Metro Jacksonville

Community => Transportation, Mass Transit & Infrastructure => Topic started by: Jason on December 19, 2012, 09:24:49 AM

Title: Jacksonville turning off streetlights....
Post by: Jason on December 19, 2012, 09:24:49 AM
QuoteJacksonville turning off streetlights upsets business owner

Jacksonville Business Journal by Michael Clinton, Web Producer
Date: Wednesday, December 19, 2012, 7:16am EST

Michael ClintonWeb Producer- Jacksonville Business JournalEmail  | Facebook  | Twitter  | Google


The city of Jacksonville’s cost-saving plan to turn off more than 2,300 street lights throughout the city has one business owner unhappy his street is going dark.

Read the rest:  http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/blog/morning-edition/2012/12/jacksonville-turning-off-streetlights.html
Title: Re: Jacksonville turning off streetlights....
Post by: Captain Zissou on December 19, 2012, 09:30:37 AM
This is a great way to combat increase crime.  Way to go COJ!!! 

Between this and the unmowed medians we have basically recreated the set of Revolution in our city.  Maybe we are hoping they will film season 2 here.  They would hardly have to do anything as far as set construction goes.  In total, what does not mowing and turning lights off save us?  Less than $1M a year?  What has mismanaging the pensions cost us?  This is like when the school board tried to cut cross country to balance their budget.  1st Place Sports was able to single handedly save it with one fundraiser.
Title: Re: Jacksonville turning off streetlights....
Post by: John P on December 19, 2012, 09:37:23 AM
You need to get out more thjs is common in cities. It is not residential and there no business open at night there. It is a ghost town. It will be a magnet for people that need to do illegal things in the dark though.
Title: Re: Jacksonville turning off streetlights....
Post by: Captain Zissou on December 19, 2012, 09:42:02 AM
You don't think this is reason enough to keep the lights on?
Quote from: John P on December 19, 2012, 09:37:23 AM
It will be a magnet for people that need to do illegal things in the dark though.

Who exactly needs to do illegal things in the dark?  Why exactly are we building our downtown to suit their needs?
Title: Re: Jacksonville turning off streetlights....
Post by: fsujax on December 19, 2012, 09:45:08 AM
this is bad.
Title: Re: Jacksonville turning off streetlights....
Post by: thelakelander on December 19, 2012, 10:02:36 AM
Sounds like Detroit. What's next? Abandoning certain streets and neighborhoods?
Title: Re: Jacksonville turning off streetlights....
Post by: Jason on December 19, 2012, 10:04:15 AM
More info here...

https://www.jea.com/redtag/
Title: Re: Jacksonville turning off streetlights....
Post by: duvaldude08 on December 19, 2012, 10:04:32 AM
The city has actually been doing this for quite some time now, is this supposed to be breaking news? If Im not mistaken, theyve been doing it for almost two years now.
Title: Re: Jacksonville turning off streetlights....
Post by: Noone on December 19, 2012, 10:06:55 AM
Turning off street lights but not in red light intersections?

Title: Re: Jacksonville turning off streetlights....
Post by: Jason on December 19, 2012, 10:15:34 AM
Quote from: duvaldude08 on December 19, 2012, 10:04:32 AM
The city has actually been doing this for quite some time now, is this supposed to be breaking news? If Im not mistaken, theyve been doing it for almost two years now.


It may not be "breaking news" but it is the first I've heard of it.
Title: Re: Jacksonville turning off streetlights....
Post by: tufsu1 on December 19, 2012, 10:15:00 PM
they are turning off lights on the streets in our office park off Southside
Title: Re: Jacksonville turning off streetlights....
Post by: Ocklawaha on December 19, 2012, 10:42:20 PM
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa111/Ocklawaha/FLORIDA%20Jacksonville/ScreenShot2012-12-19at103720PM_zpsbfa29346.png)

Oh my, I can see it now, broke down on I-295 a half mile from the dames point bridge and digging through the dash and glove box for quarters to feed the streetlights. ONLY IN JACKSONVILLE.  ::)
Title: Re: Jacksonville turning off streetlights....
Post by: Josh on February 27, 2013, 04:04:38 PM
I'm surprised to see nobody else has noticed in this, or the other thread on the street lights, but the city is backing off of this proposal now.

http://www.actionnewsjax.com/content/topstories/story/Jacksonville-to-turn-streetlights-back-on/XddBOpFvF0KVRGkID-wh9g.cspx
QuoteJACKSONVILLE, Fla.-- Action News has learned the mayor announced he is changing his decision to turn off thousands of Jacksonville's streetlights.

Mayor Alvin Brown originally shut them off to save money. Now, he's found the cash to keep them on. During the tight budget cuts last year, the mayor decided they could save $300,000 by turning off more than 2,000 streetlights across the city. Local businesses were upset. They sent letters saying Jacksonville would lose big business. On Friday, the mayor responded.

Action News obtained a letter the mayor sent to one of the concerned groups. "It's about making sure we invest taxpayers money wisely and get a return on investment," said Mayor Brown.

The mayor says he doesn't want to turn businesses away. "I want to make sure we're working with the business community. It's a tough economy and I want to forge public-private partnerships," said Mayor Brown.

City council will have to vote to approve turning these lights back on. They'll be looking at the mayor's plan early next month. We're told the money to do this came from savings in the last fiscal year. The mayor says he's also working with JEA to look at whether LED lights could replace more expensive photo cell bulbs and save money.

The Times-Union interviewed one of the directors at JEA on converting to LED lights, so there should be another update soon. Seeing as how the money saved will take a very long time to recoup, I don't see the city jumping on LED lights unless there's some kind of grant or corporate sponsor.
Title: Re: Jacksonville turning off streetlights....
Post by: Cheshire Cat on February 27, 2013, 04:41:32 PM
Thanks for sharing this update Josh. 

The Mayor has changed his mind and found magic money, again.  What this does point out is that voices in the community who speak out (and share it with media) are often heard.

It also makes it even more difficult to believe what we are all told about city finances when money that was declared unavailable suddenly appears.

Get ready for the new attack on libraries and parks with the no money scare.  The logistics of delivering this new "horror story" in city hall is currently in the works.  Stay tuned.
Title: Re: Jacksonville turning off streetlights....
Post by: peestandingup on February 27, 2013, 07:08:48 PM
Quote from: Cheshire Cat on February 27, 2013, 04:41:32 PM
Thanks for sharing this update Josh. 

The Mayor has changed his mind and found magic money, again.  What this does point out is that voices in the community who speak out (and share it with media) are often heard.

It also makes it even more difficult to believe what we are all told about city finances when money that was declared unavailable suddenly appears.

Stay tuned for the new attack on libraries and parks with the no money scare.  The logistics of delivering this new "horror story" in city hall is currently in the works.  Stay tuned.

Indeed. Whatever we do, lets not talk about the elephant in the room: Our unsustainable development & the core-busting events thats led us down this path to nowhere.

Honestly with each passing day, its clear this Mayor isn't the guy & was only a second (or third or fourth) choice for most people. Because there are Mayors all across the country that ARE not only talking about these things, but actually doing something about them. And not just in big cities either. Someone shake his ass awake, quick.