We, the undersigned, are aware that the installation of public LED lighting in the village of Cambridge has caused an ongoing situation of both physical harm and curtailment of equal safety and access rights for a resident with photosensitive epilepsy. Epilepsy is explicitly covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
We are also aware of the short-term and long-term human health risks for every resident now exposed to this variety of lighting. These risks include increased rates of breast and prostate cancer, increased rates of childhood leukemia, eye damage, obesity, sleep disruption, low infant birth weight, and epigenetic effects.
We object to this treatment of a local resident with a documented disability, and object to the increased health risks for everyone else exposed. Light pollution has long been recognized as a serious environmental problem, and current research shows that LED lighting has five times the negative impact and damaging properties specific to this variety of light bulb. With the public installation of LEDs, harm has been introduced in a way, and at a level where it did not exist before. We want it removed.
We call for a reversal of the LED lighting, and a return to the former HPS lighting - which ensured public safety but did not cause seizures for the disabled resident or increase health risks for the public in general. To reduce cost and pollution, we suggest the HPS fixtures be fitted with motion detectors to come on when needed and go off when not. This was an approach considered, but then rejected by the mayor, prior to choosing LEDs instead.
Updates
October 13, 2020
The village board is still ignoring our requests for a meeting regarding the safety of these lights. Post the link to this petition on your Facebook wall today to make sure our neighbors see the risks we are facing. Send an email to your local representative demanding a return to the previous lighting system immediately.
October 13, 2020
The momentum behind this push is real and the village council is starting to take notice. Text three neighbors right now and ask them to sign on so we can force a public hearing on these lights.
22 Comments
Could they be put on a dimmer? I sit on my porch and need sunglasses on account of the LED lights being so bright. A while back the assisted living center put in crazy bright lights and when asked they put lower lumen bulbs. Enough time has passed. Dear village lets do the right thing. At the very least please have the bulbs around broad street replaced. I can read a book on my porch. Forget about ever seeing a shooting star again.
I strongly support this!! No one should have to suffer for the “good of the community” Mari has lived there for years and is a well respected member of the small community of Cambridge. Its not like its a city! Take care of your residents. It’s the right thing to do!!!
I am concerned that the decision was made to change to the LED lights after it was brought to the town's attention that they could cause a potentially life-threatening problem for a resident. This problem then did, in fact, occur, making it extremely difficult for a long term resident to continue to live in her home. Because there is a simple alternative- installing motion detectors- it seems a reasonable accommodation. Please reconsider the use of LED lights.
The village of Cambridge should listen to residents and petitioners and follow the ADA. The ADA requires governments to make reasonable changes to their policies and practices to prevent discrimination on the basis of disability — for residents and visitors alike — and this is a reasonable and much-needed change. If Cambridge wants responsible, environmentally friendly street lights, there are better options.
This is a no-brainer. Epileptic seizures are life-threatening, period. In certain people, one of whom lives in Cambridge, seizures are being triggered by the flicker in LED lights. So you change the lights to high efficiency ones that don't flicker! Simple.
Please consider removal of these lights, if not only for the long-term damages exposure to such lights can cause, but also for a resident who has been suffering epileptic seizures since their installation. This is a life-threatening risk, and one that ought be treated with sensitivity and proactivity. Thank you for the consideration.
It is unconscionable that this situation cannot be rectified under the umbrella of the Americans With Disabilities Act!!!!!!!
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We, the undersigned, are aware that the installation of public LED lighting in the village of Cambridge has caused an ongoing situation of both physical harm and curtailment of equal safety and access rights for a resident with photosensitive epilepsy. Epilepsy is explicitly covered under the Americans with Disabilities Act.
We are also aware of the short-term and long-term human health risks for every resident now exposed to this variety of lighting. These risks include increased rates of breast and prostate cancer, increased rates of childhood leukemia, eye damage, obesity, sleep disruption, low infant birth weight, and epigenetic effects.
We object to this treatment of a local resident with a documented disability, and object to the increased health risks for everyone else exposed. Light pollution has long been recognized as a serious environmental problem, and current research shows that LED lighting has five times the negative impact and damaging properties specific to this variety of light bulb. With the public installation of LEDs, harm has been introduced in a way, and at a level where it did not exist before. We want it removed.
We call for a reversal of the LED lighting, and a return to the former HPS lighting - which ensured public safety but did not cause seizures for the disabled resident or increase health risks for the public in general. To reduce cost and pollution, we suggest the HPS fixtures be fitted with motion detectors to come on when needed and go off when not. This was an approach considered, but then rejected by the mayor, prior to choosing LEDs instead.
Updates
October 13, 2020
The village board is still ignoring our requests for a meeting regarding the safety of these lights. Post the link to this petition on your Facebook wall today to make sure our neighbors see the risks we are facing. Send an email to your local representative demanding a return to the previous lighting system immediately.
October 13, 2020
The momentum behind this push is real and the village council is starting to take notice. Text three neighbors right now and ask them to sign on so we can force a public hearing on these lights.
22 Comments
I am Marie's niece, who lives in Israel, and I look forward to visiting Cambridge whenever I travel to the States. I'll be so disappointed if the next time I come to visit the streets will be lit up by LEDs. Cambridge, please protect your residents and the character of your village, which I have come to love and tell others about over many years.
Could they be put on a dimmer? I sit on my porch and need sunglasses on account of the LED lights being so bright. A while back the assisted living center put in crazy bright lights and when asked they put lower lumen bulbs. Enough time has passed. Dear village lets do the right thing. At the very least please have the bulbs around broad street replaced. I can read a book on my porch. Forget about ever seeing a shooting star again.
I strongly support this!! No one should have to suffer for the “good of the community” Mari has lived there for years and is a well respected member of the small community of Cambridge. Its not like its a city! Take care of your residents. It’s the right thing to do!!!
I am concerned that the decision was made to change to the LED lights after it was brought to the town's attention that they could cause a potentially life-threatening problem for a resident. This problem then did, in fact, occur, making it extremely difficult for a long term resident to continue to live in her home. Because there is a simple alternative- installing motion detectors- it seems a reasonable accommodation. Please reconsider the use of LED lights.
The village of Cambridge should listen to residents and petitioners and follow the ADA. The ADA requires governments to make reasonable changes to their policies and practices to prevent discrimination on the basis of disability — for residents and visitors alike — and this is a reasonable and much-needed change. If Cambridge wants responsible, environmentally friendly street lights, there are better options.
This is a no-brainer. Epileptic seizures are life-threatening, period. In certain people, one of whom lives in Cambridge, seizures are being triggered by the flicker in LED lights. So you change the lights to high efficiency ones that don't flicker! Simple.
Please consider removal of these lights, if not only for the long-term damages exposure to such lights can cause, but also for a resident who has been suffering epileptic seizures since their installation. This is a life-threatening risk, and one that ought be treated with sensitivity and proactivity. Thank you for the consideration.
It is unconscionable that this situation cannot be rectified under the umbrella of the Americans With Disabilities Act!!!!!!!
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I am Marie's niece, who lives in Israel, and I look forward to visiting Cambridge whenever I travel to the States. I'll be so disappointed if the next time I come to visit the streets will be lit up by LEDs. Cambridge, please protect your residents and the character of your village, which I have come to love and tell others about over many years.