Town of tonawanda spends 19 million to get led street lights

[Saltwater60]

This is how broken government is. They are broke yet chose to do something like this at this time. There are 6,000 street lights at 19 million that’s $3,200/street light. To think they didn’t own them and they are cheering that they took them over from national grid because some stupid assholes run across a 4 lane busy road in the middle of the night and get hit by a car. Use a red light and cross walk is the answer. Funny thing is last year they trenched all new wires and put up all new street lights already. This argument is null and void but the stupid masses will not realizes this.

Town of Tonawanda converting street lights to LED, estimated cost $19 million

TONAWANDA, N.Y. (WIVB)– A big change is coming to the Town of Tonawanda. Its 6,000 streetlights are now officially owned by the town, and will soon be converted to LED lights. After ending it…

www.wivb.com

 

[Celt]

So, which politician has a friend or relative in the lighting business?

 

[togmaster]

So, which politician has a friend or relative in the lighting business?

Ask FUAC. I'm sure he would know.

 

[FRB]

In the long run it will save money. Street lights are a huge expense for towns and cities. We are looking to replace the lights in our town with LED lights. We have a few changed over to see what power we want to use.

Not owning them does not mean there are free.... The City paid National Grid for their use.

 

[Saltwater60]

In the long run it will save money. Street lights are a huge expense for towns and cities. We are looking to replace the lights in our town with LED lights. We have a few changed over to see what power we want to use.

Not owning them does not mean there are free.... The City paid National Grid for their use.

I understand that, I really do. They claim it’s to save lives on a stretch of road that has already been done and to save money in the long run.... well what’s the long run? 2 years, 5, years, 25 years? If it’s so great why hasn’t it been done earlier?
More of what I’m questioning is why is it being done now when people are broke, out of work, and huge tax increases are coming? These politicians are blind and make stupid choices. Town of Tonawanda has lost a lot of tax base by the Huntley Power Plant leaving and others are threatening to leave in that area because the HPP ran a cooling line and have them water for free. The town is not willing to do that. This is just a bad time to do it. I switched over to all LED’s and saw little if any effect on my power bills. They also don’t last nearly 12-15 years as they claim. I’ve had to replace a few already that are 1-2 years old. I’m sure I’ve lost money in that adventure at this point.

Pretty funny how this is the asshole they hired to do our new property tax assessments and he lied right to my face more than once throughout this process. They increased my assessment $51,000 and next closest to mine wasn’t even $25,000. How? Why? I pulled no permits and no additions or any major improvements. In fact the house across the street from me that is larger, very nice, and he stripped and painted the entire outside went from $84,000 down to $81,000. I asked how could this be? He said well you can’t see the inside to know what it looks like. I looked right at him and said neither can you since you’re not allowed in the house for reassessment and it looks pretty damn nice to me every time I walk out my front door.

 

[crunchberry]

I replaced every light in my house with LED bulbs a few years ago. In the few years since only one went bad and if i were to leave every light on in my house it would be equal to leaving one conventional light bulb on. Lighting tones seem identical too. I'm pretty happy with them.

 

[OwnTheRide]

I replaced every light in my house with LED bulbs a few years ago. In the few years since only one went bad and if i were to leave every light on in my house it would be equal to leaving one conventional light bulb on. Lighting tones seem identical too. I'm pretty happy with them.

I think the point is the $3200 price tag per light.

I'm sure you'd be markedly less satisfied with your new light bulbs had you paid that.

 

[FRB]

Assessment is based on more that looks of a home, size and location matters most. I will learn more about this this year as I just was just appointed onto my Town's Board of Assessment Review.

It is important to be INVOLVED with your local political leaders. I just got off the phone a few minutes ago with my Town's chief of Police. He asked for help with something Town related. I am on a first base name with my Town's judges and all our elected officials. I have a say in the direction the town goes. They value my input. That would never happen if I complained and screamed at them.

 

[TEOTWAWKI inc.]

The short life of many LED's is usually caused by the chinesium in the drivers.

I remember reading once the longest lasting incandescent bulb known was in a fire house somewhere and was like 90yo. No LED is going to last that long, even if you never take it out of the box.

 

[Saltwater60]

Assessment is based on more that looks of a home, size and location matters most. I will learn more about this this year as I just was just appointed onto my Town's Board of Assessment Review.

It is important to be INVOLVED with your local political leaders. I just got off the phone a few minutes ago with my Town's chief of Police. He asked for help with something Town related. I am on a first base name with my Town's judges and all our elected officials. I have a say in the direction the town goes. They value my input. That would never happen if I complained and screamed at them.

Well considering his house is directly across the street from me, looks just as nice, and is large than mine I don’t think they have much to stand on other than he works for the city and I don’t but hey.

As for the direction of the town I have been asked to serve in committees but they have never followed through. My town wants yes men and women and don’t want anyone with a brain. I was most recently asked to serve on a financial review board after it came out that our town board just approves or denies budget line items without even knowing what they are. I’m sure when they found out in the time of the BLM riots that I would have approved the police bulletproof vests I was deemed not worthy for that committee. They want like minded liberals and go to those so I’ve been pushed out.
Aslo about yelling at town officials if they can’t handle it then they shouldn’t have the job and they shouldn’t lie. Most are uneducated on these matters. The reason why my assessment went up so much is they improperly stated that my attic was finished living space and added 550 square feet to my home. That was wrong and they couldn’t admit they made a mistake. The guy doing them was a total jerk and clueless. There were so many things wrong about my house it wasn’t even funny. There must have been 4-5 hone facts that were wrong yet he claims he came out and looked at my home.

 

[Depick]

This is just a project to keep crews working and justify future budget #s.

 

[TEOTWAWKI inc.]

This is just a project to keep crews working and justify future budget #s.

So, a complete waste of money.

 

[FRB]

The reason why my assessment went up so much is they improperly stated that my attic was finished living space and added 550 square feet to my home. That was wrong and they couldn’t admit they made a mistake. The guy doing them was a total jerk and clueless. There were so many things wrong about my house it wasn’t even funny. There must have been 4-5 hone facts that were wrong yet he claims he came out and looked at my home.

Did you take it up with BOAR - the Board of Assessment Reviews? These are the things they are there for. A simple picture of the attic not finished would have done the trick. There are time limits on that so it may be too late.

 

[fresch]

The light fixture will be $x,xxx.xx then manpower/ womanpower, truck, hardware, so $3-4K each isn't out of line.

 

[Acer-m14]

I think the point is the $3200 price tag per light.

is that with the winter heating package .. to melt the snow n ice off them .. .. that is a issue with some LED auto headlight and tail lights ..

 

[Acer-m14]

next in the news .. since the LED street lights save the town lots of money .. the power company now has to raise the rates to home owners

 

[Saltwater60]

Did you take it up with BOAR - the Board of Assessment Reviews? These are the things they are there for. A simple picture of the attic not finished would have done the trick. There are time limits on that so it may be too late.

I did the appeals process and instead of a $51,000 increase it increased $33,000. I had also just bought the house 3-4 years prior. I called the city assessor and I just got an ok we will adjust that. Oh the best was the assessor told me just because my assessment dollar figure decreased doesn’t mean my tax increase would decrease either. I how is that? Isnt your taxes your assessed value times the tax rate and that equates to your yearly tax Bill. He was dumbfounded and didn’t know what to say other than not necessarily. The whole process just made no sense honestly.

 

[Saltwater60]

next in the news .. since the LED street lights save the town lots of money .. the power company now has to raise the rates to home owners

Or they will be too bright they will kill too many moths and need to be removed or a sun shade added

 

[FRB]

I did the appeals process and instead of a $51,000 increase it increased $33,000. I had also just bought the house 3-4 years prior. I called the city assessor and I just got an ok we will adjust that. Oh the best was the assessor told me just because my assessment dollar figure decreased doesn’t mean my tax increase would decrease either. I how is that? Isnt your taxes your assessed value times the tax rate and that equates to your yearly tax Bill. He was dumbfounded and didn’t know what to say other than not necessarily. The whole process just made no sense honestly.

Yes it is very confusing to say the least. To me it is the most illegal tax we have. I hate it, I hope my words above do not make it sound like I am defending anything with the way we do property taxes. It is true that an increase assessment does not always mean an increase in tax. There is an assessed value and full market value on your home. Some areas are bringing assessment up to market value and lowering the $ per thousand. To me it is the most unfair tax. So arbitrary. It should be done away with entirely! School tax too, that is mafia extorsion in my book.

Okay back to the subject at hand.... LED lights can save money, but man the money NT is about to spend is way too much right now up front for sure. Would be nice if they did a few each year.... and not 5000k lights either - too blue.... Maybe 4000k at the most.

 

[Depick]

So, a complete waste of money.

Basically

 

[Saltwater60]

Yes it is very confusing to say the least. To me it is the most illegal tax we have. I hate it, I hope my words above do not make it sound like I am defending anything with the way we do property taxes. It is true that an increase assessment does not always mean an increase in tax. There is an assessed value and full market value on your home. Some areas are bringing assessment up to market value and lowering the $ per thousand. To me it is the most unfair tax. So arbitrary. It should be done away with entirely! School tax too, that is mafia extorsion in my book.

Okay back to the subject at hand.... LED lights can save money, but man the money NT is about to spend is way too much right now up front for sure. Would be nice if they did a few each year.... and not 5000k lights either - too blue.... Maybe 4000k at the most.

Yes that was part of it where they were bringing it from 80% to full assessed value. I know you weren’t defending it I’m just explaining why I was pissed because they don’t have a clue what was going on.
Anyway they cut it there’s no explanation why my neighbors house is assessed at $81,000 and mine was $171,000 for the same damn house.
Mine better not have some major increase during the next assessment round or I’m out. My mortgage has gone up a lot due to tax increases. Last assessment was $65/month just for that. School taxes another $35. It’s a joke.

 

[Celt]

Ill say this, while it doesnt seem like an ideal time or proper allocation of funds to me, it IS important to continually invest in infrastructure. It keeps people working and spending money for the economy. All the workers and companies that will benefit have to buy food, gas, car insurance, etc... it will feed alot of people. I just have an inherent mistrust of politicians, especially in a state as corrupt as NY.

 

[SonOfSun]

The short life of many LED's is usually caused by the chinesium in the drivers.

I remember reading once the longest lasting incandescent bulb known was in a fire house somewhere and was like 90yo. No LED is going to last that long, even if you never take it out of the box.

It's actually the centennial bulb. Still burning at 115+ years. Even has its own webcam lol.

Livermore's Centennial Light Bulb

You have found Livermore California's World famous Centennial Light Bulb! Feel free to read the facts sheet, take a close-up look at bulb photos, tour Station #6, of our downtown of 1901. Learn about the 110th birthday party. Take a look at the Bulbcam, and be sure to leave your...

www.centennialbulb.org

 

[TEOTWAWKI inc.]

It's actually the centennial bulb. Still burning at 115+ years. Even has its own webcam lol.

Livermore's Centennial Light Bulb

You have found Livermore California's World famous Centennial Light Bulb! Feel free to read the facts sheet, take a close-up look at bulb photos, tour Station #6, of our downtown of 1901. Learn about the 110th birthday party. Take a look at the Bulbcam, and be sure to leave your...

www.centennialbulb.org

I bet that is a still photo and the bulb went out years ago. Similar to the current president.

 

[Acer-m14]

Or they will be too bright they will kill too many moths and need to be removed or a sun shade added

don't give them any ideas .. freekin moths have no mouth to eat .. they just fly into the light to die quickly .. lol

but to many of them splatting on auto windshields could cause a big wreak ... ban Street lights LOL ..

 

[Saltwater60]

don't give them any ideas .. freekin moths have no mouth to eat .. they just fly into the light to die quickly .. lol

but to many of them splatting on auto windshields could cause a big wreak ... ban Street lights LOL ..

Or the poor roads gather below the lights and get run over. I do actually feel bad for the roads I do love them.

 

[Michael]

Ill say this, while it doesnt seem like an ideal time or proper allocation of funds to me, it IS important to continually invest in infrastructure.

Very true, even for non-government entities. The hospital I work at replaced all the lights in the parking garage with LEDs several years ago. If I recall correctly, we saved somewhere around 30k a month in electricity. The project paid for itself in less than a year.
I think that part of the reason we as residential users don't notice that much of a change when we switch to more efficient lights is that the service charge is as much or more than the usage charge. The vast majority of electrical use is going to be refrigerators, freezers, heating/cooling, and/or hot water, and idle electronic devices (computers not in use, clocks on appliances, chargers plugged in but not being used). Lighting makes up the lesser part of the bill.

 

[Saltwater60]

Very true, even for non-government entities. The hospital I work at replaced all the lights in the parking garage with LEDs several years ago. If I recall correctly, we saved somewhere around 30k a month in electricity. The project paid for itself in less than a year.
I think that part of the reason we as residential users don't notice that much of a change when we switch to more efficient lights is that the service charge is as much or more than the usage charge. The vast majority of electrical use is going to be refrigerators, freezers, heating/cooling, and/or hot water, and idle electronic devices (computers not in use, clocks on appliances, chargers plugged in but not being used). Lighting makes up the lesser part of the bill.

I do agree that it’s probably not a bad idea just bad timing. People will remember we just paid 19 million for new lights and my taxes increased $50/month because we have a budget deficit or $2 million. If we didn’t replace those damn lights I could have cut $150/month off my tax bill for this year. The government is blind to this. If it’s worth it they should have said it will pay for itself in a year or three years or whatever it is. They didn’t so that makes me wonder. Just saying.

 

[holdover]

Its gets dark in Tonawanda. You should see it!

 

[GOPerfect]

I am in the town, I am against this spending.

We live in a society filled with pussies! Can't handle a bit of darkness at night.

Fucking pussy's!

We have issues here, just like all areas, lights should not be a prioty!