Yes, streetlights are important, but why is it the federal government's responsibility to provide the funding for something that has always been a local responsibility?

Detroit's PLD can't even keep electricity flowing to all of the light fixtures they already have, so the touted "green" benefits [[longer life, less electricity usage) can't be fully realized until the DPLD system reliability is improved. That's why - even if you can accept the premise that funding for Detroit street lights should be a federal responsibility - this earmark can still be perceived to be a waste of federal tax dollars.