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Lights at Rustin
I have, in the past, written a post that makes it sound like I support the installation of lights at Bayard Rustin High School's football field.
In fact, I don't care whether lights end up on the field. At the time I wrote the post, I was in a literary mood. What I wished to express was this: Westtown Township is part of the Philly suburbs. It is not "the country." It will not be "the country" until 95 percent of its residents voluntarily demolish their houses and move out and the remaining 5 percent quit their jobs and take up farming.
In short: light pollution is part of suburban life. Deal with it.
The West Chester Area School Board on Monday voted to hold off on installing lights at Rustin's field. I wrote pretty extensively about the decision here and here. Cost, not light pollution, was the reason for the school board's opposition.
What is interesting, however, is the voting pattern that has emerged: Terri Clark, Sean Carpenter, John Wingerter, Heidi Adsett and Maria Armandi Pimley (all but Clark are new to the board) vote together. They have, it appears, formed a 5 to 4 majority.
In fact, I don't care whether lights end up on the field. At the time I wrote the post, I was in a literary mood. What I wished to express was this: Westtown Township is part of the Philly suburbs. It is not "the country." It will not be "the country" until 95 percent of its residents voluntarily demolish their houses and move out and the remaining 5 percent quit their jobs and take up farming.
In short: light pollution is part of suburban life. Deal with it.
The West Chester Area School Board on Monday voted to hold off on installing lights at Rustin's field. I wrote pretty extensively about the decision here and here. Cost, not light pollution, was the reason for the school board's opposition.
What is interesting, however, is the voting pattern that has emerged: Terri Clark, Sean Carpenter, John Wingerter, Heidi Adsett and Maria Armandi Pimley (all but Clark are new to the board) vote together. They have, it appears, formed a 5 to 4 majority.
Labels: Bayard Rustin, Lights
posted by Dan Kristie at
7:35 AM
3 Comments:
"In short: light pollution is part of suburban life. Deal with it."
Sadly, this is the wrong attitude to have about light pollution. Just because it has existed, it does not justify the dismissal of efforts to reduce it. Sure, suburban skies will never be truly dark, but steps can always be taken to minimize the nuisance to residents and neighbors.
Don't forget, the effect of light pollution can be seen for many miles, and it is a cumulative effect, so if all people in the 'burbs had this attitude, then those of us who enjoy the "country" environment would have to travel into more remote areas to escape the effects. Sadly, there aren't many places like this left, and they are VERY remote, so we must take measures to reduce light pollution near the places we live.
Dan,
That's right, and if this majority survives the school board election in 2011, when 5 seats are up, they will take apart the WCASD brick by brick and stone by stone. May as well make out our tax checks directly to the Charter Cyber Schools.
As much as I believe high school football is a worthy addition to one's education in the WCASD, the
decision, regardless of cost or
the motivation of the 'gang of five', was correct.
The media has not spent anytime reporting how the downturn in the economy has affected those in the middle class or those workers engaged in any facet of construction. Decrease housing starts equals less transfer tax equals less employment equals less earned income tax...and on and on..
Even in prosperous, Chester County, many firms are operating at severely reduced staffing levels.
WCASD,along with Great Valley and Downingtown are facing very hard budget choices for the next several years.
Dr. Scanlon will need all the community support to successfully
solve the future challenges in the WCASD.
Perhaps the editors of the Local
should focus more on the tax dollars that are passed to the charter schools with little or no
accountability than on stadium illumination commentary.
Maybe the Local should feature reporting on student/teacher achievement in the WCASD in science and math because our
collective future in this country will come from scientific innovation and not from the forward pass.
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