Critics say she’s not the brightest bulb!
A state lawmaker has a dim-witted plan that would force the Empire State Building and nearly all of New York City to go dark after 11 p.m. — but detractors say the plan would let criminals run wild under the cloak of night.
The “Dark Skies Protection Act,” sponsored by Manhattan Assemblywoman Deborah Glick, would require Big Apple businesses and residents to hit the off switch between 11 p.m. and 5 a.m. to save energy, help migratory birds and avoid “light pollution,” according to the proposed bill.
The goal is to “preserve and enhance the state’s dark sky while promoting safety for people, birds, and other wildlife, conserving energy and reducing our carbon footprint, and preserving the aesthetic qualities of the night sky,” the legislation declares.
“Our ancestors were able to experience a night sky full of stars, but now 80% of Americans can no longer see the Milky Way and experience its profound beauty.”
The bill, which would go into effect in January 2028, notes that lights “used for travel and public safety would be exempt.”
But critics were quick to mock the lights-out bill as no bright idea — saying Gotham in a blackout amounts to a dream for crooks, thugs and gangsters.
“Criminal gangs approve this message,” one observer wrote on X, skewering the bill Thursday.
“Good then criminals can maraud the populace under cover of darkness as intended!” another wrote sarcastically.
“What could go wrong?” another added.
Another user posted an image of a pitch black Manhattan, as others said the city that never sleeps could be forced to go to bed.
“I’m all for seeing the stars but New York is not exactly a safe place,” another wrote.
Glick, who announced she’ll retire later this year, also says the proposed bill would be a boon for migratory birds.
“Light pollution has many negative impacts, including the disruption of the natural patterns of wildlife, wasted energy and increased output of carbon dioxide and greenhouse gases, interruption of human sleep and other adverse health impacts, and the loss of the aesthetic qualities and cultural significance of the night sky,” it states.
“70 % of bird species migrate each year.And of those birds, 80 % migrate at night, using the night sky to help them navigate to and from their breeding grounds. However, as they pass over big cities on their way, they can become disoriented by bright artificial lights, often causing them to collide with buildings or windows,” the bill states.
If the far-fetched bill is unlikely to pass and doesn’t yet have a state senate sponsor.
“I guess Glick wants to push one last ridiculous idea before she retires,” NYS Conservative Party chairman Gerard Kassar said.
Glick didn’t immediately return requests for comment from The Post.
Additional reporting by Vaughn Golden
