Ask Jo Anne

Fear not…The City is NOT going to be turning off ALL the street lights in Santa Rosa.  But yes, they are going to be turning off some of them.  Will they be turning off some of the street lights in your neighborhood?  Since you didn’t tell me where you live, I don’t know for sure but my guess is that they will be. 

Is there anything you can do about it?  Yes!  Go the City’s website (www.srcity.org/streetlights) and get familiar with the specifics of the Street Light Reduction Program.  After that, contact Rick Moshier, Director of Public Works (RMoshier@srcity.org).  Talk to Rick before Public Works comes into your neighborhood and starts reducing the street lights.

First off, let me tell you why the City is going to reduce the number of street lights.  The City is trying to save money and reducing the number of street lights will save the City approximately $400,000 a year.  In addition, we'll save an estimated 1,000 tons of greenhouse gas emissions annually.

Many people I speak with are glad that the City will be saving money but are worried that there's going to be an increase in crime in their neighborhood. They worry that there is already a high number of both car and home break-ins and the reduction of street lights will just increase the crime.

According to the City, there hasn’t been a correlation between street lights and crime.  There are, however, other aspects of public safety that are enhanced by the presence of street lighting. Some of these other issues include: crossing intersections as a motorist, pedestrian or cyclist; identification of unusual or unexpected roadway features, such as tight curves, medians or traffic calming devices; and visual support of critical facilities such as hospitals and fire stations.

Before you talk with Rick, walk your neighborhood in the evening.  See if there are any street lights that are already out.  If there is a street light out, call the City at 707-543-4305 to report it.  (You want to make sure that all the street lights are on before the City starts the Street Light Reduction Program in your area.)

Figure out which existing street lights will remain on throughout the night using the criteria from the City.  Are there any areas where you feel the safety of the public might be compromised if the street lights are turned off?  Make a list of the existing street lights that you feel would jeopardize public safety if they are turned off.  That way you can have more specific information to give to Rick about your neighborhood.  Remember, the City has guidelines that they want to follow for reducing the number of street lights.  At the same time, they want to hear from residents with specific input about the program in their neighborhood.

Just so you know, the City has already started turning off street lights in the greater Junior College neighborhoods.  They have met with neighborhood leaders to make this transition as easy as possible.  What has impressed me about this process is that there is actually a dialogue that takes place and the people that I've spoken with in the JC neighborhood actually like the reduction in street lights.  (Personally, I was surprised to hear that!)

For my part, I would like this dialogue between the City and the neighborhoods to happen all throughout Santa Rosa.  One of the roadblocks I see is that the city of Santa Rosa does not know who in the neighborhood to call to talk about the Street Light Reduction Program.  At the same time, I hear from many people don't feel that they have any voice in what the City does "to" them.  So....Here's an opportunity to connect the city of Santa Rosa with its residents.

Be sure to contact Rick Moshier (RMoshier@srcity.org) and let him know that you and your neighbors are interested in talking to him about the Street Light Reduction Program. 

And…did you know that there is a Neighborhood Alliance in Santa Rosa?  Neighborhood leaders throughout Santa Rosa are getting together to become a larger voice in the City.  We want to take a more proactive role in creating a dialogue with the City.

Remember, there are a lot more issues in the City besides street lights that affect you and your neighborhood.  I urge you to find out more about the Neighborhood Alliance so you can have your voice heard by the City.  Contact Jim Wilkinson (jimwilkinson@earthlink.net) or go to Facebook  (www.facebook.com/neighborhoodalliancesantarosa).  The more people we have involved in the community, the larger the voice we will have in the City.