Brighton Beach Residents Say City Has Left Them In The Dark

Brighton Beach Residents Say City Has Left Them In The Dark - NY1

People who live near the Brighton Beach boardwalk say it's too dark at night and want the city to restore lighting that's been broken since Hurricane Sandy. NY1's Michael Herzenberg filed the following report.
The serenity has washed away along the boardwalk of Brighton Beach as many residents now worry about safety at night.
"It's very dangerous," said one Brighton Beach resident.
"You cannot see people. Right now it's a really big problem," said another Brighton Beach resident.
None of the overhead lights work along the Brighton Beach boardwalk stretching from Coney Island Avenue to Manhattan Beach. Residents say they've been broken since Hurricane Sandy.
"We're covered in darkness and I'm concerned about slip and fall accidents. My mom has a cane she's disabled," said one Brighton Beach resident.
Residents say at night they can't see loose boards and actual holes in the boardwalk that might trip them up. But they also worry the darkness invites criminal behavior.
"Someone will come and hit you on the head and you will not see anyone," said one Brighton Beach resident.
Emergency lights are set up along the boardwalk, but they're not on either.
The boardwalk brightens up right away as you move west to Coney Island, which just creates a feeling of frustration for those in Brighten Beach who say they've called and sent letters to government officials.
The city Department of Transportation says it has fixed 90 percent of the overhead boardwalk lights broken during Hurricane Sandy. It's still working with contractors on the rest, but hasn't released a timeline for finishing.