Residents Demand Action on Broken Streetlights Near SDSU

San Diego, October 24, 2025

News Summary

Residents on Rockford Drive near San Diego State University are concerned about the lack of streetlight repairs that have left their neighborhood dangerously dark for several months. Students, in particular, are at risk while navigating poorly lit streets. With repair timelines estimated between 444 to 550 days, locals are advocating for immediate solutions, such as solar-powered streetlights. Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera’s office is exploring options to speed up the process, amid growing frustration about public safety.

San Diego, CA – Residents living on Rockford Drive near San Diego State University are voicing safety concerns due to broken streetlights that have not been repaired for several months. The ongoing lack of lighting poses a significant threat to pedestrians, particularly to students who must navigate their way home after night classes.

Jim Jennings, a long-time resident of the area, reported that the streetlights have remained non-functional for four to five months. Several streets affected by the outages include Rockford Drive, Dorothy Drive, Mary Lane Drive, and Montezuma Road. In response to these issues, Jennings emphasized the dangers faced by students walking home in the dark.

It was revealed that a request submitted through the City of San Diego’s ‘Get It Done App’ indicated that repairs to the streetlights could take a staggering 444 days. A subsequent inquiry to the city showed that this timeline could extend to as long as 550 days. Residents have expressed frustration at the lengthy repair timeline, with many fearing for their safety while walking in poorly lit conditions.

Local resident Lucas Morales highlighted the danger posed to pedestrians as vehicles often struggle to see them in the darkness. Another resident, Josiah Gaona, shared his experience of using his phone’s flashlight to navigate safely after visiting the gym, as the absence of street lighting leaves them vulnerable. These accounts have raised alarm among neighbors, who are calling for immediate action to address the situation.

In acknowledgment of the issue, San Diego Councilmember Sean Elo-Rivera’s office confirmed the lengthy timeline for repairs and reiterated that no one should feel unsafe due to infrastructure failures. To expedite the process, the office of Councilmember Elo-Rivera is looking into allocating funds to install solar-powered streetlights on Rockford Drive. This alternative is seen as a quicker and more sustainable solution to the ongoing lighting issues in the neighborhood.

However, Jennings pointed out that previous efforts to use solar panels for streetlights had failed to work effectively, raising concerns about the potential success of this new proposal. The San Diego Police Department has been contacted to provide information on any reported safety incidents related to the broken streetlights, but no response has been received at this time. The city has also been approached for additional information regarding the ongoing situation.

This situation underscores a growing concern among residents and students at San Diego State University about the adequacy of infrastructure to ensure public safety. As priority continues to be placed on repairs, community members are left to navigate potentially dangerous conditions while waiting for a resolution.

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• NBC San Diego: Broken Streetlights Raise Safety Concerns in College Area Neighborhood
• Fox19: North College Hill HS Enhances Security After Last Season’s Safety Concerns
• ABC4: SLCC Speaker Safety Review
• KBTX: Theft Outside College Station Hospital Raises Parking Lot Safety Concerns
• CBS 8: Residents Voice Safety Concerns Over Streetlight Outages in College Area
• Wikipedia: Public Safety
• Google Search: Safety Concerns
• Google Scholar: Safety Infrastructure
• Encyclopedia Britannica: Safety Infrastructure
• Google News: Safety Issues

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