Unable To Pay Bill, Mich. City Turns Off Lights … a world goes dark

HERE Corey Williams, Associated Press, On Thursday November 3, 2011, 

In this Nov. 2, 2011, photo Cassandra Cabil stands in shadows cast from her home as she looks out into her street illuminated by house lights in Highland Park, Mich. The 2.2 -square-mile city, unable to pay its $80,000 per month light bill has worked out a deal with DTE Energy to have the electricity provider turn off and remove nearly a third of Highland Park’s overhead street lights. (AP Photo/Carlos Osorio)

HIGHLAND PARK, Mich. (AP) — As the sun dips below the rooftops each evening, parts of this Detroit enclave turn to pitch black, the only illumination coming from a few streetlights at the end of the block or from glowing yellow yard globes.

It wasn’t always this way. But when the debt-ridden community could no longer afford its monthly electric bill, elected officials not only turned off 1,000 streetlights. They had them ripped out — bulbs, poles and all. Now nightfall cloaks most neighborhoods in inky darkness.

“How can you darken any city?” asked Victoria Dowdell, standing in the halo of a light in her front yard. “I think that was a disgrace. She said the decision endangers everyone, especially people who have to walk around at night or catch the bus.

Full drastic report HERE