LOS ANGELES – Mayor Karen Bass announced today the new efforts to keep communities safe and well-lit with the installation of hundreds of new solar-powered lights which will help curb copper wire theft in a Filipinotown neighborhood. This installation is a result of Mayor Bass’ focus on improving city services and infrastructure for Angelenos by finding innovative and new ways to solve longstanding city challenges like rampant copper wire theft.
“We are using new and innovative ways to improve city services for Angelenos – from modernizing the MyLA311 system to installing new solar lighting,” said Mayor Bass. “The City is taking action to make your neighborhoods safer and cleaner.”
Mayor Bass visited Bureau of Street Lighting crews this morning who were installing the new technology. B-roll and photos available here. Solar lighting disrupts the cycle of vandalism and robbery, providing a resilient and sustainable solution to dark streets caused by copper wire theft. This improvement is working to help keep the lights on while preserving City infrastructure, and ensuring City resources and personnel can focus on system upgrades, maintenance and repairs.
“Investing in sustainable infrastructure like these solar street lights is a win for our communities and our planet. We’re reducing our carbon footprint, we’re deterring copper wire theft, and we’re tackling the streetlight backlog in the neighborhoods that need it most,” said Councilmember Eunisses Hernandez, Councilmember representing the area and Chair of the Public Works Committee. “Getting the lights back on faster and delivering basic City services more efficiently is a top priority for our office and we’re excited to work with Mayor Bass to bring innovative solutions like this to the people of CD1.”
In addition to this project, the Bureau of Street Lighting is also installing solar lights in Watts. Last year, Mayor Bass unveiled the first phase of this initiative in the San Fernando Valley with the installation of more than 100 solar-powered lights to keep a residential neighborhood and elementary school safe and well-lit.
"Fonroche solar lighting is not only quick and easy to deploy, but it also tackles key challenges of grid-tied systems. Smartlights enable cities to transform their lighting infrastructure, eliminating wire theft while offering greater resilience and cost-effectiveness," said Hocine Benaoum, CEO Fonroche Lighting America.
Street lighting is integral to improving community safety in Los Angeles neighborhoods. This initiative is a tangible and innovative investment in neighborhood safety, with brighter, more sustainable lighting that will illuminate public spaces, enhance visibility and safety during nighttime hours while helping to deter copper wire theft. The updated solar powered streetlights help curb copper wire theft as they do not require copper wire to be used at the bottom of the light pole.