WHERE IT STARTED
When the movie Public Enemies and Universal decided to film a good bit of their movie in Columbus I started this blog as the local newspaper only came out once a week. It was all Public Enemies and locations and information and photos. I was even invited to Oshkosh as an extra because of the blog. After the movie came out I was contacted by Universal and the asst Director thanking me for the entertainment and they said BECAUSE of me they had to put out false locations for shooting.
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FUN FACT - In Oshkosh I went into a restaurant and a whole table of woman screamed when I walked in IT'S THE BLOGGER!! and I got a free meal, BUT I digress with memories.
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1,219,749 pages read later (although the only working counter only says 759,008) so here I go again.
FOUND IT - OH up to 1,719,819 pages read
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Once the movie (and international attention) was over I switched to my thoughts about the city government and calling them out for their incompetence which accidently got me voted into being an alderman much to my dismay. It seems citizens of Columbus agree with my random words.
All was well as the government FOR THE MOST PART got much better. OH - there are a few unforced errors lately but it was fine UNTIL Columbus Utilities and their manager Dalton Hiley decided to gaslight me (not my words but from a nearby business that agrees with me) and 8 other houses on our circle.
You see Columbus Utilities erected a spot light at the southern sub station that shines into our house and creates shadows on our walls at night. Every night when I get up to pee THERE IT IS SHINING ON MY ASS creating a shadow on the walls inside my own house
OH - I but was told there is no such light.
BACK STORY - I contacted the very nice business manager at the Columbus office that I knew very well as I was good friends of the previous head person of Columbus Water and Light and she completely agreed with my problem and she said they would look into it.
They did move the light down which LOOKS like it would have worked (see photo) BUT - it did not. The LED spotlight has SO SO much flair we did not even notice one bit that it was lowered. As you see you would THINK this would alleviate the issue but the light is SO inefficient it did basically nothing
Here is what it looks like at night - it peaks JUST over Enerpac hill right into our house.
The reason for the light I was told was they NEEDED the light was "security" but then that was changed to the workers need lights to work on the stuff at night. It's about 250 yards away and shines on 8 houses at 3 LUX (2 LUX over the limit on the city ordinance)
I contacted Columbus Utilities and the very nice manager said I would have to contact Dalton Hiley who literally said in an email " I understand your concern and annoyance with the new security lights but I ensure you it is for the greater good." "THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME".
WTF?
Who else says that constantly on X. Does that sound at all familiar with Iran speak? Gas prices are high but do you want to be nuked? Live with it? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME is cold, dismissive, and final. It shuts down a conversation. Is this a play book that is being used? I expected a LITTEL more from the Columbus Utility Manager.
" As for now the light will remain in service, I will look into potential areas the light can be relocated. Feel free to reach out with any on going concerns."
BUT WAIT - it gets WAY worse.
I made references to city ordinances Sec. 114-127. - Lighting All outdoor lighting including that used to illuminate off-street parking areas shall be shielded or otherwise optically controlled so as to provide glareless illumination in such a manner as not to create a nuisance on adjacent property. It's right there in writing.
Totally 100% IGNORED! The spotlight was not there when we moved here - if it was we certainly would not have built our house on that spot.
THEN
"Visual inspection of the property between 300 Vista Circle and the substation visible found no light on the fairway or on Curt Hanson’s land."
Yea - tell that to the houses on VISTA - I seem to see the spot light everywhere!
The fairway is much lower then my house and is near Enerpac Hill so OF COURSE they saw no light - maybe try closer to the actual house?
So I contacted the Mayor and 6 alder people of which only ONE actually responded (thank you Ryan). I sent photos to all concerned - this one is just before the devil light goes off
And one from our deck where I USED to take astrophotography of stars which I no longer can enjoy.
We loved sitting on our screen in porch at night but NOW - we have a spotlight killing our nice calming view (look's MUCH worse but the camera is not my friend on this one).
But what REALLY riles me is they REALLY do not care at all about the citizens of Columbus. We pay some pretty large property tax but they don't care. OH they "understand your concern" DO THEY?
I have the UTMOST respect for the underpaid workers of CU - I was on the Water and Light Commission for 5 years and they do a FANTASTIC job for Columbus but management just does not care it seems. It's really a sad development.
I'm not sure the DOT love that light either
3. Put some sort of shade on the one part of the light AND it would still offer security- How hard is that - are they not electricians?
If they had a valid reason for not fixing the light I would have zero issues but so far its been vague excuses.
Please DON'T make me get elected again LOL
SO - that is my spiel - I will end up being irritated every night for the rest of my life I fear. Maybe I'll sneak up the hill and plant a pine tree. Or maybe erect a 2 foot fence.
Thanks for listening.
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WHEW - I see I need to fix some things on this blog if I keep it active. Sorry about any formatting errors. And REALLY - I'm a nice happy funny kind guy. I just hate being irritated EVERY freaking night.
PEACE out
Here is what it looks like at night - it peaks JUST over Enerpac hill right into our house.
I contacted Columbus Utilities and the very nice manager said I would have to contact Dalton Hiley who literally said in an email " I understand your concern and annoyance with the new security lights but I ensure you it is for the greater good." "THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME".
WTF?
Who else says that constantly on X. Does that sound at all familiar with Iran speak? Gas prices are high but do you want to be nuked? Live with it? THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME is cold, dismissive, and final. It shuts down a conversation. Is this a play book that is being used? I expected a LITTEL more from the Columbus Utility Manager.
" As for now the light will remain in service, I will look into potential areas the light can be relocated. Feel free to reach out with any on going concerns."
BUT WAIT - it gets WAY worse.
I made references to city ordinances Sec. 114-127. - Lighting All outdoor lighting including that used to illuminate off-street parking areas shall be shielded or otherwise optically controlled so as to provide glareless illumination in such a manner as not to create a nuisance on adjacent property. It's right there in writing.
Totally 100% IGNORED! The spotlight was not there when we moved here - if it was we certainly would not have built our house on that spot.
THEN
"Visual inspection of the property between 300 Vista Circle and the substation visible found no light on the fairway or on Curt Hanson’s land."
Yea - tell that to the houses on VISTA - I seem to see the spot light everywhere!
The fairway is much lower then my house and is near Enerpac Hill so OF COURSE they saw no light - maybe try closer to the actual house?
So I contacted the Mayor and 6 alder people of which only ONE actually responded (thank you Ryan). I sent photos to all concerned - this one is just before the devil light goes off
And one from our deck where I USED to take astrophotography of stars which I no longer can enjoy.
We loved sitting on our screen in porch at night but NOW - we have a spotlight killing our nice calming view (look's MUCH worse but the camera is not my friend on this one).
I have the UTMOST respect for the underpaid workers of CU - I was on the Water and Light Commission for 5 years and they do a FANTASTIC job for Columbus but management just does not care it seems. It's really a sad development.
I'm not sure the DOT love that light either
SO - my BIG complaint about people who complains is . . . IF you have a complaint - how about a way to fix it. WELL - It would be FREAKING EASY!!!
1. Shine the Devil light straight down - there is so much light leakage from this inefficient LED ( who's idea was this light?) that it would still light up the main area. AND it would still offer security. How hard is that - are they not electricians?
1. Shine the Devil light straight down - there is so much light leakage from this inefficient LED ( who's idea was this light?) that it would still light up the main area. AND it would still offer security. How hard is that - are they not electricians?
2. Move the entire light down 2 feet so it does not shine OVER Enerpac hill AND it would still offer security- How hard is that - are they not electricians?
3. Put some sort of shade on the one part of the light AND it would still offer security- How hard is that - are they not electricians?
If they had a valid reason for not fixing the light I would have zero issues but so far its been vague excuses.
Please DON'T make me get elected again LOL
SO - that is my spiel - I will end up being irritated every night for the rest of my life I fear. Maybe I'll sneak up the hill and plant a pine tree. Or maybe erect a 2 foot fence.
Thanks for listening.
-------
WHEW - I see I need to fix some things on this blog if I keep it active. Sorry about any formatting errors. And REALLY - I'm a nice happy funny kind guy. I just hate being irritated EVERY freaking night.
PEACE out
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