Nancy said:
<Something is wrong when the NRP contractor insists that ornamental lighting
is necessary to assure our safety, despite Prospect Park having one of the
lowest crime rates in the City, and a Department of Justice study showing
that lighting has no measurable effect on crime rates.>
This is a place where our city has taken an urban myth and made it reality.
We have spent a ton of taxpayers' money putting in more and more light
fixtures to reduce crime and it has been proven that it does not accomplish
that goal. When the half block lights went in several years ago, I didn't
want it on my alley corner because I already had one in my front yard and my
house would be a light up on all sides all night. I was told I had about a
month to get petition signatures from 3 of the 4 homes who bordered this
alley entrance. Two were on vacation and one had just passed away. While I
was talking to the city about it, they just came by and put up the light.
They didn't care one bit about science, logic, or neighborhood sensitivity.
They were only interested in putting up their lights. After the lights went
up, I had two cars vandalized and a robbery in my neighbors car among other
crimes. All of these crimes were committed right under the light!!
I am completely convinced that Nancy's situation is real. We have to stop
the madness of this lighting up the city like the 4th of July to reduce
crime - it doesn't work, it causes light pollution, stunts the growth of
trees and other plants, wastes energy (remember those high energy costs we
are paying) and costs taxpayers a great deal of money.
If we were going to do one thing to save money this next year in this city,
we should yank out all those 1/2 block lights or at least turn them all off.
And we should stop the proliferation of decorative lighting without removing
the industrial overhead fixtures. And if we wanted to reduce some crimes
like prostitution, we'd be better off talking about changing the color of
night lighting than just installing more fixtures.
Russell W. Peterson
Ward 9
Standish
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