(Oct. 4, 2007) -- CSULB President F. King Alexander told a small crowd Thursday (Oct. 4) that "it’s time for the city to come through" and help pay to illuminate the streets surrounding the campus.

At a noontime "Light Up Our Nights" rally, Alexander, Campus Police Chief Jack Pearson and City Councilman Gary DeLong tried to turn up the pressure on City Council to pay a share of costs for lighting thoroughfares bordering the campus.

Members of Associated Student Inc. placed a banner on a table for students to sign. They plan to bring it to the next Council meeting. ASI leaders led a small group of students in chanting, "What do we want? Lighting! Why do we want it? Safety! When do we want it? Now!"

Demonstrators objected to the City Council's refusal to contribute $133,000 toward the cost of lighting major streets bordering the campus. Council members voted 8-1 last month (DeLong dissenting) to reallocate the funds towards after-school programs, Halloween parties and snow days.

That vote prevented an agreement from taking effect between CSULB, LB City Hall and L.A. County to each pay one-third of the cost of a $400,000 lighting project. The three previously agreed to fund the lighting project along Bellflower Boulevard, Atherton Street and Palo Verde Avenue.

Funding for the street lights was included in the budget proposed by city management...which cut certain Parks and Recreation activities, including some "snow days" for kids, one of the most heavily attended LB park events.

Third District Councilman Gary DeLong, one of the scheduled speakers at the event, said "Councilman O'Donnell wanted a snow day. It's ludicrous."

Much talk during the rally -- attended by between 20 and 40 people -- turned to campus security in general. Speakers mentioned the series of attacks on women last fall, and a recent attempted kidnapping in a parking lot near the dorms last month.

Alexander said 60 cameras would be posted on campus by February and that the college has spent $600,000 on lighting since last summer.

But he said the city should keep up its agreement to help pay for lighting on border streets. "Four out of five people who drive those streets are citizens, so it’s a win-win situation for the city," Alexander said.

"In my eyes, (the street lights) are a state responsibility," O’Donnell told council during an August budget hearing. "Look, this is state property, a state function. Why the city is taking this on, I can’t understand."

DeLong, the only Council member to vote for the lighting plan, criticized O’Donnell’s vote...but also said Thursday, "I’m confident we’re going to find the money this year. I’m hoping for this quarter."

[Oct. 4 p.m. added text] CSULB President King Alexander emails:

"As President of CSULB during the rally on campus today [Oct. 4], I emphasized the importance of lighting the surrounding main streets of campus while also thanking the City Council for their attention on this issue since it has gone unaddressed for 58 years. Additionally, I pointed out to the students that I believed that the City Council would eventually approve this important project because of their interest."