Ferrera hopes brighter streets will dim crime


City Councilor James J. Ferrera III (left) and Leo Florian, president of the South End Citizen's Council, both agree that brighter streetlights are a step in the right direction. Reminder Publications photo by Courtney Llewellyn

By Courtney Llewellyn

Reminder Assistant Editor

SPRINGFIELD City Councilor James J. Ferrera III hopes that the replacement of 400-watt streetlight bulbs with 1000-watt bulbs will attract a larger group of social moths to the downtown area.

Main Street will now be brighter from Locust Street to Howard Street, and a total of 32 streetlights received newer, brighter bulbs last week.

"These well-lit areas will be a deterrent to crime," Ferrara said. "This is also a heavy pedestrian area, and more lighting means there will be more pedestrian traffic for the downtown area."

In April, Ferrera met with the Maintenance and Development Committee of the City Council to discuss the lighting in the South End. In the past, the lights were brighter, but due to budget constraints lower wattage bulbs had been installed. Now, funding from bonds and grants allows for an increase in wattage and, Ferrara believes, safety.

Maurice Nichols, a spokesperson for the Western Mass Electric Company (WMECO), indicated that the cost increase for the higher wattage bulbs would be approximately $635 a month.

"Different national surveys have proved that more light leads to less crime," Ferrera stated. "Eventually, we want brighter streetlights throughout the entire city. This is a matter of public safety."

Leo Florian, president of the South End Citizen's Council, agreed with Ferrera. "This was first brought up years ago," he said. "This is a positive step toward fixing the crime issue. These lights are good for businesses and for residents."

Some of the crimes that should be deterred by the new lights include prostitution, drug dealing "and other inner city issues," Florian said.

"We want to make it OK to walk or drive through here," he added.

The 400-watt bulbs being replaced are actually on loan from WMECO and will be returned to the company rather than be disposed of. The new 1000-watt bulbs cost nothing the only charge for them will be the labor involved in their installation and the aforementioned increase in kilowatt hours.