Tinian streetlight ‘situation’ not permanent
Acting Gov. Joseph Mendiola yesterday downplayed concerns that the Tinian government’s decision to turn streetlights off is putting public safety at risk.
Mendiola, a senator from Tinian, said most of his constituents did not seem too concerned that many streets are not lighted.
Except for one resident who has raised concern about the situation through the media, “nobody has told me that their lives or livelihood have been hampered by the island’s having fewer streetlights on,” the Senate president said.
He added that neither the crime rate nor the number of traffic accidents on the island has gone up.
Nevertheless, Mendiola said that the streetlight situation on Tinian is not permanent.
“Our understanding with the mayor is that we will cut down the use of streetlights, see how much we can save, and assess if the savings is worth our sacrifice. We are going through a trial period. We should have a better idea of what to do next when the utility billings come in for the month of October,” Mendiola said.
Tinian Mayor Jose P. San Nicolas reported that only 174 of the 1,000 streetlights on the island are currently being used at night.
The Tinian government began cutting the island’s street light usage in view of the government’s new budget, which requires government agencies to pay for their own utility costs.
Tinian’s budget for fiscal year 2007 amounts to $11.06 million, a decrease of nearly $2.5 million compared with the municipality’s last enacted allocation. Nearly $1 million of Tinian’s current budget is earmarked for utility expenses. (Agnes E. Donato)
