Beyond Today
A Chicago neighborhood project for environmental and social justice.
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Beyond Today
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Beyond Today Newsletter May 31, 2012 -------------------- I became aware of the new streetlights one fine spring evening at dusk, on Cullom, coming back from the store. I suddenly realized, that on that block there was no dusk. But rather, the mall-like, never-ending midday. New brighter lights above the street, new bright lights for the sidewalk, new shiny stainless steel poles. Who asked for this? I wondered.
In these times of deficit, no money, cut the pensions, privatize the garbage man job,
why are we buying new Cadillac street lights?
Efficiency, said the city person. The new LED fixture uses much less energy.
So, rather than save on reduced consumption, we double the lights to include sidewalk illumination?
For the first time ever?
Didn't need it during the last century. Now, a super-sized necessity?
I didn't see any petition drive for new lights, or for sidewalk lighting.
I don't recall sit-ins and demonstration for sidewalk lights.
I cannot understand why new fixtures couldn't be mounted on existing light poles.
The city intends to replace every light pole in the city!
Why?
Who is paying?
And, (god, I'm getting old) who is the contract going to?
Safety! Security! Says the city.
It's proven! More lights, safer community.
Except for Highland park, Evanston, Wilmette, where tiny yellowed globes flicker in 19th century street fixtures and no one gets murdered.
It's proven, said the Parks official. "More lights equals better park" as they rammed through the placement of giant light towers at Horner Park.
More lights makes a community safer. And more makes it more safer.
And yet, in our community, mercury vapor, sodium, or LED the crime situation maintains its low grade chronic presence. It goes up when jobs go down.
It goes on day and night, tho day could hardly be brighter.
My dear neighbor Celeste was right when she said that years ago, when the city went on another such binge to double the lumens in our alley lights, lighting up our bedrooms like a Broadway stage. A group of neighbors rode through the alley standing on top of a van, blacking out the sides of the light fixture for neighbors who preferred darkness when they sleep.
The city got so many complaints about the overly bright lights, they agreed to insert metal shields inside the fixture to block the spotlights on request.
It might just be personal preference.
Some people want the night lit up. Some want it turned off.
Our corner streetlight has been out for some months and I feel so blessed when I come to the block and feel its dark welcome.
Maybe I'm a vampire!
But, the fact that someone is going to make a pile of money over an unnecessary "improvement" is sickening at any time, but particularly now when government claims the need to cut, cut, cut.
To fight crime, care for each other.
Heal the economy.
Invest in people and jobs with benefits and health care.
I have the most nifty solar-powered motion activated back porch light.
Maybe the old poles could be fitted with solar collectors, battery packs and motion detection equipment, to turn on only when needed.
Otherwise, we would be illuminated only by the stars and planets and moon.
Like our ancestors.
Please enjoy, my little song, attached here,
Pete Leki
Turn Those Lights Out, written by Pete Leki, sung by Pete Leki and Miki Greenberg
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