If you care much about the astronomy industry in Arizona, you should give Gov. Jan Brewer a call and urge her to veto a bill allowing electronic billboards with glowing lights along Arizona highways.
And you should care about the astronomy industry, because space and planetary research is worth $250 million a year to the state. Plus, it's way cool to be part of the space program.
And if there's a big threat to the industry, it's light pollution, which is why astronomers spend a lot of time fighting to reduce or mitigate outdoor lighting.
House Bill 2757, which is a gigantic giveaway to the billboard lobby, would allow billboards to flash electronic messages into our dark skies. It passed the Senate on a 20-8 vote last week and is headed for Brewer’s desk.
Let’s not let this one go through without a fight. Dial the governor, toll-free, at 1-800-253-0883, and tell her to veto HB 2757.
