City streetlights not only light up the city streets at night, but also serve as a deterrent to crime such as burglaries, assaults and criminal mischief. Many years ago, police officers during the early morning hours would notice a light out and check the post for the street light number. They then would call it in to the desk officer and this information would be noted on a sheet. In the morning, a person from the public works department would collect the sheet and the lights would be replaced.

Probably due to the changes since Sept. 11 and being too busy these days, this is not happening anymore. A call to the public works department gave me information that they now depend on the citizen whose area light is out to call them. The light posts have a metal tag on them that show the words “STREET LIGHT & NUMBER.” Many citizens probably did not notice the light number on the post. It is on the street side of the post. If, however, there is no number on the post, then the street address should be used.

However, this does not provide for streets where no one lives, such as Main Street, Canal Street or Lisbon Street in the business districts. A couple of weeks ago, I reported four consecutive lights out at King and Main streets.

I don’t believe they have been changed yet. I did not stop my car at all four posts for fear of getting rear-ended.

Bob Soucy, Lewiston

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