Los Angeles homeowners would be slugged hundreds of dollarsto fix city streetlightsin their neighborhood, under a new council plan.
Ballots have started popping up in the mailboxes of Angelenos who benefit from streetlights illuminating their property — asking them to sign off on an initiative to fork over hundreds of dollars in property fees each year to replace 200,000 streetlights across the city.
The plan, aimed at repairing streetlights continuously damaged by vandals and copper thieves, would increase the current budget from $45 million to $125 million — wire theft is currently costing LA more than $20 million a year. The ballot is expected to be sent to 600,000 property owners.
The Democrat-dominated LA City Council voted overwhelmingly in favor of the measure last month — with only one “no” vote — arguing more money is needed to cover permanent fixes to lighting infrastructure whilecopper-wire bandits have run rampantpillaging streetlights.
Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass has voiced strong support for the initiative. “As long as voters support the street lighting assessment, we’ll be able to replace all 200,000 lights across the city,” she said. Calling the repairs “something long overdue.”
The initiative comes from the same LA City Council that spent $300 million on hotel rooms for homeless people — only to see 40% of those people return to the streets.
Woodland Hills resident Richie Varga was shocked to see the “bonehead ballot” sitting in his mailbox on Monday.
“When I opened it up I said, is this a joke?” he told The California Post of the proposed $200-plus fee he’s now starting down. “It’s legit.”
The ballot, pushed out by LA City Council, asks residents if they’re in favor of or opposed to paying the amount — which for Varga would equal $205.91 more per year for his two-bedroom duplex.
“Vote no — it’s a hard no with a middle finger, a hell no,” he said. “Who’s going to vote yes?”
Source: California Post – Breaking California News, Photos & Videos
