To the editor: This subject of wire theft has been happening for some years now (“Copper thefts turned these upscale L.A. streets pitch darkish. Pissed off residents are preventing again,” Jan. 21). As an outside lighting skilled with greater than 60 years of expertise, this is a matter that, fairly frankly, may be very irritating. Why? As a result of for a minimum of the previous decade, I’ve tried mightily to get town of Los Angeles to pull itself into the twenty first century concerning photo voltaic road lighting.
I reside within the San Fernando Valley on a essential road and thieves frequently steal the underground wiring of the streetlights, making a darkish hall. So, what did town do? It changed the wiring and “fortified” the underground pullboxes by tearing up and repairing the sidewalks (and never fixing any damaged areas!) and protecting the pullboxes in concrete, marked within the cement as a deterrent.
What occurred subsequent? The vandals got here by, punched a gap within the concrete and eliminated the wire — once more.
I’ve provided my providers to the Bureau of Road Lighting to no avail. I’ve spoken with metropolis leaders after I get the possibility to no avail. I assume from me, a mean resident and citizen, the repair is just too simple and won’t be thought of.
Take away the present LED lighting fixtures. Change them with photo voltaic lighting fixtures. Take away the underground wiring and scrap to mitigate among the value of the sunshine swap. And eventually, repair the sidewalks.
Ricc Bieber, Northridge
