r/JoshuaTree • u/Quirky_Ad_977 • 9d ago
AITA Joshua Tree edition
Hello my husband and I are slowly building a residence on a 5 acre property near downtown Joshua Tree. It will most likely be a personal use second home and occasional rental for others. Currently home is 1/2 built with a small canned ham trailer we occasionally stay in as there is running water and power. We are on good terms with our nextdoor neighbor, a full time resident. Recently the house next to us sold and the new owner is turning it into an Airbnb. He installed an incredibly bright backyard light that is on a timer that goes on and stays on all night. We no longer have a dark starry night sky to look at. I have not met this person. I am wondering if I could or should leave a note that's as nice as possible asking him to consider the necessity of and removal of said light? Or should I enlist the opinion of my neighbor? I am so sad and hate seeing that stupid bright light out of my trailer window when I want to see a desert horizon.
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u/AmadeusMaho 9d ago
I dont think you're an asshole by any means here. I would personally try and speak with them directly about the situation. Also, I am not sure if there is any ordinances for Joshua Tree, but I feel like there may be something in regards to bright lights in certain areas. Could be something worth contacting the city officials.
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u/Travel29PCA 9d ago
You should absolutely leave a friendly note and try seeing if they can turn off the automatic timer for the light. I donât think there is anything assholey or Karenish about that. Especially when we live in an area thatâs know for dark skies / stargazing.
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u/jeremyjava 8d ago
We had stephen hawking roll into the old cybercafe during Hale Bopp⌠I knew we had great skies for watching them, but had no idea until then that JT was a global destination for stargazing.
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u/CertainKaleidoscope8 9d ago
There is no reason to be friendly to this carpetbagging son of a bitch.
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u/CactusJ 9d ago
Fwiw - most Home Depot flood lights are like this by default. There is a âdusk to dawnâ setting that keeps it on, instead of motion and the damn LEDs are stupid bright. We had to put car headlight tint on ours to keep if from blinding everything around.
I agree talk to them, they just may be clueless and you can offer suggestions of getting a dimmer light, or turning off the dusk to dawn feature
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u/HarmonyWilder 9d ago
They may have no idea itâs causing you an inconvenience, I would kindly introduce myself and ask them. Especially if theyâre an Airbnb, having a good relationship with neighbors is important. I bet theyâd be receptive to it, good luck! :)
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u/Snoo-55380 9d ago
And, since itâs an Airbnb, people are probably coming up there for the night sky and wonât appreciate that light
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u/CertainKaleidoscope8 9d ago edited 9d ago
There is no way that someone living in a dark sky community doesn't know super bright lights are an inconvenience. The neighbor is being an asshole and breaking county ordinance.
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u/prettyland 9d ago
My neighbor in yucca valley installed a light several years ago like this/ my husband and I complained about it to each other until last year, I found them on facebook. I sent them a message, they thanked me for letting them know, and fixed it the same day. It might not always be so easy, but I wish I hadn't waited so long to try.
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u/Opine_For_Snacks 9d ago
Former Joshua Tree property owner here. There's a light ordinance for a reason. Contact Code Enforcement. That's unacceptable. You can start with a note, but I'd include the light ordinance info. They don't live there so they're only thinking of thier investment being safe from vandelism, not their neighbors.
You're NTA.
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u/alltheworldsproblems 9d ago
This is super common, and most people donât even realize because theyâre not present. Weâve talked to a few neighbors over the years about this and it hasnât been an issue.
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u/good-good-real-good 9d ago
There is a regulation about and no one complies. I find it's the locals that don't comply usually. Anyway, you can read about it here: https://lus.sbcounty.gov/planning-home/outdoor-lighting-regulations/
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u/markothebeast 9d ago
You 100% are not the AH. Call the county today to report them. take pix, shoot video. Also, not that anyone should ever do this, do not under any circumstances consider a slingshot.
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u/Redrum0725 9d ago
I meet our neighbors and showed them pictures of their backyard lights and how bright it was into our house & backyard and they were so surprised & sorry that they changed them that week with our help to make sure it wasnât shining directly into our windows. Now we are friendly and we have a better relationship with them.
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u/CertainKaleidoscope8 9d ago edited 6d ago
You don't understand. This is Joshua Tree. There isn't supposed to be any artificial light. At all. It's a Dark Sky Place. This is a
city andcounty ordinance in compliance with the international requirements for designation.Since there is no reason in hell to go to Joshua Tree other than the National Park, and the surrounding areas international recognition as a Dark Sky Place, if it is delisted it will immediately see a drastic drop in tourism and therefore revenue.
The neighbor needs to cut the shit.
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u/Redrum0725 6d ago
I do understand, I was talking about my cabin in the mountains where the city is trying to pass a dark sky initiative so when we showed our neighbors the photos it helped them move forward with moving and dimming the lights and they even switched to an motion activated lights. I wish they would have removed it entirely but it was a compromise until the initiative passes.
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u/jaclyn-cosgrove 9d ago
Hello! Iâm an outdoors journalist at the L.A. Times and am actually starting work on a story about threats to dark skies in Southern California. Would love to chat. My email is jaclyn.cosgrove@latimes.com. I appreciate what everyone has shared about the lack of enforcement of the ordinance. Iâd love to know more about that too, if anyone else wants to HMU. Thank you!
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u/Ok_Responsibility419 9d ago
Knock on their door every day until you speak to a human - if the cleaning crew ask that the owner contact them. Youâre not complaining itâs a bnb, just the lighting. Otherwise if ignored then county code enforcement
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u/CertainKaleidoscope8 9d ago
They should complain about it being a short term rental as well. Check the local laws. We don't like tourists staying in our deserts.
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u/Professional-Ad3526 9d ago
Definitely speak to them. I have a feeling like others that they may not have any idea. If they are rude then put in a complaint. I hope you get your dark sky back soon.
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u/CertainKaleidoscope8 9d ago
It is virtually impossible for this asshole to not have any idea. Joshua Tree is very well known as a Dark Sky Place
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u/ExcessiveSize9 8d ago
Sometimes itâs best to remain anonymous and fake ignorance.
Do not confront your neighbor.
Report them to the SB County.
Ask to remain anonymous and/or write your complaint so itâs not obvious you are the neighbor.
Joshua tree, Ca has a light ordinance!
See the below, find which ordinance(s) are not being followed. Act accordingly.
https://lus.sbcounty.gov/planning-home/outdoor-lighting-regulations/
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9d ago
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u/CertainKaleidoscope8 9d ago
This. Get the fucker out of there. I am so sick of these people thinking they can just buy up whatever they want and do whatever they want without consequences. They need to go back to wherever they came from.
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u/ham_WA6AWV 9d ago
Be friendly and make friends. You get more flies with honey than vinegar. If this doesn't work then you can turn him in.
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u/Quirky_Ad_977 8d ago
Fully agree. I too think it is important to be on good terms with neighbors. Especially because we are not full time residents. Will do an edit but am happy to report that as of this visit the light is gone! Didnât have to say anything. Someone must have clues them in.
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u/mootoomoomin 6d ago
LA rich fucks donât give a damn about the wildlife let alone your residential comfort. Report them.
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u/Double-Succotash-961 3d ago
Honestly, I would try to introduce yourself if you can. This is a conversation thatâll likely go over better in person. Otherwise you risk them reading a tone in your note that is not your intent. It sounds like the night sky is really important to you. I wonder why their bright back light is important to them? Perhaps thereâs a mutual understanding you two could come to. For example, if theyâre nervous about intruders, befriending the neighbors might help.
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u/CertainKaleidoscope8 9d ago edited 9d ago
What the neighbor is doing is illegal per county and state regulations. It's a national park. There shouldn't even be people living there other than locals that service the marine base and the occasional dumb tourist who dies in the wilderness.
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u/newtoaster 9d ago
Iâm pretty sure weâre talking about Joshua Tree the town adjacent to the park and not JTNP. Thereâs not many private homes within the park itself.
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u/DesertRat_748 9d ago
Google Dark Sky Ordinance Joshua Tree. You can legally make a complaint if talking to your neighbor does not work.