Springs seeks donations to power streetlights

Colorado Springs is hoping to begin a new program that will have city residents donate money to keep neighborhood and arterial streetlights running. The "Adopt a Streetlight" program comes only weeks after the city shut off approximately 10,000 streetlights, or about a third of the city's lights, in order to help shore up its imbalanced budget.

The city is currently setting up a system that will enable people to go online and donate to streetlights of their choice. There will be a prorated cost of $75 to keep residential neighborhood streetlights running and $200 to keep arterial/highway lights running. City officials will meet with the Housing and Building Association and Council of Neighbors and Organizations of Colorado Springs on March 10 to see if the two organizations approve of or have input for the program. Approval is not required to start the program, but intended to help progress the initiative.

With the city noticeably darker, Colorado Springs residents are divided on whether reversing the recent lack of lighting is worth the cost. Christie Flood, a Springs resident who lives on a street where many UCCS students park their cars and walk to campus, is considering donating.   

Flood feels that her taxes should cover the cost of keeping the streetlights running, but she is apprehensive about the safety of students and her neighborhood. "I want my streetlight back on," Flood said. "The only light you can see is the one on the corner; you couldn't see an animal run across the street. It's pitch black."

The attempted assault involving a female student on campus last January is fresh on Flood's mind as well, and has her concerned for students walking to and from their cars. "What worries me are these kids. People come up the street, and they might not be seen."

"It takes just one girl to get raped," added Flood. "A well-lit area is a safe area; if it's lit and someone sees something happening, then they can report it."

Some are embracing the darkness. The Dark Sky Society, an organization "interested in preserving the natural star-filled night sky and fighting the intrusion of light pollution," hopes that the lack of lighting will continue.

In addition to streetlights being shut off, Colorado Spring , in its attempt to eliminate a large budget deficit, has drastically cut Parks and Recreation expenditures, limited bus routes and teamed with city cab drivers, who will act as "observe and report" policemen, to compensate for a lack of sales tax revenue. With no measures on the November ballot to increase taxes, cut or eliminated programs and expenditures are likely to remain that way for some time.

"In 2011 there will be an estimated $27 million budget gap; people are going to be affected in more drastic ways in months to come," City Spokesperson John Leavitt stated. As for all the national attention the city has garnered because of the drastic budget cuts, Leavitt says, "It's a painful process to have to explain yourself on a national level."