DETROIT – A light pole should make a community safer and brighter. However, the placement of one particular light pole on Detroit's west side caused a driving hazard at the end of Patrice Jones' driveway.
"This is a busy street. So trying to navigate yourself into the driveway is enough. But now, trying to navigate around that pole is impossible, and somebody tears up their car," Jones said.
She showed Help Me Hank the problem at the edge of her driveway at her home at Calvert and Hamilton. The driveway is on the Hamilton side of her home, a busy road in the west side neighborhood. Jones noticed the trouble as soon as the new light pole was installed back in August of 2015.
Cars pulling into the driveway would have to carefully navigate to get into the driveway without hitting the pole. On the way out, they would be backing the car up onto the busy Hamilton, which was even trickier. Jones said everyone who drove up to her home complained about the light. It was just too close to the driveway.
"It's sad. I just ask the city, would they please move it? Because this is my home," she told Help Me Hank.
Looking for help from Help Me Hank
Jones said she called the city repeatedly. She said she called every number she could find. "They tell me they're going to send someone else out. They're coming back out, and they don't."
Eventually, she called the Help Me Hank hotline and the Local 4 consumer unit got involved. We contacted City Hall and the city promised to take action. Finally the light was moved, and Jones received something else as well.
"The lighting department came out and they apologized. They said it shouldn't have been put over there anyway," she said.
City leaders say they were happy to correct the problem and they're also happy with the progress in installing new light poles throughout the city. "We are ahead of schedule and 95 percent complete with putting lights in the entire city," said Marshall Bullock, a Community Liaison for the City of Detroit.
It's a happy ending for Patrice Jones. She can now enjoy the added security of the new light and use her driveway without fear.
"Thank you, Hank!" Jones said.
Contact Help Me Hank
If you have a problem you think Help Me Hank should investigate, please call 313-298-WDIV (9348) or write an email to helpmehank@clickondetroit.com. Please include a brief summary of the issue, your contact information, and any information you have on all the parties involved.
There is a team of Help Me Hank volunteers that work to resolve stories that might not be on television. Please remember we focus primarily on consumer disputes over goods or services that have not been delivered as promised.