government
LA property owners vote down streetlight fee increase
By Kavish Harjai at LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio)
· June 26, 2026
· 3 min read
L.A. Mayor Karen Bass announced in March an initiative to transition 60,000 streetlights in the city to solar power over the next two years. (Courtesy the L.A. Mayor's Office)Los Angeles city property owners voted down a fee increase that sought to address a massive backlog of streetlight repairs...
Key takeaway Mayor Karen Bass announced in March an initiative to transition 60,000 streetlights in the city to solar power over the next two years.
Why this matters in The Los Angeles
The rejection of the streetlight fee increase will likely exacerbate the existing backlog of repairs, leaving many neighborhoods with subpar lighting. This is particularly concerning for areas with high crime rates or limited pedestrian infrastructure, where reliable streetlights are crucial for public safety. With the city's streetlight budget essentially frozen since the 1990s, the Bureau of Street Lighting will have to operate with limited resources, potentially leading to longer wait times for repairs. The city's goal to transition 60,000 streetlights to solar power over the next two years, announced by Mayor Karen Bass in March, may also be impacted by the lack of funding. As the city explores alternative solutions to address the streetlight shortage, it will be important to consider the disproportionate impact on low-income and high-crime neighborhoods, where adequate lighting is often a matter of community safety and quality of life.
About this story
Original reporting by LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) . The Los Angeles surfaces reporting from trusted publishers and adds local editorial context so readers can quickly understand what a story means for their community. We attribute every source, link to the original report, and follow a documented editorial standards policy. To understand how stories are selected and reviewed, read our about page .
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Category: government ·
Published: June 26, 2026 ·
Source: LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) ·
Reading time: 3 min
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Frequently asked about this story
What is this story about? L.A. Mayor Karen Bass announced in March an initiative to transition 60,000 streetlights in the city to solar power over the next two years. (Courtesy the L.A. Mayor's Office)Los Angeles city property owners voted down a fee increase that sought to address a massive backlog of streetlight repairs...
When was this published? This article was first published on June 26, 2026 by LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio) and curated for The Los Angeles readers.
Who reported this story? This story was reported by Kavish Harjai at LAist (KPCC / Southern California Public Radio). To learn more about how The Los Angeles selects and reviews stories, see our editorial standards .
Where can I find related coverage? See more government coverage from The Los Angeles, or browse our daily briefing and topic hubs .
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