Struggling Cities Turn Off the Lights: Ingenious or Dangerous?

In tough economic times, cities have no choice but to cut costs everywhere they can. However, as a growing number of cities have decided to sacrifice streetlights, many residents feel that the budget tightening has gone way too far.

Highland Park, Michigan; Myrtle Creek, Oregon; Clintonville, Wisconsin; Brainerd, Minnesota; Santa Rosa, California; Rockford, Illinois: these are just a few of the many cities that have been pushed to do what was once unthinkable—turn off the streetlights in an attempt to stay afloat.

And unlike many other budget cuts, when things get dark people notice. In Highland Park, Michigan, which has removed all but 500 of the city’s 1,600 lights, many residents have felt the need to completely reorder their lives.

“When you come through at night, it’s scary; you have to wonder if anyone is lurking around waiting to catch you off your guard,” said 65-year-old Juanita Kennedy of Highland Park. “I don’t go out to get gas at night. I don’t run to any stores. I try to do everything in the daytime and to be back before night falls.”

Since the streetlight in front of her house was removed, Kennedy has also installed a security system and undergone training to carry a handgun. And she is not the only resident who’s concerned and making lifestyle changes.

Parents worry more about letting their children walk to school in the morning. Motorists complain that they can’t see pedestrians or potholes. And Greater St. Matthew Baptist Church had to move a Saturday evening bible study to 4 p.m. at the urging of congregants.

Yet, Highland Park officials say that they had no other choice; they had to remove the lights so that the DTE Energy company would forgive their accumulated debt of about $4 million.

We completely understand the residents' complaints, but sometimes, desperate times call for desperate measures.

What do you think about struggling cities turning off the lights? Ingenious or dangerous?