Re: Chama Yard Lights & SHPO Views

Hmmm, "pontificate"? -- "To speak or express opinions in a pompous or dogmatic matter" says my dictionary. C'mon Paul, lighten up, no need to get that way yourself. You read too much into my comments.

Way before your time the ugly parking-lot lights didn't get installed because back in 2000 the Exec. Director of the Commission at the time was supposed to replace them with more appropriate lights. He left and nothing got done by his successors.

Then after 6-7 years John Cole, you, and others dug those lights out and got them installed, which was a damn-sight better situation than leaving the place dark and doing nothing, but the original error was in not getting better replacement lights back in 2000.

Now, Chris Webster has pointed out a web site that shows there are several good alternatives, and Andy Roth has suggested a light from Sternberg which could be a very good choice. Furthermore, what you are saying about light height probably makes sense as well and doesn't really contradict what I wrote.

I think reasonable people can agree that there ought to be more appropriate, "railroad-style" lighting that can be turned on and off selectively, that provides good unshadowed illumination for the tasks that have to be done outside at night, that minimizes glare, and that is "dark-sky" compliant. Whether the Commission wants to spend the money is another question. Of course, there is also the risk that SHPO will one day object to the current lights which were installed without SHPO review.