Guest Column: City’s removal of street lights makes Rockford less safe
By Shannon Brands
A couple weeks ago, I noticed the street I live on became very dark at night. After noticing some of the street lights were missing, I decided to write the city a letter.
I wanted to share this with all of the residents of Rockford because it affects us all. This city needs to do something proactive about safety, and this is just a major step in the opposite direction.
I don’t know about the rest of the city, but it’s hard enough these days to pay your individual electric bill, much less pick up the city’s, too.
Here is the reply I received from the City of Rockford:
Ms. Brands,
Thank you for bringing your issue forward using the City of Rockford’s website.
I don’t think anyone is in favor of taking down street lights, however we can no longer pay the $3,000,000 light bill. We had to reduce the bill by $500,000 by taking down 2,300 lights out of the 14,000 that the city has. We pay an average of $20 per month per light. ComEd has until the end of the year to take those lights down at their cost.
They have taken down somewhere around 1,500 lights so far.
When we planned on what lights to take down, we did not look at the lights for public safety. We followed what street lights are intended to be, which is traffic safety and followed those guidelines. Meaning we have a light at an intersection, in front of schools, churches, etc. We took down mid-block lighting, unless it’s a long block. There are some exceptions to this, and I do understand Wesleyan is a somewhat curvy road.
We ask that you keep your porch lights or yard lights on at night, and get to know your neighbors and surroundings; it is one of the best anti-crime tools you have.
Alderman [Nancy] Johnson has approved this lighting reduction plan and has been in contact with us as well as the police department regarding any issues. I will make sure she is aware of your concerns as well, if you have not already contacted her.
One option I can offer is to contact ComEd new business, and they can provide a rental light that would be the same as a streetlight, except on a short bracket on the pole where there used to be a streetlight.
This would cost between $10-$15/month for you to rent. They power on and off at dusk and dawn, and maintenance is included in the rental fee.
If you are interested in this, you may contact 1-866-639-3531, press option 2, then 2 again and this will get you through to a live person to set up a referral.
If you have any more questions, please feel free to contact me at the number below or via e-mail.
Thank you again.
Regards,
Kelly Nokes
Assistant Operations Manager
Public Works Engineering Division
Office: (815) 967-6915
Shannon Brands is a Rockford resident.
From the Nov. 23-29, 2011, issue
Print This Article
7 Comments
why doesn’t the city of Rockford (whom is a very large customer of ComEd) negotiate a much more competitive rate with ComEd when it comes to stret light costs in particular? Seems like a no-brainer to me. Sure would be much more sensible than shutting off lights and jeopardizing people’s safety. Where Nancy Johnsons lives, are her neighborhoods’ lights turned off ? Just curious.
So, for $10-$15 I can get the same light the city pays $20 for? That would equal a savings to the city (without turning OFF a single light) of somewhere between $1.6 million and $800,000 per year simply by paying the same fee someone with a single light would pay. It seems that anyone with 3rd grade education could negotiate a better price on 14,000 lights than on one.
Remember this at election time.
Non-binding Resolution Denouncing Confiscatory Taxation and Redistributive Spending Priorities By The Federal Government
We the people of _______ (County, Township, City) are resolved as a council representing the community, do hereby lodge our formal complaint and displeasure with our Federal Government for taking an inordinate amount of our money via Taxes and wasting that money on various Federal Programs and expenses that have seriously impaired our ability as a (County, Township, City) to pay for local basic services needed to maintain the public safety and promote the common good of our community.
As an elected body representing the people of _______(County, Township, City), it is the purpose of this non-binding resolution to register our condemnation of the Federal Government’s unrestrained spending. It is our hope that in passing this resolution our Federal representatives will listen to the American people when we say that we are taxed enough and the Federal Government’s problem is one of out of control spending.
Our tax burden as individuals and businesses continually escalates in order to finance programs not appropriate under the Constitution’s original intent. While it is certainly a noble venture to give philanthropically, it is not an enumerated power for the Federal government to function as a philanthropic organization. The heavy burden of Federal taxation has limited our ability to give to the charities of our choice, to invest, to save, or to spend. The enormous Federal tax bill imposed on the residents of this community limits the available tax dollars for our local government.
The dwindling funds available at our local level has caused us to trim our budgets putting even the most basic of services in jeopardy. Yet Federal officials continue spending at unprecedented levels, taxes are increased, new taxes levied, debt continues to accumulate, and deficits climb to record highs. We do recognize the Federal government has its appropriate role, it does have its Constitutional obligations, but it also has limits.
History shows us that the current tax and spend philosophy and accompanying policies are a failure. History also shows that cutting taxes and Government spending works towards the goal of stimulating economic growth which is the only proven means of increasing revenue for the government.
We call upon Congress and the President to stop the economically destructive practices that are damaging this community and the futures of generations still to come. It is time for Congress and the President to only do those things obligated to them by the Constitution, which is the surest way to achieve the necessary cuts to bring the Federal budget into balance.
This non-binding resolution simply states what we feel as an elected body about the waste, fraud and abuse by the Federal Government in regard to our tax dollars. We do hereby respectfully request as a body that the Federal Government immediately begin downsizing and cutting Federal taxes to allow us as a local government entity the ability to collect an adequate amount of taxes while we also tighten our budgets in order to pay for basic services and public safety needs without placing undue hardships on our residents.
Respectfully and Sincerely
__________________(city, county, township)
Is the above from the Tea Party saying we should turn out all street lights? Stoplights also? Anything not mandated by the constitution… stop providing water, no sewage, no trash pick up, no plowing, no benefits for veterans, no research into illness, no air traffic controllers, etc.
Out of curiosity I have called the 1-866-639-3531 number that is listed but it has not been in service ever..there is just a recording saying ” you have reached a number that is not in service” What kind of a joke is that???
It is obvious that the elected officials have become out of touch with the people that they were elected to serve. It is an American right to feel safe and be safe in the community in which we live. Giving would be criminals an advantage not to be identified is a step backwards. Why form a neighborhood watch when you cannot see in the dark.
I am fascinated by the number of people who are concerned about “feeling” safe, but not interested in actually BEING safe. Stats and studies prove – over and over again! – that LESS lighting actually reduces crime, and MORE lighting increases it.
- FBI stat: 60% of crime happens during the DAY.
- Chicago study dark alley vs. lighted alley; darker alley saw decreased crime – lighted alley saw increased crime.
- Essex, England – 50% reduction in crime after turning off ALL streetlights.
Rockford has a high crime rate. Why wouldn’t you want to use PROVEN methods to reduce crime, i.e., turning OFF lights? Guess who else is afraid of the dark? CRIMINALS!
Don’t help them see you and what you have they can rob off of you. Let your eyes work as nature intended at night; to see movements. Glare/light diminishes that, and stats prove we are safer when darker.
Stop letting your emotions rule, and follow the facts: Darker = safer.