Streetlight repair would dim fear

On Oct. 4, two robberies occurred within hours of each other on
Levering and Kelton Avenues.

There seems to be a correlation between the lack of street
lighting and the location of the crimes. This is a community issue
that needs attention.

I walked around the west side of campus to see how many
streetlights were working. The absence of lights was appalling.

I counted six streetlights on Levering Avenue, from the corner
of the gas station on Le Conte Avenue to Strathmore Drive, and none
were turned on. The two streets are approximately 900 feet
apart.

A little number-crunching reveals that streetlights are
installed every 150 feet ““ the width of a football field. The
only light in between comes from apartment buildings.

While walking down Kelton between Ophir Drive and Gayley Avenue,
I tripped on the uneven sidewalk and nearly fell. This was on the
same block of Kelton where one of the recent robberies
occurred.

“It’s horrible,” said Julie Doan, a third-year
chemistry student. “It’s pitch dark when I come home at
night.”

Doan said the lack of lighting affects her study habits ““
she prefers to study on campus, but leaves early to avoid walking
at night.

April Corpuz, a fourth-year chemistry student, added that
she’s “scared that someone’s going to jump out of
the bushes” and mug her.

Clearly, students are concerned by inadequate street
lighting.

Poorly lit streets are also a safety issue. Several
intersections in Westwood are very dark. This makes it harder for
drivers to see pedestrians, which makes traffic accidents more
likely.

In Los Angeles, the Bureau of Street Lighting is in charge of
the design, operation and repair of the city’s streetlights.
They must do their job to ensure that the streets are well-lit. How
can entire sections of streets not have functioning lights? Why are
there so few lights in some areas of Westwood?

Call the bureau to let them know that we need working
streetlights in Westwood. Until the poor lighting conditions are
fixed, we should continue to bring this issue to their
attention.

Have you ever counted the number of lights on your street?
Tell Kroells at [email protected].