Authorizing the Committee on Public Safety to hold public hearings to investigate the relationship between crime and street lighting in the City of Philadelphia.

WHEREAS, Public safety initiatives are essential to improving our urban quality of life and require the support and participation of our communities, businesses and local entities; and

WHEREAS, Among police presence, neighborhood watches, and cleaning and greening programs, many cities and universities use street lighting as a crime deterrent and as a tool to create a safer environment; and

WHEREAS, In Philadelphia, the Street Lighting Division is responsible for 100,000 street lights, which cover over 2,000 miles of city streets, and 18,000 alley lights; and

WHEREAS, While the City is increasing police presence and working on other initiatives to reduce crime, increased and targeted street and alley lighting should also be explored as part of the comprehensive approach; and

WHEREAS, PhillyStat would be an ideal resource for examining the correlation between crime activity and street lighting; and

WHEREAS, In 1996, the University of Pennsylvania began a community lighting program called UC Brite. Through this program the University partnered with residents and community members to light neighborhood blocks and houses to create a greater sense of safety. In all, over 3700 additional lights were installed and the project played a major role in reducing crime and improving the overall safety of the area; and

WHEREAS, Increased lighting throughout commercial and residential areas can encourage more people to be outdoors during evening hours, which creates a greater sense of a community and results in a safer environment; and

WHEREAS, A lighting audit in the City would provide Philadelphia with a greater understanding of the connection between various crimes and the lighting around these areas; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED,

BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA, That City Council’s Committee on Public Safety is hereby authorized to hold public hearings to investigate the relationship between crime and street lighting in the City of Philadelphia.

End