Los Angeles Voters to Decide Fate of Aging Streetlight System

Proposition 218 ballot measure aims to fund critical repairs and combat copper wire theft crisis

Apr. 11, 2026 at 12:51am

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A photorealistic painting of a single streetlight pole standing alone on a city street, the warm glow of the light contrasting with the deep shadows cast by surrounding buildings, conveying a sense of urban isolation and the need for modernization.The aging streetlight infrastructure in Los Angeles faces an uncertain future as officials seek voter approval for critical upgrades.Los Angeles Today

Property owners across Los Angeles will soon receive ballots to vote on a Proposition 218 assessment increase that would provide funding to modernize the city's aging streetlight system. Officials cite widespread outages, copper theft, and decades-old funding levels as driving the need for upgrades to improve public safety and system reliability.

Why it matters

Los Angeles' streetlight system is a critical piece of infrastructure that impacts public safety, traffic, and quality of life for residents. However, the system is under strain from aging equipment, copper wire theft, and inadequate funding levels that have remained largely unchanged for nearly 30 years. The upcoming Proposition 218 vote will determine whether the city can make necessary investments to reduce outages, combat theft, and modernize the system.

The details

The Los Angeles Bureau of Street Lighting maintains over 220,000 streetlights across the city, covering two-thirds of the area and 4,500 miles of streets. Much of the infrastructure dates back decades, with many fixtures over 50 years old. The system relies on an extensive underground network of 9,000 miles of conduit and 27,000 miles of copper wire, making it vulnerable to theft. Officials say the bureau currently has only 45% of the resources required to properly maintain the system, leading to a backlog of over 32,000 service requests and nightly outages affecting 25,000 streetlights. In response, the city is transitioning to solar-powered lights to reduce copper theft, while also expanding field repair capacity.

  • Ballots will be mailed to property owners starting April 17, 2026.
  • Completed ballots must be returned by June 2, 2026.
  • Final ballot tabulation is expected following a public hearing.

The players

Miguel Sangalang

Executive Director and General Manager of the Los Angeles Bureau of Street Lighting.

Silvia Torres

Street Lighting Superintendent II of Field Operations for the Los Angeles Bureau of Street Lighting.

Fabian E. Cheng

Assistant Director and Chief Engineer of the Los Angeles Bureau of Street Lighting.

Manuel Reyes Hago

Street Lighting Construction and Maintenance Superintendent for the Los Angeles Bureau of Street Lighting.

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What they’re saying

“We are currently operating with roughly 45% of the resources required for a system of this scale.”

— Miguel Sangalang, Executive Director and General Manager

What’s next

The outcome of the Proposition 218 vote will determine whether Los Angeles proceeds with a systemwide modernization effort or continues operating under funding levels established nearly three decades ago.

The takeaway

This vote represents a critical juncture for Los Angeles' aging streetlight infrastructure, which impacts public safety, traffic, and quality of life for residents. The city must balance the need for system upgrades with the financial burden on property owners, underscoring the importance of transparency and accountability in how any approved funds are utilized.