Mayor Pugh Wants More Lights to Curb Crime
BALTIMORE (WJZ)-- After a violent few weeks across Baltimore, Mayor Catherine Pugh was asked how she plans to deter crime across the City.
One of Pugh's immediate proposals is to light the City up. She has said many neighborhoods are simply too dark and wants to add thousands of street lights across the city.
There's no shortage of dark neighborhoods with very little light.
"Our criminals know what blocks to walk down, what streets to go, what alleys they can run through," said Ericka Alston Buck, Kids Safe Zone creator of West Baltimore.
Wednesday, new Mayor Catherine Pugh said it's time for that to change.
"I'm saying these neighborhoods are just too dark, we got to light these cities up," said Pugh.
Pugh is now considering adding 6,000 new street lights. Something she believes could help curb some of the crime.
"If you notice in some neighborhoods, the lights shine on the street but they don't shine on the pavements and that's very concerning to me," she said.
Pugh's remarks came less than 24 hours after Baltimore hit 300 homicides. A chilling mark, for the second year in a row.
Those WJZ spoke with are thrilled about the idea.
"If you look at our neighborhood, it's pretty dark, there's only 1, 2, 3 lights on the whole block," said Brutus Artis of Charles Village.
West Baltimore community leader Ericka Alston Buck says poorly lit areas are hot spots for criminals.
"They're always looking for a place where they can get away with something and you don't get away with something with bright lights," said Alston Buck.
In a city that continues to grapple with violence.
"We have 300 murders, 300 murders, anything being done to reduce the murders in Baltimore is a good plan, absolutely, new lights is a better plan," said Alston Buck.
Pugh noted wealthier neighborhoods like Fed Hill and Canton are well lit and experience less crime. She says she wants to strategically decide where the lights will go.
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