River West Residents Plea for Streetlamp Repairs

Neighborhood seeks action on long-standing lighting issues affecting safety and community

Published on Feb. 6, 2026

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Residents of the River West neighborhood in Tulsa, Oklahoma are calling on local officials to address ongoing problems with broken and malfunctioning streetlamps in their community. The lack of proper lighting has raised concerns about public safety, especially for children playing outdoors and elderly residents.

Why it matters

Adequate street lighting is a crucial public service that impacts community safety, walkability, and overall quality of life. The River West neighborhood's persistent lighting issues highlight the challenges some Tulsa communities face in getting basic infrastructure needs met.

The details

Residents report that many streetlamps in the River West area have been broken or not functioning properly for months, leaving stretches of the neighborhood dark at night. This has led to concerns about increased crime, tripping hazards for pedestrians, and difficulties for drivers navigating the streets.

  • The streetlighting problems in River West have persisted for several months.

The players

River West Neighborhood

A residential community in Tulsa, Oklahoma that is dealing with long-standing issues related to broken and malfunctioning streetlamps.

Tulsa City Officials

Local government representatives responsible for maintaining and repairing the city's streetlighting infrastructure.

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What they’re saying

“It's a safety hazard, plain and simple. We need the city to come out and fix these lights before someone gets hurt.”

— Sarah Johnson, River West Resident (spotonoklahoma.com)

“The lack of lighting makes it really hard for me to get around at night. I'm worried I might fall or not see a car coming.”

— Edith Wilkins, Elderly River West Resident (spotonoklahoma.com)

What’s next

City officials have pledged to send repair crews to the River West neighborhood within the next two weeks to assess the streetlighting issues and begin making necessary fixes.

The takeaway

This situation in River West underscores the importance of local governments maintaining critical public infrastructure like streetlights to ensure community safety and quality of life. Residents are hopeful the city will act quickly to resolve the longstanding lighting problems in their neighborhood.