Calling themselves the “silent majority,” a group of Sedona residents has decided to speak up in favor of installation of streetlights on Highway 89A.
On Oct. 1, supporters of the streetlights sent more than 200 letters and signatures to Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano and Arizona Department of Transportation Director Victor Mendez.
“Up until now, only the opponents of the lighting plan have been visible and vocal,” ad hoc spokesperson in favor of the lights, Mark Dinunzio, said. “But finally the real majority of Sedonans who realize this is a good, common-sense solution are deciding to speak up.”
By Alison Ecklund
Calling themselves the “silent majority,” a group of Sedona residents has decided to speak up in favor of installation of streetlights on Highway 89A.
On Oct. 1, supporters of the streetlights sent more than 200 letters and signatures to Arizona Gov. Janet Napolitano and Arizona Department of Transportation Director Victor Mendez.
“Up until now, only the opponents of the lighting plan have been visible and vocal,” ad hoc spokesperson in favor of the lights, Mark Dinunzio, said. “But finally the real majority of Sedonans who realize this is a good, common-sense solution are deciding to speak up.”
The letters were sent the same day protestors went to the Capitol steps in Phoenix and to Sedona City Hall.
“This issue is about the safety of everyone who drives, walks or bikes on the incredibly dark Highway 89A in Sedona,” Dinunzio said.
The group tried to make sure its letters made it to the governor before the protest, he said.
Dinunzio had no difficulty finding people to write letters in support of the lights, he said.
“You start with a few, a few know a few, before you know it, you have many,” he said.
The “silent majority” is “tired of being bullied,” Dinunzio said. “They [protestors] shouldn’t get the playing field all to themselves, and they no longer do.”
Barbara Litrell, president of Keep Sedona Beautiful, a local conservation group trying to block installation of the streetlights, has no idea why supporters would feel bullied, she said.
“This is not a question of people bullying other people,” she said. “This is people voicing their opinion.”
According to Dinunzio, the choice became clear Aug. 13 when ADOT Regional Director John Harper outlined the requirements for the state-owned highway.
Either ADOT would pay to install lights along the highway or Sedona would have to pay to install medians or barriers, he said.
“The medians would severely limit access of larger vehicles, trucks and buses and would require conversion of the present signalized intersections to roundabouts,” Dinunzio said.
City Manger Eric Levitt estimated at the meeting that medians would cost the city around $10 to $12 million.
The supporters agreed with City Council when it voted 4-2 on Aug. 13 to implement short-term solutions to increase safety on Highway 89A and to direct ADOT to proceed with dark sky-compliant lighting from Dry Creek Road to Airport Road on Highway 89A, he said.
According to Litrell, people may want streetlights, but it’s not to increase safety.
“I haven’t heard any evidence of streetlights improving safety on Highway 89A at night. And they certainly don’t improve safety during the day,” she said.
Protesters are asking for increased safety, Litrell said, and that certainly isn’t streetlights.
Supporters want to be sure all seven on council know there is a large number of people in support of their action.
“People on council have been vilified,” Dinunzio said. “We just want to get accurate information out. That’s what we’re about.”
According to Dinunzio, the problem was poor visibility, and the solution is illumination.
“It’s cost effective and it works,” he said. “And it’s ADOT’s solution. The council has more important things to get on to.”
Alison Ecklund can be reached at 282-7795, ext. 125, or e-mail
aecklund@larsonnewspapers.com.
