Can somebody call Diane Sawyer?
Three years ago, Colorado Springs was thrust into the media spotlight when city officials decided turned off nearly 8,000 streetlights, among other drastic cost-cutting measures, because of budget constraints.
After tonight, all the darkened streetlights will be back on.
The development is unlikely to generate as much publicity, but Mayor Steve Bach is inviting the media to watch him “flip the switch” on the last darkened streetlight at 5 p.m. Monday.
The streetlight is on the northwest corner of Academy Boulevard and Constitution Avenue, according to the mayor’s office.
“Restoring the remaining 3,500 streetlights is one of the key community benefits in the city’s 2013 budget,” Bach said in a statement.
“With additional savings from 2012, we are glad to be able to restore this service to the citizens before the New Year,” he said.
Here’s some background from the city:
In 2009, the city turned off about 8,000 streetlights to save money. All residential streetlights were flipped back on in 2010. After tonight, all remaining arterial lights will be back on.
“Budget savings from 2012, including salary savings from not filling vacant positions, helped fund the $150,000 needed to turn the lights back on,” the city said. “The electric cost to keep the remaining 3,500 lights on will be approximately $100,000 annually.”
While all the streetlights are supposed to be back on, the city cautioned that some may still be dark “due to copper wire theft or other maintenance issues.”
maybe diane sawyer can help you guys figure out what the hell you are talking about… are they all on or are there still 3500 that will be turned on in 2013??? get a clue please geezerette.
Good question daytipper. Not a very clearly written article. Our new and improved (?), new owner and editor Gazette!
Sorry to say, but Colorado Springs will remain in the dark for a long, long time, and that has nothing to do with turning on street lights.
“Tranparency” is just a nother word for “nothing left to lose.”
And let’s not forget that about Sue Skiffington-Blumberg, who actually orchestrated the negative media because she was “told to” by her boss. I wonder what she thinks about all of this.
Rather than standing up to her boss and doing the right thing, Sue Skiffington-Blumberg, contacted the press to feed them bad stories about Colorado Springs when all of this was going on. All because her and her boss wanted to get back at us taxpayers for not approving of their tax.
Here’s the original story from the Gazette: http://www.gazette.com/articles/city-118842-ordered-poll.html
“Our strategic plan was to paint a picture of the dire straits of our city budget. If we could not do so locally, we would do so in the regional and national press — though I’d have preferred that it not play out with Diane Sawyer,” Sue Skiffington-Blumberg said, referring to one of several media giants who blasted Colorado Springs. “I hated it. I grew up here. My family has been in this community since 1892. But when given a task, it is my obligation to get on board. If you give me a task, don’t expect me not to succeed.”
Read more: http://www.gazette.com/articles/city-118842-ordered-poll.html#ixzz2EgPrjMdS
daytripper and FalconFan5,
Let me try to help you out.
In 2009, the city turned off about 8,000 streetlights to save money. All RESIDENTIAL streetlights were flipped back on in 2010. After tonight, all remaining ARTERIAL lights will be back on. So, that was 3,500 lights that needed to be restored.
Thanks for taking the time to comment even if it was a bit snarky.
I would rather see more police officers and firemen on the streets than having the lights turned back on. We really need to look at our city budget and get the money to the departments that really need it. Turning the lights back on is not going to stop the burglaries or robberies occurring.
why not solar lights?