Mayor Jacob Frey’s city budget plan calls for $9 million to help replace and repair streetlights city-wide, a plan championed by Fourth Ward City Councilmember LaTrisha Vetaw.
“I think every council member probably has an area in their ward that’s going to benefit from this allocation,” Vetaw said. ““We know that lit up streets deter crime and criminals, and we know this is something we can do as a city, and that this is something cities should be doing.”
Beyond the basic safety issues that darkened streets pose, Vetaw said it’s a “livability” issue, and cited the improved LED lighting in her ward.
“We have over 400 (streetlights along the Lyndale corridor) that aren’t LED, and we’ve been doing a pilot with the LED and people love them,” she said. “You can see the difference.”
Vetaw encourages anyone who experiences issues with street lighting to call the city’s non-emergency number 311.
“There’s dark spots in the city where there is no street lights. There’s spots where a boulevard tree may be covering a street light, so we have to get the park board involved,” said Vetaw. “Yes, people call in—it’s frustrating.”
Residents and council members have a chance to ask questions and share input about the budget plan as a whole at two more public hearings on Tuesday night and then again on December 6th.