Any of you ever petition to have street lights installed in your 'hood?

[SpartyOn82]

I have been hit with some petty crime over the last year and am thinking of making a presentation to my home-owners assc regarding having streeltlights installed. My vehicles have been broken into 3 times and the change in the cupholders taken. No big deal. Last month, I left my car unlocked and the GPS was taken (my fault, I know). Than, last week, someone came into my garage and took two cases of beer from the fridge. Hitting much closer to home invasion now. I know it's just kids becasue I have $1000's of dollars worth of tools, lawn equipment, bikes, camping equipment, etc in my garage that was untouched. Other neighbors and homeowners have experienced some type of the petty crimes in the last year or so as well.
I talked to the engineering dept to get some info on how much the lights would cost, and based on the numbers of homes, and the approximate number of lights needed, each homeowner would be assessed approx $340 for the cost of the lights and installation, and approx $20 per year after that for the electricity. If you were a homeowner, would you think that would be a price you would pay to have them installed?

[Cym Jim]

[Dr. Tailgate]

Quick fix... stop living in Livonia.

[erg]

Originally Posted by SpartyOn82

I have been hit with some petty crime over the last year and am thinking of making a presentation to my home-owners assc regarding having streeltlights installed. My vehicles have been broken into 3 times and the change in the cupholders taken. No big deal. Last month, I left my car unlocked and the GPS was taken (my fault, I know). Than, last week, someone came into my garage and took two cases of beer from the fridge. Hitting much closer to home invasion now. I know it's just kids becasue I have $1000's of dollars worth of tools, lawn equipment, bikes, camping equipment, etc in my garage that was untouched. Other neighbors and homeowners have experienced some type of the petty crimes in the last year or so as well.
I talked to the engineering dept to get some info on how much the lights would cost, and based on the numbers of homes, and the approximate number of lights needed, each homeowner would be assessed approx $340 for the cost of the lights and installation, and approx $20 per year after that for the electricity. If you were a homeowner, would you think that would be a price you would pay to have them installed?

NO

[incubuscircles2]

I would definitely pony up that money to eliminate petty crime.

[sleepy]

Had a neighbor come to the door with a petition years ago when I lived in Lansing. He was trying to get people to sign it; it was to have the city put in a proper sewage line and ditch along the street.

The petition part was to have the city pick up the tab. He was asking for everyone to put down the salary of the household. I looked at the list and the signatures already on there with the corresponding salaries, and people had written down 20k, 36k, 51k, 29k, etc. I was like . I didn't realize how bad off some of my neighbors were financially. I was renting the place and living with 3 other people, and our household salary was something like 180k. The guy said the whole point was to make the city realize we couldn't pick up the tab ourselves. I ended up writing 50k.

Don't know if the sewer was ever put in. I moved out later that year.

[SpartyOn82]

Originally Posted by sleepy

Had a neighbor come to the door with a petition years ago when I lived in Lansing. He was trying to get people to sign it; it was to have the city put in a proper sewage line and ditch along the street.

The petition part was to have the city pick up the tab. He was asking for everyone to put down the salary of the household. I looked at the list already on their, and people had written down 20k, 36k, 51k, 29k, etc. I was like . I was renting the place and living with 3 other people, and our household salary was something like 180k. The guy said the whole point was to make the city realize we couldn't pick up the tab ourselves. I ended up writing 50k.

Don't know if the sewer was ever put in. I moved out later that year.

The engineer I talked to said the residents would have to pay. She gave no option for the city to pay. Maybe there's some stimulus money somewhere.......

[MSchott]

Surprising to see that much crime in Livonia. I grew up near 8 Mile and Middlebelt and my parents still live there. it's pretty safe and in the 50 years they've been there I can only remember one stolen car and no break ins. However they have had streetlights in their neighborhood for the last 40 years.

To answer your question, I think the assessment is worth the money and wish my neighborhood would do the same. It might be a tough sale in this economy.

[spotdog14]

I kind of dislike the street lights that we have, first they are an odd ass color, some weird pink color and whenever they break the property owner that owns the land that they are on gets a bill on his taxes (at least I did).

[GRR Spartan]

Good luck. Most cities have turned their general street lighting over to Consumer's Power. So once you have convinced the local boards its needed it gets passed on to Consumers. Nothing will happen fast.

[Dr. Lansing]

Originally Posted by Cym Jim

Those aren't nakid?!

[Cblust21]

Originally Posted by GRR Spartan

Good luck. Most cities have turned their general street lighting over to Consumer's Power. So once you have convinced the local boards its needed it gets passed on to Consumers. Nothing will happen fast.

This is the case for my neighborhood. We like it. If a bulb burns out or a streetlight breaks, we just have to call Consumer's and they usually fix it within the week. I'm guessing our electric bill for these is taken out of our association fees.