South Tucson is in the dark. No, the city isn’t lacking knowledge of something, nor is it out of touch with society in any way. Rather, the city is a black hole on the lighting map since the lights started going out throughout the spring.
It’s no secret. Walk down 4th Avenue south of 26th Street at night and a person will find themselves surrounded by nothing but cold, black air and a feeling of emptiness. In the months after someone stole several hundred feet of copper wiring from street light boxes, there has been what seems like little progress toward getting the lights up and running again.
But luckily for many residents and business owners around South Tucson affected by the absence of light, the process to get things replaced is indeed underway. The cost isn’t cheap, especially for a city strapped for cash.
“We are looking into federal grants to help fund some of this project,” said Angel Lopez Sr., the public works director for South Tucson. “Hopefully we can get something going in the immediate future, with two months being the estimated time before all the lights are up and running.”
Lopez says that until the city can figure out a way to pay the roughly $60,000 price tag, there will be a ramped up police presence in the neighborhoods and business districts to help minimize crime and bring a safer feeling to the area.
The increased presence may in fact be working, with no increase in property crime or reported automobile accidents, according to Lt. Jeff Inorio with the South Tucson Police Department.
“We have more directed patrols and are trying to be more visible in the area,” said Inorio. “We are doing our part and hopefully residents can help do their part of reporting possible crime until the lights are back up and running.”
Inorio says that in the months after the incident in May, there have been no reports of copper theft in the area, a sign that the city learned its lesson and knows how to prevent similar thefts in the future.
“We train our officers to look for people parking in the roadway late at night and other telltale signs,” said Inorio. “The residents are also becoming more aware of suspicious activity.”
Some business owners in the area believe the city isn’t doing enough to speed up the process and have taken steps of crime prevention into their own hands. George Crawford, manager at Mo-Sun Eclipse MMA, has put up his own lights to help keep his storefront lighted at night and allow his patrons to feel safe when they come to his gym.
“If it doesn’t get fixed soon, somebody is going to get hurt; either by traffic or getting mugged,” said Crawford. “It’s literally pitch-dark at night I have almost run over people myself.”
Crawford says that after dark, his participation drops because many do not feel safe without the lighting. Aside from his parking lot and the lights he put up in front of the building himself, the area is in total darkness. He says patrons feel uncomfortable just walking from the overflow parking across the street.
Crawford is working with other business owners down 4th Avenue to have the city get the lights up and running again. He says many are growing discontent with having to wait, and believes it is negatively effecting his own business.
“The city hasn’t done anything to help around here except for in front of Mi Nidito and Guillermo’s,” said Crawford. “I hope [the city] gets it fixed soon. I am just trying to do something positive for the youth and they aren’t helping.”
Lopez agrees that something needs to be done, and quickly, to help the community and local businesses feel more secure.
“We need to get the lights up and running as soon as possible,” said Lopez. “The pieces are starting to get in motion, and within the next couple months everything should be back to normal.”