Light at the end of the tunnel for 56th Street

The 56^th Street lamp post that was damaged during the February 8 snowstorm is one step closer to being fixed, thanks to a little help from the Home Reporter.

Neighbors on the block told this paper in early March that the street was dark and a magnet for crime. After we contacted the Department of Transportation on March 14, crews removed the broken lamp post just a day later.

On Thursday, March 28, DOT installed new wiring in the base of the street light and put down new cement.

Sheila Pisciotta, who called 3-1-1 to complain about the light numerous times, said that she is grateful that it is getting fixed, but it’s “still taking too long. It’s dark. There’s a home for disabled children and an alleyway right here.”

Isabelle Verdini also lives on the block. “You don’t realize what you have until it’s gone,” she said, adding that license plates have been stolen off of cars since the street has been dark.

The only other lamp post is all the way on the other end of the block, near Fifth Avenue. Residents have been keeping their lights on outside of their homes to feel safer.

“It’s super dark. But they should come soon to fix it,” commented John Santiago who lives in the corner building near Fourth Avenue.

DOT workers told Pisciotta that crews from Con Edison are responsible for installing the new lamp post itself.

“We are one step closer,” Pisciotta said.