Yesterday evening I sat at the bar at Vermillion with a friend and watched several city trucks installing lights under the Interstate 30 onramp and offramp in the River Market. The lights were a response to a barrage of emails sent around town yesterday initiated by Corey Liddle in response to a very true incident related to his friend Brandon Harris. Mr. Harris was carkjacked, beaten , robbed and shot last week.

For what it’s worth, more lights are a very good thing. I’ll disagree with LRPD Chief Stuart Thomas who said, “this is the sort of thing that happens when an irresponsible idiot gets access to the internet” in the Arkansas Democrat Gazette this morning.

Actually, the sort of thing that happens when citizens become aware about an issue is, generally, a positive response from government. In this case, people were made aware of the incident regarding Mr. Harris. That led to more lights in traditionally dark places downtown. Maybe it will lead to more cops patrolling the streets too. All of that is good for the city.

Yes, Mr. Riddle sensationalized some facts, and he subsequently apologized. But he’s not an idiot for wanting to protect others from the same kind of harm his friend Brandon Harris faced.