The Public Service Announcement Our City Hall Hasn't Bothered With

If you see that one or more of the city's new LED streetlights are out when they should be on, don't bother reaching out to National Grid anymore since the City of Hudson now owns the lights and is responsible for their maintenance.  (Just the lights, not the wooden poles.)  If you let the DPW Clerk Samantha know about an out light anytime soon, I hope that you get as amusing a response as I got from her last week.  It made my day.

I confirmed with Samantha that DPW is now responsible for replacing dead streetlights and that she is the proper contact person.  When I told her that the new light on 3rd Street just north of Warren was out the previous night while all the others on the street were illuminated, she was incredulous.  "It can't be out, that's impossible.  They're supposed to last ten years!"

Notice the new light further north is on

"What can I tell you?" I responded.  "It's definitely a new LED streetlight and it was very dark at that corner last night."

"Okay, I'll tell the guys."

Well, there you have it, straight out of the always amusing place we call City Hall.  Of course, there is still no announcement on the city's website about the transfer of responsibility for the streetlights or who to inform if a light is out.   I had to figure it out myself, and I am glad to pass this information on to readers.  (The light replacement project is unfinished.)

TEN YEARS!  If HUDseen sticks around long enough, I will do my best to chronicle the streetlights that do not last through 2034.  Next issue to investigate and information to pry from DPW:  How much does it cost to replace these wonderful -- and wonderfully brilliant -- lights?

A streetlight that isn't illuminating a street, intersection or crosswalk is generally not a safety issue for vehicles and drivers.  It is primarily a safety issue for bicyclists and pedestrians, as well as the occasional frog, possum, snapping or painted turtle, garter snake and feral cat.