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Page 8 PHOENIX February 21,1974The Great High intensity Light Debate:Govt. Report: Trees Harmed;Locals Take Varying StandsBY JOHN BLACKMOREThe response of community residents has been mixed concerning the ongoing installation program of high-intensity sodium security lights throughout the borough and the city. While it is generally agreed that such anticrime programs are indeed desirable, the publication of a U.S. Department of Agriculture Report, %u201cSecurity Lighting and Its Impact on the Landscape%u2019%u2019 by Dr. Henry Cathey, has resulted in a rising concern that the new lights may have a deleterious effect on newlyplanted trees along Brooklyn%u2019s streets.As reported last month in the PHOENIX Dr. Cathey compared the effects of five types of light sources on 22 different species of plants under controlled conditions. He found that significant damage occured to several species, including the Norway Maple and London Plane Tree which are so popular in current tree planting programs after exposure to incandescent and high-intensity sodium lighting.The city's Bureau of Gas and Electricity has played down the significance of the Cathey report, citing the need for anti-crime lighting and pressing community demand as more important factors than the possibility of damage tc trees in their decision to continue the installation program.s w -mmsE ffi.m mWE'VE BOUGHT UPRECTORY OVER-BUNSO F THE MOST DURA&LEAND HANDSOMEWORSTED CARPELS.DESIGNED TOR USEIN OFFICE BUILDINGS,THEVRE GUARANTEEDID LAST FOR YEARS.W E ALSO OFFER THEMAT A FRACTION. OFTUEIRORI6INN. PRICE.D. Ki M i m 6 SonV %u2014 ^ 3 2 .1 d e a n s t r e e t5E X <51(0 b - 4%u2122 AVENUESTU5-2Z2.5LHowever, certain community organizations disagree. The Brooklyn Heights Association has requested the Bureau to conduct definitive tests to show that the lights are not deleterious to trees. According the George Silver, Chairman of BHA%u2019s Environment Committee, the Bureau responded to their request by %u201cbegging the question.%u201d %u201cThey said that they were certain there wouldn't be any problem, and left it at that,%u201d said Silver, who feels there should at least be a public hearing on the matter. %u201cWe didn%u2019t anticipate it, but the response to the installation program has been very strong. The people are not necessarily antilights, all we%u2019re asking for is a little cooperation from the Bureau.%u201d According to Kevin Brooks, President of the United Block Association of Park Slope, there hasn%u2019t been much of a negative outcry concerning the lights. A number of block associations in the Slope have met in the past month to assess the value of the lights. Mort Wiener, President of the Sixth Street Prospect Park West Association, reported that his group met in January to consider the program. %u201cWe%u2019ve accepted the lights as an accomplished fact, and while there were some objections, most were for it,%u201d Wiener said, %u201cYou have to weigh the values of the matter. If it%u2019s a choice between the trees and a mugging, we%u2019d rather lose the trees.%u201dMeanwhile, the PHOENIX has received a rebuttle to the conclusions drawn from Dr. Cathey%u2019s report from Charles P. Mazza, Special Assistant to the Director of the Brooklyn Botanic Garden. Mazza took exception to those who \and an over-zealous spirit instead of rational thought.%u201d While he didEEAE&BEANImported Teasoand Coffees103-7 Ava. 789-5253Variety Mart136 M ontague Street Ul 2- 1309 Lamps and Lampshadesnot take issue with any of the particulars of Dr. Cathey%u2019s study, he said he %u201cdoesn%u2019t see sufficient reason to hold up the street lighting program,%u2014there%u2019s just not enough evidence.%u201dHe pointed out that the conditions under which Cathey%u2019s experiments took place were %u201cnecessarily controlled,%u201d and thus cannot be extrapolated to real life conditions. %u201cWe cannot draw an immediate conclusion that our maturing London plane trees planted on the streets will react in the same way or to the same degree as Dr. Cathey%u2019s plants grown under experimentally controlled conditions.%u201dHe further commented that %u201cwinterkill, or winter damage to a segment of a branch or twig, is a common occurance on many trees and shrubbs and happens for various reasons.%u201d %u201cThe degree of winterkill is usually neglible,%u201d he added. However, Cathey%u2019s report indicated that the affected trees, particularly the London planes, suffered more than negligible damage. %u201cWinter dieback was severe on the lighted trees during the following Spring,%u201d Cathey reported.Mazza concluded that more studies were indicated particularly in naturalistic settings, before any firm conclusion can be drawn. He did suggest that until that time species not found suspect to damage might be used, such as the Willow oak or the Bradford Callery pear.One observation that has been reported by a number of residents is retention of fall leaves after the onset of winter. There has been some concern that this phenomenon was related to the effects of the new lights. %u201cNot so,%u201d said Mazza, %u201cthey%u2019re probably referring to the oak trees, which tend to retain their leaves every year. Mazza said that the Botanic Garden does not intend to pursue any research in this area.%u201cWe%u2019ll just have to wait until\\ We Swing \\*0 Both Ways \\S ( MEN