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.
