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The other June 2 vote in LA: New funding for streetlight repairs
Crews began installing more than 90 solar streetlights in Lincoln Heights and Cypress Park in February.
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Kavish Harjai
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LAist
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Would you pay more for street light repairs?
Guests: Kavish Harjai, transportation correspondent for LAist, and Miguel Sangalang, executive director and general manager for the Bureau of Street Lighting
Los Angeles city property owners should have received a ballot for voting on whether to pay more for streetlight repairs — an area of funding that has been frozen since the 1990s. An increased budget could mean faster repair times and more efficient maintenance.
But — why is voting on this issue set up this way? Why vote now? And what will your vote mean?
Why the vote?
L.A. established the Bureau of Street Lighting in 1925 — when the city was much smaller. In partnership with property developers, the bureau helped build a patchwork of streetlights.
In 1996, Proposition 218 required municipalities to seek voter approval for general taxes and fees, such as increasing streetlight funding. Since then, assessment funds, which account for 90% of the bureau's revenue, have been frozen, leaving the bureau chronically underfunded, according to Miguel Sangalang, the executive director and general manager for the Bureau of Street Lighting.
The city's Bureau of Street Lighting says that it takes one year on average to complete repairs due to budgetary constraints.
Last year, the bureau had a third party verify and assess the funding it needed to operate — an estimated $125 million.
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This year, the L.A. City Council approved putting an increase before voters — in this case, property owners near streetlights.
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What to know ahead of voting
- Ballots are coincidentally due on June 2 — not just postmarked; they are due. And remember, this is a separate ballot from the primary election.
- Every property gets one vote, though each ballot is weighted based on how much a property owner is expected to pay.
- Approval of the new assessment would also institute a three-year audit, meaning a third party would account for how the Bureau of Street Lighting spends the money.
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Funding doesn't need to come purely from assessments.
The L.A. City Council could also supplement the bureau's budget, which it has done in the past, according to Sangalang.
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City Council offices can assist with repairs in their districts through discretionary funds. The mayor also has the ability to fund such projects through an executive order.
Calling your local council member's office and asking for more funds to go to local street light improvements could help expedite the repair completion process.
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You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
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