The Lake Worth Herald editorial, June 18, 2015: To Light Or Not

The Lake Worth BEACH! is approximately 0.072 miles of beach on the Florida Atlantic coast and that tiny stretch of Earth took center stage at a recent city commission meeting. We all know the issues: poor lighting in the parking lot, unsafe traffic patterns, our need for jobs, an underperforming city pool, and a Casino complex that has failed expectations miserably.

But what is the main concern for Commissioners Ryan Maier and Chris McVoy at THE BEACH!? Turtles. Understand there are already State of Florida DEP guidelines and Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission rules the City has to follow vis-à-vis turtles. 

Here is an excerpt from The Lake Worth Herald:

     The Dark Sky initiative would have total darkness ideally, but everyone knows that is not practical, so the debate over lumens and kelvins continues. [emphasis added] What is enough light for a safer environment and what is too much light for the health of people and the safety of wildlife? 
     It is amazing how many people in Lake Worth are experts on lighting. 
     Let’s pay attention to new science, after all, the old science was once new science until more science came along. What makes one comfortable that this new science won’t be trumped by a newer science tomorrow. Isn’t that how life goes, young people listen to old people until they are old enough to think on their own, then they discard the wisdom of the older to make room for their new wisdom, which, by the way, isn’t always better wisdom. 
     There is a common ground and we need to find it, both in lighting and wisdom. This common ground will never be found as long as neither side is willing to concede anything or work to meld ideas. 
     So, I guess, at least here in Lake Worth, we will continue to bicker and squabble over issues beyond our control while the things we can effectively control spin helplessly out of control due to lack of consideration.