I would like everyone to know that there is a lot going on in Cambridge concerning light pollution. There is a proposed Outdoor Lighting Ordinance before the Cambridge City Council. It has been referred to the ordinance committee which will schedule hearings on it in the next few weeks. 

More immediately and to the point, the Cambridge Board of Zoning Appeal will be hearing an appeal from lawyers for Zinc, a 150-foot apartment complex at 222 Water Street in the “North Point” area, at its meeting 7 p.m. Thursday, July 28, at the Senior Center, 808 Mass. Ave.

Although many people want to live in Cambridge, apparently not enough of them want to live at Zinc, hence an advertising gimmick by the Texas developers that consists of panels of color-changing LEDs on the roof (photo below). When the Zinc lights were first activated, East Cambridge residents who had turned off their lights for the night suddenly found their apartments fully illuminated. The city forced Zinc to turn the lights off, a decision being contest by the developer's attorneys who have argued that the lights  are “merely a design feature, similar to paint color…”  

Emails to the Zoning Board of Appeals would really help, as would attendance at the meeting. Emails should go to  mpacheco@cambridgema.gov  Begin your message:  "Ms. Pacheco, Please forward this email to the Board of Zoning Appeal members.