Street light observations in mayor’s neighborhood
I went to the city council meeting last Tuesday and listened to the public information officer giving his version of Good News Columbus. It was a positive spin on the progress our city is making. One of the issues he covered was the LED street lights. He stated there was some false information in the papers about the brightness of the lights. One of the purposes of the lights is to prevent crime. Most streets have 50 watt lights in the middle parts of the block and most corners will have a 90 watt light. The larger intersections and very busy thoroughfares will get up to a 250 watt light. Some neighborhoods get brighter overall lights than others, I assume due to the crime rate of the area.
Out of curiosity I decided to drive through Dean Acres, the home of our Mayor. I found that most of the neighborhood had 50 watt lights. The entrance to the neighborhood has 170 watt lights. Then I looked at the Mayor’s house. Much to my surprise he had a light installed in front of his house. The head of the light is not positioned over the roadway, but it is right over his front yard. Now since most of us have to get the 50 watt energy and money-saving lights, you would think that is what he has. But that was not the case. He has a 250 watt light accompanied by an additional 250 watt light across the road. It is like daylight in his yard. A comparable light nearby was a 90 watt. What right does he have to get this type of light on our dime when we have to get by on less light. We pay our taxes and deserve to be safe as well.
Speaking of taxes, I looked at his to see how the Mayor is doing with his property taxes, business and personal. I must say a man that owns a total of 37 properties is doing quite well on a public servant’s salary. The part that dismayed me was that as of March 5 he is past due on 31 pieces of property according to public records, for a total of over $22,000, including penalties. The man that helped get us in this financial mess in the city isn’t paying his own taxes! Really?
Why did he buy a new Corvette in 2017 and title it in the county and still has it registered there? Is he trying to avoid paying city taxes that support our schools, police and fire departments and pay his salary. I am fed up and you should be too! Time for him to go!
Kerry Blalock
Columbus
Editor’s note: Mr. Blalock included two photographs with his letter, both of which will run with the online edition of this story.
The Dispatch Editorial Board is made up of publisher Peter Imes, columnist Slim Smith, managing editor Zack Plair and senior newsroom staff.
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