues affect.
i may disagree, but as always, i welcome opinions that differ from my own to be expressed here. it's important in getting to know how the broader community feels on various issues, and the community is clearly divided on this one.
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