LAMORINDA WEEKLY | Let there be light! (in Moraga Shopping Center)


A few of the dozens of burned out lights in Moraga Safeway parking lot Photo Vera Kochan

At about 8 p.m., during the first week of April, this reporter made an out of the norm, evening trip to Safeway in the Moraga Center. Struck by how dark the parking lot was, it became clear that dozens of overhead lights had burned out.

A tour of the parking lot revealed that 23 lights were out in the Safeway lot alone. A further sweep around the block that is Moraga Center counted 31 additional light failures. Looking across the street to the former OSH parking lot showed even more lights unlit.

Danny Llavata, Safeway's night manager, was informed of the situation. Llavata stated that it was the property owner's responsibility to maintain the parking lot lights.

Just to cover all bases, Moraga's Public Works Director Edric Kwan was notified of the situation and explained that the Moraga Shopping Center was on private property and the town was not responsible for the lighting.

Having recently become acquainted with Moraga Center's property owner, Joan Bruzzone, this reporter decided to contact her personally regarding the unsafe atmosphere.

Bruzzone was emailed of the circumstances and replied expeditiously with a very heartfelt response. "I do appreciate your concern, and the desire to rectify what needs to be done, and I will certainly get in touch with both Safeway again for the part of the center that is their responsibility as well as what we are responsible for." Bruzzone added, "In the past we had our own truck and personnel to do what we were responsible for, but have had problems with that truck as well and will have to make other arrangements, immediately."

During a follow-up phone conversation with Bruzzone, it became evident that she has taken the welfare of Moraga's citizens personally and will do her utmost to help keep the community safe. Since the situation was brought to Bruzzone's attention, she has been hard at work. "Seems getting things done always takes time," she said in an email, "but yes indeed, I have been very busy trying to make things `brighter' again for all of us, and Safeway is very involved also. Just let your readers know that we are working very diligently toward a brighter evening for all of us."