We editorially urged Mayor Henry to veto the light-pollution amendment to the noise ordinance, and he didn't, so consider this sour grapes if you wish, but WHAT IN THE BLUE BLAZES was he thinking?! The mayor signed the ordinance, saying it's up to the City Council to decide what legislative action is appropriate for the community. Not that he didn't have reservations:
While Henry chose to pass this bill, he said council should still work to hone the amendment so that it can be enforced when necessary.
“It is my opinion that this ordinance will be difficult to enforce as written and that certain exceptions to its provisions should be considered,” Henry said in a statement. “Amongst the concerns raised were athletic events held in the evening, holiday light displays and emergency repair work, to name a few.”
The mayor's office also reported those who wish to call in a light complaint should not call 911, as it would be an improper use of the emergency service. Callers should instead use 311 or call the police department at 427-1222 to report a problem.
This is a bad ordinance because it contains provisions that will make it difficult to enforce, but I'm signing it anyway, so now the council should correct the ordinance's weaknesses? Awfully trusting, I must say. The ordinances is now law, so what incentive does council have to fix it? A more understandable course would have been for the mayor to veto the amendment, then tell council what changes to it would result in his approval.
As Councilman Mitch Harper, one of the four council members who voted against the amendment, notes at Fort Wayne Observed, calling 311 to report light violations might be problematical, since the 311 people go home at the end of the normal business day, and problems with lights happen, you know, after dark. Oh, this is going to be such a big mess. Watch how it weighs down the police force with frivolous complaints.
Comments
Now Leo...you were in the military...so you KNOW what a "clusterf$ck" this is ALREADY, right?
Hell the police can't effectively enforce the REGULAR noise ordinance as it is, in parts of town where acoustic assaults happen on a chronic basis, let alone this light "amendment".
Wait and see the "fun" begin as the city takes the acronym FUBAR to new and ever lofty heights!
;)
Mayor Henry signed the light ordinance yesterday saying that is was not that weak of an ordinance, yet wanted small changes to exclude sporting events and holiday lights. We hear about dumbing down of America. We seek perfection in schools. Is this signing not a good example of mediocrity? If the bill was not that weak, but needed only small changes why not veto the bill and have the city council make the small changes and resubmit the ordinance? Why allow mediocrity at this low level?
However, on a more important note, if light is a nuisance, why then define sporting events with lots of lights as not a nuisance? Why exclude any particular light from the ordinance? Do the wishes of the many our weight the wishes of the few? Should the state be excluded from abiding by its own ordinance?
I have already drawn my line in the sand. I will not allow any more violations of my rights...like this or any other bs maritime laws. People do not know that the court has the right to try us in two venues. 1 is a court of common law, the other is a maritime military/ venue. They are only supposed to try us in a court of common law, unless there is an international contract in dispute. DID ANY OF YOU SIGN AN INTERNATIONAL CONTRACT? You might not think so because they never told you that your drivers license was an international contract. IT IS! ONCE YOU STATE YOUR NAME FOR THE RECORD THEY HAVE YOU, YOU HAVE JURISDICTION UNTIL THEN. THEN THEY MOVE INTO THE MARITIME VENUE. But wait ... contract law says both parties must have full disclosure or the contract is fraudulent and void on it's face. But most don't know any of this and lay down their sacrifice to the temple of baal, which is the court.
They have no right to tell you what you can and cannot do on your own PRIVATE PROPERTY. I could go on for hours but I will let you all do your own research on the laws and how the pirates in the government are robbing us all blind. And know exactly what I'm talking about. Google stawman bonds.
edit the last sentence to read Google strawman bonds.