Is leading the charge to put streetlights in my neighborhood biting off more than I can chew?

Dear Grace,

There’s so much that needs to get done in my neighborhood and we don’t have an HOA or other group that takes charge. I’m considering trying to start something to get streetlights put in since at night it’s really dark and I’m worried (it’s SO dark at night) but I’ve heard horror stories about neighborhood organizing, and I’m nervous. Is this a good idea? Should I start a neighborhood committee?

– In the Dark in Ingersoll

Dear In The Dark,

You’re absolutely justified to want to bring your neighborhood into the light (literally). We all deserve to feel safe in our neighborhoods.  Most Americans’ #1 concern is safety. Having well-lit streets is one key way to keep your community safe. Not only will streetlights help joggers, kids, and dog owners avoid potential accidents on the road, but studies show that streetlights also reduce crime by a whopping 36%.

So what should you do about it? Given how hot community meetings have gotten in our country these past few years, I totally get your hesitation. Still, I bet the majority of your neighbors have also wished for (or at least thought about) better lighting, so a real solution is definitely within reach. 

Here’s my advice for getting started:

• Talk to your neighbors. You mentioned that you don’t have an HOA or other community committee, so start by just asking your neighbors (at the mailbox or in your neighborhood Facebook/NextDoor group) how they feel about street lights to gauge interest. 
• Connect with the powers that be. Some would say the hardest part of getting started in your position is learning which local government office handles what. A good place to start is at the smallest level–like a local board of supervisors or county officials. Reach out to someone at the county, town, or city level–there is generally a council or board of supervisors that is responsible for projects like this. Ask for their help to create a plan to bring you out of the dark. You can find their information and specific roles on the council on your county website.
• Get your neighbors involved. As they say, teamwork makes the dream work. Now you should have an idea of what your next steps are–you may need to talk to the power company, get signatures from your neighbors, or raise some funds. Connect with your neighbors and pool your strengths. Dana from next door is a chatter box ready to get on the phone with other neighbors? There’s your organizer! Clay from two blocks down is a grilling enthusiast? You’ve got yourself a BBQ host for your next fundraiser. You’ll be amazed at what you can accomplish cobbling together your superpowers. 

Finally, give some thought to both your ideal outcome and the most basic solution you can imagine. You’ll likely end up with a plan that falls somewhere in the middle. You should also prepare to hear some push back and disagreement. How will you handle that? What kind of compromises can you imagine?  Digging into these questions may shed some light on the complexities of your situation and the best way to go about finding a solution. 

<3 Grace