Just last month, Paul Krugman wrote an op ed piece in The New York Times describing how cities across the U.S. are cutting back on street lights in a desperate attempt to save money. It’s certainly true of Santa Cruz, where in many neighborhoods the only street lights are at intersections, leaving the rest of the block in the dark. This, say local residents, is conducive to car thefts and home invasions.
To counter the problem, Take Back Santa Cruz is encouraging residents to purchase an energy efficient porch light and to keep it on every night. The added cost to the electricity bill is just $10 per year, a reasonable price to pay for home safety. Timers are available, they add, for people who simply forget to turn the porch light on.
The program has the support of the SCPD and the public works department, both of which encourage families to keep their porch lights on throughout the night. If the city can’t take care of street lighting, at least the residents can do something. Read more at Fox35.
