Here is the message form the IDA which contains the original information about
the bill in the Arizona Legislature.
KK
From: International Dark-Sky Association
Sent: Wednesday, February 24, 2016 11:35 AM
To: valta@xxxxxxx
Subject: Arizona Night Skies Under Threat
February 24, 2016
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Arizona Night Skies Are Under Threat!
Dear Walter,
We need your help! As an Arizona resident, we
thought you should know that Arizona’s night skies – including an IDA
International Dark Sky Park — are under threat! And you can do something about
it.
Currently, the Arizona House of Representatives
is considering a bill (House Bill 2507) that would greatly expand the reach of
Electronic Message Centers, often called “digital billboards” (click on the
image to the right for a larger view of the proposed area).
EMCs put night skies at risk because their
highly-directional light is aimed sideways, scattering light into the night
sky. And they can’t be shielded like lighting on conventional billboards.
In 2012 Arizona legislators crafted a compromise,
agreeable to dark skies advocates, to allow EMCs only in certain parts of the
state and with limits on the brightness and operating hours of the billboards.
HB 2507 is an insult to the spirit of the 2012
compromise! And it could very well open the door to a statewide repeal of EMC
regulations altogether. Such an outcome would endanger dark skies everywhere in
Arizona.
Let your voice be heard! Tell the Arizona
Legislature that you oppose any changes to the 2012 compromise. Arizona night
skies depend on it. Below we've provided you sample letters to those
legislators who have the most sway.
For more details on the bill, its history and
IDA's stance, read the IDA Statement (PDF)
The bill is quickly moving through the House.
Please let them know today that HB 2507 needs to go!
Sincerely,
Scott Feierabend
IDA Executive Director
--------------------------------------------------
CONTACT INFORMATION & SAMPLE LETTERS
Rep. David M. Gowan (Dist. 14; Speaker)
Arizona House of Representatives
1700 W. Washington, Room 130
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: 602-926-3312
Fax: 602-417-3130
Email: dgowan@xxxxxxxxx
Dear Speaker Gowan,
Dark night skies are one of our state’s true
treasures. They contribute to an astronomy, planetary and space science
enterprise that contributes more than $250 million to the state’s economy each
year. Visitors from far and wide come to not only enjoy the beautiful daytime
vistas Arizona offers, but also to marvel at the night sky, feeding a growing
‘astrotourism’ market. However, legislation currently before the House
endangers the integrity of dark night skies across the state.
Current Arizona law on electronic message centers
(EMCs, also known as ‘digital billboards') was set in 2012 after an initial
bill backed by the outdoor advertising industry to permit EMCs statewide was
vetoed by Governor Jan Brewer. In her veto statement to the Legislature, Gov.
Brewer wrote: “The astronomy industry has invested $1.2 billion in Arizona,
represents more than 3,300 jobs and has an estimated economic impact of $250
million a year. I simply refuse to place all of this in jeopardy.” A
replacement bill was crafted after a compromise involving advertisers and the
astronomy community that limited EMCs to a certain part of the state and placed
restrictions on the brightness and operating hours of the signs.
HB 2507 would unravel the 2012 compromise by
extending the reach of EMCs in western Arizona, doubling the territory in which
they would be permitted under A.R.S. §28-7902(E). Efforts to weaken any terms
of the compromise undermine the entire compromise. HB 2507 is not the result of
good-faith negotiations among all interested stakeholders, and it is not good
public policy.
This legislation threatens Arizona’s dark skies,
and I urge you to exercise your prerogative under House rules and hold HB 2507
from third reading.
Sincerely,
(name)
--------------------------------------------------
Rep. Sonny Borrelli (Dist. 5; bill sponsor)
Arizona House of Representatives
1700 W. Washington, Room 310
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: 602-926-5051
Fax: 602-417-3003
Email: sborrelli@xxxxxxxxx
Dear Representative Borrelli,
Dark night skies are one of our state’s true
treasures. They contribute to an astronomy, planetary and space science
enterprise that contributes more than $250 million to the state’s economy each
year. Visitors from far and wide come to not only enjoy the beautiful daytime
vistas Arizona offers, but also to marvel at the night sky, feeding a growing
‘astrotourism’ market. However, legislation you introduced in the current House
term endangers the integrity of dark night skies across the state.
Current Arizona law on electronic message centers
(EMCs, also known as ‘digital billboards') was set in 2012 after an initial
bill backed by the outdoor advertising industry to permit EMCs statewide was
vetoed by Governor Jan Brewer. In her veto statement to the Legislature, Gov.
Brewer wrote: “The astronomy industry has invested $1.2 billion in Arizona,
represents more than 3,300 jobs and has an estimated economic impact of $250
million a year. I simply refuse to place all of this in jeopardy.” A
replacement bill was crafted after a compromise involving advertisers and the
astronomy community that limited EMCs to a certain part of the state and placed
restrictions on the brightness and operating hours of the signs.
HB 2507 would unravel the 2012 compromise by
extending the reach of EMCs in western Arizona, doubling the territory in which
they would be permitted under A.R.S. §28-7902(E). Efforts to weaken any terms
of the compromise undermine the entire compromise. Your bill is not the result
of good-faith negotiations among all interested stakeholders, and it is not
good public policy.
This legislation threatens Arizona’s dark skies,
and I urge you to withdraw HB 2507.
Sincerely,
(name)
--------------------------------------------------
Rep. J. Christopher Ackerley (Dist. 2; House
Transportation and Infrastructure Committee member)
Arizona House of R
1700 W. Washington, Room 127
Phoenix, AZ 85007
Phone: 602-926-3077
Fax: 602-417-3277
Email: jackerley@xxxxxxxxx
Dear Representative Ackerley,
Dark night skies are one of our state’s true
treasures. They contribute to an astronomy, planetary and space science
enterprise that contributes more than $250 million to the state’s economy each
year. Visitors from far and wide come to not only enjoy the beautiful daytime
vistas Arizona offers, but also to marvel at the night sky, feeding a growing
‘astrotourism’ market. However, legislation you introduced in the current House
term endangers the integrity of dark night skies across the state.
Current Arizona law on electronic message centers
(EMCs, also known as ‘digital billboards') was set in 2012 after an initial
bill backed by the outdoor advertising industry to permit EMCs statewide was
vetoed by Governor Jan Brewer. In her veto statement to the Legislature, Gov.
Brewer wrote: “The astronomy industry has invested $1.2 billion in Arizona,
represents more than 3,300 jobs and has an estimated economic impact of $250
million a year. I simply refuse to place all of this in jeopardy.” A
replacement bill was crafted after a compromise involving advertisers and the
astronomy community that limited EMCs to a certain part of the state and placed
restrictions on the brightness and operating hours of the signs.
HB 2507 would unravel the 2012 compromise by
extending the reach of EMCs in western Arizona, doubling the territory in which
they would be permitted under A.R.S. §28-7902(E). Efforts to weaken any terms
of the compromise undermine the entire compromise. HB 2507 is not the result of
good-faith negotiations among all interested stakeholders, and it is not good
public policy.
This legislation threatens Arizona’s dark skies.
In your capacity as a member of the Transportation and Infrastructure
Committee, I urge you and your colleagues to vote “no” on HB 2507.
Sincerely,
(name)
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