The lack of adequate street lighting on Waller Avenue directly impacts seniors, children, and working families who live on this block. Seniors are left vulnerable walking home at night, and children returning from after-school programs or extracurricular activities often must rely on porch lights or dim building glow to guide them. These conditions create unsafe and unfair burdens that no resident should have to endure in their own community. 


What is at stake is the safety, dignity, and future of this neighborhood. Without proper lighting, seniors will continue to face unnecessary risks, and children will be discouraged from participating in school and community activities that are vital to their growth and development. If this issue is addressed, the block will become a safer, more welcoming place where residents can walk confidently and families can thrive. Every neighborhood in Chicago deserves that standard of care and protection. 


Now is the time to act because this issue has been repeatedly reported, documented, and even brought to public attention, yet no meaningful changes have been made. Delaying further only reinforces the inequities faced by majority-Black neighborhoods like Waller Avenue. The City must assess the conditions immediately, provide a clear plan for installing proper streetlights, and commit to ensuring that our seniors and children are no longer left in the dark. 

29th Ward Alderman Chris Taliaferro: Why has this issue gone unaddressed after more than five years of community requests?