Long Beach to Switch 28,000 Street Lights

How many Long Beach officials does it take to screw in a lightbulb?

Today, about 10--as Mayor Beverly O’Neill--assisted by an assortment of council members and administrators--will symbolically switch to whiter, brighter city lights by pulling the plug on the town’s current 28,000 murky yellow street lamps.

First to be converted to the less efficient, but possibly safer, white light will be lamps located where public safety is of prime concern, the northeast corner of 14th Street and Chestnut Avenue.

Replacing the lights will take about three years. O’Neill credits the short schedule to a collaboration between the city’s public works department and City Light & Power Inc., a private company headquartered in Long Beach that will operate and maintain the lighting system starting Wednesday.

Residents will be notified at least one week before work begins in their area. A 24-hour, toll-free telephone number--888-LIGHT OUT--will be available for information beginning Wednesday.