Mayor Landrieu’s administration says there are almost 5,000 broken street lights in the city. Some New Orleans City Council members say the problem is contributing to the city’s violent crime rate and they want the lights fixed.

Treavor Powe walks her kids home from school on Bienville every night in the dark. “It makes me real mad because sometimes I go the long route, I'll walk up Canal and then turn on Galvez,” Powe said.

It's an extra mile out of her way, all because she says the street light at the intersection of Bienville and N Miro Streets is out, and has been for a while.

During a public works committee meeting Friday, many council members said the biggest complaint they receive from residents, is about broken lights. “This problem has got to be solved, Cedric because people are scared to death in this city. They're scared with what’s going on with crime, with the street lights being out, and its making them more scared,” Councilman Jon Johnson said.

Councilwoman Kristin Palmer added, “There’s a direct correlation between lack of street lights and the way a neighborhood looks and crime.”

According to Treavor Powe and her neighbors, there was a recent shooting in which a man was struck four times by bullets at the intersection of Bienville and N Miro. They say if the light had been working, they don't think the crime would've occurred.

Deputy Mayor Cedric Grant says the two contractors hired by the Landrieu administration are working hard to repair the lights. But the council says the work isn't being done fast enough. “What we might have to do is go to Entergy and say to them, we need your help on an emergency basis even if you don't take it on a permanent basis we need your help on an emergency basis to come here and help us get this street light program fixed in this city,” Johnson said.

It's an idea that Treavor Powe supports, because she just wants her family to be safe.