SANGER, Calif. (KMPH) -
The people of Sanger have spoken and its city leaders listened and took action. At recent town hall meetings, Sanger residents got a chance to tell their city council members what concerned them most. City leaders were surprised to hear that street lighting is the number one priority.
Sanger has 475 street lights that are city-owned. Mayor Joshua Mitchell says its mission is to upgrade each light with LED technology to make streets brighter at night. "These LED lights will save us money right from day one in the form of energy costs and the form of maintenance costs. They don't have to be replaced as often. They're twice as bright also."
A federal grant and a zero interest loan from PG&E are the reasons why Sanger can afford the project. There's also a second major street light project planned for the eastside of town where lights are far and few between. Melanie Garcia supports the project. "When there's no light it's kind of scary cause I walk back and forth to my grandma's house. It's not comfortable walking in the dark," she said.
Mayor Mitchell says after studying police reports, gangs in Sanger prefer the dark. "Largely said where the crime was happening was where there were no street lights. You have to understand lights most likely will make these people feel uncomfortable."
Raquel Sandoval welcomes the change. "No lights here. There's just so much. I don't know how you can hold somebody responsible. They can just get away with it," she said.
The plan is to more than double the number of street lights along eastside neighborhood streets. Sanger Mayor Joshua Mitchell believes energy cost savings will pay for the quarter million dollar light upgrade in five years.
