City lighting plan aims to reduce crime
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The Ortiz family live next to an alley on 7 th Street in El Centro and fear for their safety every night.
Long-time El Centro resident Ricardo Garcia Espinoza Ortiz said, “I see a lot of people going through here. I don’t know them. But they go through here from night till the morning.”
At night, he’s afraid to even walk outside.
“It’s dangerous just to walk to the store. One can get robbed. It’s very dangerous,” Ortiz said.
To help residents feel safer, El Centro City Council recently passed a master lighting plan that would install over 100 new light fixtures throughout the city.
Senior Engineer Abraham Campos explained, “It’s a list of goals and criteria to follow to get lighting done within the city.”
The plan uses crime data to target specific streets and alleys in commercial, residential and industrial areas.
“Lighting itself does not deter crime. It’s not a for sure silver bullet against crime. It does help make police presence more noticeable. It also helps citizens self-enforce and report. And it gives the community a better sense of security,” Campos said.
Downtown businessman Jacob Zavala said increased lighting will help his business.
“The bad people, they don’t like light. They want to be in the dark. They want to creep around. They don’t want to be seen. If we can keep it lit up, and keep that type of person that wants to steal and do something that’s not right for the community, keep them out of the area,” Zavala said.
The lighting project will cost over $600,000 to be paid through state grants and measure “D” funds.
Ortiz said increased lighting will help his family feel safer at nights.
“Delinquents won’t be able to meet in the alley across his house anymore,” he said cheerfully.
City officials said work should begin in about six months.
