Mayors group endorses proposal for towns to repair streetlights

By THE STAR STAFF

A group of mayors led by Jorge Morales (Cabo Rojo), María Vega (Vega Alta), José “Junito” Corcino (Vieques), Edilberto Romero (Culebra) and Orlando Ortiz (Naranjito) endorsed on Thursday the proposal that municipalities be allowed to assist in the repair and replacement of streetlights within their jurisdictions.

The initiative comes from the Speaker of the House of Representatives Carlos “Johnny” Méndez Nunez and House Government Committee Chairman Víctor Parés Otero.

“We believe that this is a very good alternative that should be evaluated and implemented,” Morales said.

Corcino added his firm support for the proposal.

“Municipalities know firsthand where these streetlights are located and when they break down,” the Vieques mayor said. “That’s why we believe we can contribute not only to their repair but also to the maintenance needed for their continued operation.”

On Dec. 31, the Puerto Rico Energy Bureau (PREB) ordered “one of our consultants to conduct, in the first instance, the required legal study and, if necessary, the corresponding technical study.”

On Dec. 21, the House speaker and the San Juan District 4 legislator sent a communique to the PREB requesting that it study the feasibility of allowing towns to participate in the streetlight repairs.

According to data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, 70% (363,311) of the island’s 519,015 streetlight poles were damaged by hurricanes Irma and Maria in September 2017.

Grid operator LUMA Energy has been allocated some $3,866,875.00 for streetlight repair work in its operational budget for fiscal year 2025-2026, a sum that is slated to increase to over $11.9 million for the next fiscal year.