Sedona AZ (August 13, 2014) – The following is a letter to the SedonaEye.com editor from the Keep Sedona Beautiful organization:
Editor:
Sedona’s Designation as International Dark-Sky Community Raised Bar for Other Communities Seeking the Designation.
Keep Sedona Beautiful is very excited that Sedona has been named the 6th International Dark-Sky Community in the US and the 8th in the world! We thank the community for their support in pursuing this well-deserved designation from the International Dark-Sky Association (IDA).
In the August 6 edition of the Red Rock News, Sedona Councilwoman Barbara Litrell was quoted, “On one hand we don’t meet the criteria [for a Dark-Sky Community designation by the IDA] and on the other hand we don’t deserve it.” Fortunately, it is the IDA who determines whether Sedona meets the stringent requirements to be named a Dark-Sky Community and it is the IDA who determines whether Sedona deserves it.
To set the record straight: the IDA did not lower its standards when it designated Sedona as a Dark-Sky Community. In fact, Sedona was held to a higher standard than the Dark-Sky Communities designated before because the IDA raised the bar specifically for Sedona, not for any other applicant for the Dark-Sky Community designation before Sedona’s.
The Dark Skies movement started with professional and amateur astronomers alarmed that nocturnal skyglow from urban areas was blotting out the sight of stars.
The additional IDA outdoor lighting requirements levied on the City were met when two new lighting policies were adopted by the City Council on June 24, 2014. With this, the IDA determined Sedona had passed the higher-bar hurdle and granted Sedona the Dark-Sky Community designation.
And from now on, all applicants for the Dark-Sky Community designation by the IDA will be held to that higher standard. Sedona’s successful efforts for earning the designation thus set the bar higher than it was before, and as a result will make all future Dark-Sky Communities even better.
This designation calls for celebration by all who proclaim to care for Sedona’s dark sky, and for working together to preserve dark skies for future generations.
If you need further verification of the Sedona Dark-Sky Community designation, please contact John Barentine at the IDA office in Tucson, John@darksky.org.
Joanne KendrickChair, Dark-Sky Committee Keep Sedona Beautiful
For the best Arizona news and views, read www.SedonaEye.com daily!
We believe that it wasn’t deserved. We’ve worked on coordinating a dark skies friendly town and the rules today aren’t as strict as earlier, and we’re led to believe it’s because cities and towns couldn’t meet the criteria. Sedona has as many lights per city block as the most urban areas of Phoenix and no matter if you point them down or up, it changes the sky & causes surrounding animals to suffer by disturbing noctural habits. Your Village of Oak Creek qualifies hands down and CV does. Sedona and Flagstaff do not.
Of course there will always be those who disagree with the decision. However, it wasn’t up to adversaries to determine the dark sky qualification. Therefore, grow up, stop whining, get over it, and bury your sour grapes. They will be of better use as fertilizer.
In the meantime, congratulations to KSB who in spite of egotistical opposition achieved this honorable designation. Let it go. Let it rest in peace.
Andy: Ditto….
Good work getting designation.