Jake and Spike: Getting Seattle street lights fixed shouldn’t require a ‘shot-up car seat’

A Seattle resident struggled for years to get the attention of Seattle City Light after several street lights in his neighborhood went out.

Phil Brandt, of High Point, ultimately brought a car seat that was hit by stray bullets in a nearby shooting to a Seattle City Council meeting—and they promptly fixed his neighborhood’s street lights.

“Phil Brandt said that the lights in his neighborhood kept going out, and the city was not replacing them. He called Seattle City Light, which operates the [street lights] and also operates their electricity, and he said, ‘Hey, what’s the deal? These lights aren’t getting turned back on,'” Jake Skorheim, co-host of “The Jake and Spike Show” on KIRO Newsradio, said.

Man waits years until Seattle City Light fixes street lights

Jake detailed Brandt’s attempt to get the city’s attention with a shot-up car seat.

“You’re not fixing the lights. Months go by, and more lights are going out. Years go by, and finally, he goes to a Seattle City Council meeting and brings along a car seat,” Jake said. “One night, when the street lights were out, bullets were flying, and a bullet smashed through his window, right into his kid’s car seat.”

After Brandt’s appearance at the city council meeting, changes were made.

“Within hours, they finally came out and started fixing his street lamps,” Jake said.

Spike O’Neill, co-host of “Jake and Spike,” touched on why the unlit street lamps are a safety concern.

“A well-lit street is safer, 100% keeps prowlers away, and keeps hoodlums from hanging out on your streets. Darkness is a hoodlum’s friend,” Spike said.

Jake added that Brandt’s solution should not be the standard.

“You shouldn’t have to bring a car seat in with bullet holes to get your lights replaced,” Jake said.

Listen to the full conversation below.

Listen to “The Jake and Spike Show” weekdays from noon to 3 p.m. on KIRO Newsradio 97.3 FM. Subscribe to the podcast here.