With the city’s ongoing budget crisis and stories about San Diego’s dwindling number of police officers to patrol the streets, the Mission Beach Town Council has found a way for residents to take matters of crime prevention into their own hands.
San Diego Gas & Electric’s (SDGE) Dusk to Dawn light program allows residents to pay to have lights installed in dark areas as a crime deterrent.
“Asking the city to do this would take forever, but this is one way an individual can make a difference,” said Mission Beach Town Council (MBTC) executive boardmember Jasmine Kung.
“SDGE has had this in place for several years but the public wasn’t educated about it,” she said. “We just want to take advantage of all of the tools available.”
The cost for a 100-watt high pressure sodium light is about $15 per month and includes installation, electricity and maintenance.
“It’s great for parking lots and alleyways behind your house,” Kung said. “The number one thing the police said to do is lighting.”
Kung said there are plans for more lights to go up at El Carmel Point due the number of cars being broken into.
“One of the problems is El Carmel Point had two times more break-ins than Santa Clara Point, so this is one of the places they’re starting to make a difference,” Kung said. “With more lighting, we can improve safety.”
Along with helping to publicize SDGE’s lighting program, the town council is also seeking artists interested in decorating a Mission Beach utility box.
“This is open to anyone,” Kung said. “You can be 5 or 500 years old. We’re looking for all variety of talents.”
Artists must submit design plans, but ideas are more important than talent, Kung said.
MBTC is also looking for donations to cover the costs of art supplies for the utility box paintings.
“I think the ultimate goal of the Mission Beach Town Council is to make Mission Beach more of a community in terms of involvement,” she said. “We have a variety of ages here, from new students just starting out on their own to people who have been here forever. That makes Mission Beach and Mission Bay a really exciting place to live, and we’re trying to balance those two worlds.”
For those interested in getting involved in the town council, the MBTC is holding its monthly general meeting Wednesday, April 11, at 7 p.m. in the Community Room at Belmont Park. Councilman Kevin Faulconer is the scheduled guest speaker and will be discussing the issues affecting Mission Beach.
The MBTC has also scheduled a beach cleanup for Saturday, April 14, from 9 to 11 a.m.
For information about the MBTC or SDGE’s Dusk to Dawn lighting program or beach cleanup location, visit www.missionbeachtc.org or call Kung at (858) 227-7767.
Artists interested in submitting plans for the utility box art program may e-mail them to [email protected].