Agreed! It's harder and harder to see stars.

Light pollution has many sources in the neighborhoods. Previous discussions with DTE and a long time ago with the City, is all street lights are to illuminate "public right of way" not private residential property, not yards, bedrooms and kitchens. DTE does cone the older light fixtures to direct the light to where it is suppose to be, which is the intersections and public property only. Private residential property owners do have the right to remove unwanted and unnecessary over lighting. You own the property, your name is on the tax roll. You have the right to the the use and enjoyment of YOUR property without this nuisance. I have had quite a few homeowners speak to us in this past year of light pollution and glare into their houses and property from other neighbors outdoor garage and back yard lights illuminating far beyond where the source of the light originates-far beyond that person's property -taking away their rights of another while that owner can't even see their own lights, does not have them shining in their windows including bedroom, and have all their windows closed and shut up--One can safely illuminate their own property without taking away the privacy, security, safety and rights others of which they are not entitled. Stray lighting, over lighting and glare are real problems of light pollution, as well as wasted energy-it is damaging to both people and the environment as a whole. Stats all over the country bear this out.

If your neighbor lights up his/her backyard and yours, then it is nuisance lighting. Light pollution is unhealthy. Learn more at http://www.darksky.org/

There are some simple lighting guidelines at http://www.darksky.org/assets/documents/SimpleGuidelines.pdf. The City of Rochester would do well to adopt these guidelines as a Good Neighbor Lighting Policy and for a new and valuable City of Rochester Lighting Ordinance.

The initial comment by Ray has been discussed by neighbors-many don't want the illumination/glare into their 2nd story bedrooms or across the face of their house including windows-others would like the peace & serenity of the night that they are entitled to in a residential area. The question is "what purpose is served to illuminate a bedroom or back yard by a street light? It has nothing to do with cars on the street, the intersection or public right of way, so what is the purpose?" None.The new bulbs are being retro fitted into the old light fixtures. DTE will still cone them. By us, a neighbor actually took it upon themselves to construct a cone for a street light & put it up themselves-they had it with the light pollution & the interior of the house and back yard illuminated during the evening & night-they were more than frustrated while their neighbors enjoyed the evenings & nights for the same taxation-it is hard to see your neighbor have a better quality of life and use of property for the same taxation that you are denied due to this when it is so easily remedied. I agree we do not need to be illuminated like Comerica Park in our neighborhoods and as other cites have proven, by better lighting, both public and private, you have better visibility, quality of life, crime and vandalism decrease, you retain the ambience or gain a better ambience of the neighborhood. Again benefits far outweigh any arguments of negativity.

Many cities our size and slightly larger have adopted or are close to adopting very simple light policies/ordinances for residential use and it simply states light and illumination stay on the property where it originates--that takes care of all the problems- after all, when you live in a city or urban area, you should be even more considerate not to over extend your light illumination and glare into someone else's private property and effect their rights. There is no reason to. I think our Planning Commission is moving forward in a direction that will help alleviate some of these problems. Now a lighting plan is submitted along with the site and proposed construction. Also, many homeowners here in Rochester do light appropriate, do not pollute and shield their lights from trespassing because they are good neighbors and they do not extend their rights into their neighbors property or interior of houses they do not own unlike others.
They set a good example and they are to be commended.

I would imagine the new light fixtures are using LED lighting which is much brighter and whiter. While these cost more to purchase, they are much more efficient but much more bright and sterile. Have you walked downtown recently? There are 8 of these monsters at each intersection and are really bright!

Just try to do some star gazing ...
This pic says it all.....
http://www.greatlakesmapping.org/sites/default/files/stressors/pictures/Lights_at_Night_GreatLakes_SpaceStation_0.jpg

I've been in Rochester for 30 years now, we used to enjoy the fireflies at twilight. With all the neighboring light we don't see them anymore. You are right Frank D. light pollution in our area really obscures the stars in the night sky. I also agree with Patricia Kane.

We lost ambience and of course the enjoyment of the evenings and night. We don't see stars and Ed is right-the unnecessary over lighting has impacted the environment. When I was north of here-the stars and the skies were like what we use to enjoy from our porch and yard--not any more--no more Southern Cross or Big Dipper, or the planets. We lost watching the fireflies as well-can't have a window open in summer for fresh air unless you want artificial light spillover and glare in your face, and that is sad. I am all for lighting your own property-but no reason to illuminate beyond your property. If we are "Green", that does not mean just re-cylce and building materials, it means controlling light pollution, stray light as well. I guess to some people, leading by example and leaving kids a better environment-- restoring as best we can what we have diminished is of little consequence. Some just don't care. What is both sad and absurd is the people with the over lighting keep their windows all shuttered up and make sure their lights aren't directed into their windows and in some cases not even into their property. Frank, that was a great link. Thanks.

The people a hundred yards east of me clear the other side of a main road just bought a house and installed 'security' lighting on their garage. When they come in and out late at night the spots project a pattern of branches and twigs on the wall opposite my picture window like a slide projector. I can hardly wait for summer so the leaves at least temper that glare.

If all these other cities could easily put in place without compliance problems in residential that light stays on the property where it originates, problems solved. People would not have to spend money to get their property rights back. It is simple, clear and concise. To have your property rights taken away by over lighting effects the environment, your use of your property, the peace and serenity of the night, your quality of life, wastes your hard earned tax money that pays for your property that you cant use, effects your visibility and safety, takes away your privacy on and in your property and house, and effects rest and eye health. In certain cases, it de-values your property and most certainly takes away from the "marketed" quality of life that cities use to pump up residential values. In addition it "litters" your property and the inside of your house with garbage you can't pick up and throw out--it is unwanted and unnecessary. This is pollution, another form of garbage and waste. Not "green" and not respectful of others property.

This is an added note-thanks to those who have spoken with me about their problems. I would urge all to contact the City of Rochester again. If you wrote before & retained a copy of your letter, enclose or reference it. It appears the complaints are carriage lights from garages, back & side doors & back yards through not only the yard where the light originates, but other entire yards & houses as well. We are familiar with those types of problems. One neighbor enjoys their property-and one can't due to the interference and yet the tax is levied at the same rate. The Nuisance Light Ordinance was written to remove the nuisance when the offending party will not do it voluntarily. What a shame. Sadly, it goes back to respect, boundaries, ownership & property rights on your property. It can be a single carriage light causing the problem or or 6 or 8 carriage lights-it's still the same- But again, I urge those to open the lines of communication again with the city direct. It is your tax money and it's your property. I would hope it will not be 1 or 2 years for any of you to regain what you have lost. It is frustrating & even worse when a neighbor's attitude is that of entitlement to your property. The Good Neighbor Policy alone states that in exercising your rights you can not take your neighbors rights away. So in illuminating your yard, you should not illuminate through your neighbors entire yard or house if they object-that is their right.
Keep me in the loop.

I had no idea there was an International Dark Sky Association:

http://www.darksky.org/education/99-quick-reference-materials

Here's a practical guide to the issue of light pollution:

http://www.darksky.org/assets/documents/PG1-light-pollution.pdf

Very informative.

I am amazed to see houses (even in the daytime) in our older section of town with 9 carriage lights lit on just one side of the house alone and the homeowners home.
So unnecessary and inconsiderate of others property. Carriage lights can be fitted to prevent glare and stray light with adjustments. The part is sold and easily fitted into most carriage lights- no glare, no trespass and better for other property values, visibility, use of property, privacy, safety, health and the environment and still provides the illumination to that property. One of our neighbors spoke to another neighbor about their carriage light and they dimmed it, another neighbor changed their light fixture to keep the illumination on their own property and not their neighbors. Another neighbor shielded their light, and another actually said there was no reason to keep it on all night unless they needed it, they also changed to a much lower bulb and still have plenty of visibility--some people are lucky to have caring neighbors that understand light pollution and property rights--others...not so lucky. When you view the sky in any direction even at 2 or 3 am, the artificial canopy of "light" is terrible. There is no nighttime or the peace & serenity of the needed darkness that people, animals and plants need to thrive and be healthy. It is unnecessary to pollute more than your property. There are a few examples right in our area and over lighting into 4 properties certainly falls into category.