After forty years of disinvestment in public lighting, Detroit's tens of thousands of broken street and alley lights contribute to incidents of crime and traffic accidents. Can a new lighting authority grow the city's glow?
"The thousands of inoperable streetlights in the city and miles of darkened neighborhoods and thoroughfares are some of the most visible emblems of Detroit’s mismanagement and decades-long decline," observes JC Reindl. "As many as 40% of the city’s 88,000 street and alley lights are estimated to be out. That astounding figure, adopted by Detroit emergency manager Kevyn Orr and routinely cited by national and international news media, has led to some comparisons of city services to that of a Third World country."
Reindl takes a deep look at the city's lighting crisis and its impact on city residents. Missed opportunities and redirected funds have allowed the antiquated system to languish. The latest solution, a plan "to borrow at least $150 million and upgrade the system ZIP code by ZIP code," faces uncertainty in light of the city's bankruptcy.
FULL STORY: Why Detroit's lights went out, and how the city plans to get them back on
Improved Public Services a Beneficial By-Product of Detroit Bankruptcy
The addition of 50 new police cars, ramped up bus service, and long overdue streetlight repairs are all being planned as bankruptcy proceedings allow Detroit to increase funding for public services.
$817 Million Safe Streets Grants Include $25M for Detroit
The city plans to use the funds to make safety and accessibility improvements at bus stops.
Detroit Launches Duplex Repair Program
The grants will help landlords repair aging multifamily affordable housing.
Depopulation Patterns Get Weird
A recent ranking of “declining” cities heavily features some of the most expensive cities in the country — including New York City and a half-dozen in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Pennsylvania Mall Conversion Bill Passes House
If passed, the bill would promote the adaptive reuse of defunct commercial buildings.
California Exodus: Population Drops Below 39 Million
Never mind the 40 million that demographers predicted the Golden State would reach by 2018. The state's population dipped below 39 million to 38.965 million last July, according to Census data released in March, the lowest since 2015.
Google Maps Introduces New Transit, EV Features
It will now be easier to find electric car charging stations and transit options.
Ohio Lawmakers Propose Incentivizing Housing Production
A proposed bill would take a carrot approach to stimulating housing production through a grant program that would reward cities that implement pro-housing policies.
Chicago Awarded $2M Reconnecting Communities Grant
Community advocates say the city’s plan may not do enough to reverse the negative impacts of a major expressway.
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