Nevada City Business Owners Fight To Keep Lights On After City Council Decision

NEVADA CITY (CBS13) — City leaders in Nevada City voted to turn off the lights in the downtown historic district 10 months of the year, upsetting business owners.

Protesters took to the streets wearing lights to send a message: keep the lights on.

"I think the majority of merchants people who live here the people who come to visit love the lights," said Nevada City business owner Matt Margulies.

Nevada City is known for its holiday lights that twinkle all year round, providing a festive atmosphere, especially during the holiday season.

But now business owners are being told to turn them off between mid-January and Mid-November.

The move by the City Council was meant to keep the lighting throughout the town consistent all year round.

Business owners like Margulies say there's a reason they keep their lights on.

"If those lights are off it looks like we're closed, people walk by," he said. "They don't' want to walk into a dark place."

But City Councilman Robert Bergman says no one should worry they will be kept in the dark.

"I'm looking for a lighting plan that is developed really by somebody who understands it," he said. "What you want to do is if you're going to have something that's on a year round basis, you'd like something that's attractive."

But protesters say it's time to pull the plug on the city's so-called bright idea.