University of Virginia Library

Confer With Residents

Before action is taken Mr.
Malanga hopes to confer with
students residing in the area.
Once the measure is finally
approved, Virginia Electric
Power Company, he said, can
install the new lighting within
three months.

If this program is
acceptable, Mr. Malanga wants
the installation of street
lighting in crime-ridden areas
to become a general city
policy.

The current city policy on
street lighting requires a
resident's petition and 60 per
cent approval of the property
owners on the block.

"The weakness of this
process" Mr. Malanga
asserted, "is that there is no
uniform lighting in the city and
areas which need lighting to
prevent crime do not receive
enough petition support."

"Like the sidewalk policy,
the street light policy of
placement by petition has
produced poor results." Mr.
Malange said.

The city is currently
spending $70,000 each year on
street lights. Each residential
light costs $21 per year to
maintain.