A Slow Trickle in the Dark

The latest dismal financial news: Half the city's steetlights will be out in an effort to save $70,000.

Again, like last night's post, not good news.

I know there are a lot of people who are opposed to switching off the lights, for public safety reasons. Perfectly valid.

Let's do this here though: If you're opposed to a cut, whether it's the streetlights, PD, or somewhere else, that's cool. We all have priorities. But if you're against a cut, you have to realize that the money has to come from somewhere else. Where would you take money from to fund your priority? Or where would you find new money to pay for your priority? It's easy to say you want the streetlights on, but unfortunately we're at the point where you have to figure how to pay for something like that.

So, before you write a two-line rip job, think about it. Where would you get the $70,000 to fix the streetlights? And try to be specific. If you say "school dept.," that's fine, but say where. Two teachers? An adminstrator (one that isn't state mandated)? Maybe, just maybe, there's a good idea out there waiting to be discovered.

Turning off the Lights

As you may have read today, Mayor Lisa Wong talked last night about turning off some streetlights to save some money.

Of course, the immediate reaction is that this will create further lawlessness in the city and we're all doomed. A silly overreaction.

This isn't an unusual idea. Communities all over the place are considering turning the streetlights off at night, and some are doing it. I'm not sure how many are urban communities like Fitchburg, but it is something that thoughtfully planned makes sense.

There are obviously some high-crime areas that shouldn't be touched, but there are plenty of quiet, peaceful side streets that would likely be unaffected if the streetlights were out. I'm thinking of my street. I don't think I'd mind if the lights were out. How about some high-traffic streets like John Fitch? There's always traffic on that road. How about creating a random turn-off system, where there's no distinguishable pattern? (What, are the bad guys going to drive around town and find the area with the lights out?) How about turning lights off all night in some areas, but only for a few hours -- like maybe 5-8 p.m. in the winter when there's still a lot of traffic or 3-6 a.m. year-round when no one is out -- in others?

From what I can tell, no one is calling for a blackout of the city. With some planning, some common sense, and some logic, it makes no sense not to try it. If it doesn't work, it doesn't work, and the lights go back on again.