To the Editor:
One could never have imagined that Arlington County would perpetrate such an injustice on its citizenry. Unfortunately, I can find no other way to sum up the county’s force-feeding of LED streetlights to county residents. As youths, we recall well-meaning parents forcing broccoli on us while crying, “it is good for you!” The difference between that and our current predicament is that broccoli is “good for you.”
The fact that the introduction of LED streetlights has caused pain and distress for many county residents in indisputable. Disruption of sleep patterns from glaring light pollution, installation of blackout curtains, endless correspondence with county officials and neighborhood civic leaders is a sampling of the fallout of the county’s campaign for LED streetlights. Those with extreme sensitivity to the LED lights are forced to spend evenings barricaded in their houses behind blackout curtains. Evening drives through Buckingham Village, once a pleasant experience, are now a blinding experience due to the grossly bright and unsightly LED streetlights.
County officials describe the use of LED lighting as being progressive and energy wise. This depends on your definition of progress. Was a pilot study on the use of these lights conducted and an assessment made of residents’ reactions to the lights? For safety, the county wants to illuminate streets and sidewalks. But they should figure out how to do it without blasting our homes with this unnatural light.
And how does the county respond to such complaints? Do they put a hold on the project or just continue with the installation in additional neighborhoods? We know the answer.
County officials have been remarkably patient and kind while giving a “hearing” to citizen’s complaints. But one wonders how well they are listening to these complaints. People’s lives are being affected in significant ways. Loss of sleep and depression from no longer being able to do star gazing outside one’s home are some examples of this.
We often hear that the cover up is more serious than the crime. In this case, someone clearly made a misjudgment in choosing current LED technology for streetlights. Such a mistake is easily understood and forgiven. But the county’s insistence on continuing with these lights is inexcusable. Of course, we support the effort to use lamps that consume less power, but the color and light intensity of the LEDs selected is totally inappropriate. Officials have responded to complaints with the promise of new emerging technologies that could be an improvement. Why must we endure the current lights while waiting for such? Why does the county refuse to go back to the non-LED streetlights? Who in the county will step forward and address this issue properly?
Robert Martin
Arlington