Sacramento lighting landmarks in blue to support healthcare workers fighting coronavirus
The city of Sacramento is showering city landmarks with blue lights to support first responders and health care workers during the coronavirus crisis – and Mayor Darrell Steinberg is asking residents to do the same.
Wednesday night, crews placed blue lights to shine on Old City Hall, Memorial Auditorium and the Capitol Mall, according to a news release from Steinberg’s office.
Later this week, the city plans to place the lights at the tunnel connecting Old Sacramento to downtown, the pedestrian bridge at Sacramento City College and the Richards Boulevard underpass, the release said. They’re calling it #LightSactoBlue.
Steinberg came up with the idea after seeing photos of Great Britain’s blue lighting campaign, the release said. Last week blue lights were placed at the tower of Windsor Castle.
Other cities, such as Cleveland and Detroit have also started displaying blue lights to support health care workers.
“Blue is the color of England’s national health service. It’s also the color used by most health care providers in their logos,” Steinberg said in the release. “It’s considered a calm, steady color, qualities we really need right now.”
Those who don’t have blue lights can still participate by tying a blue ribbon around a tree, writing a sign in blue or putting up holiday lights, the release said.
“I know for those who celebrate Christmas that it is April not December, but bring out your blue lights,” Steinberg said in a Facebook live video Wednesday. “And for those who don’t celebrate Christmas, it might be time to light our homes for the first time. Let’s do this to show solidarity, not only to our healthcare workers and first responders, but to all the essential workers who face additional public health risks and stress because of the jobs they’re doing to protect us and to keep us fed.”
This story was originally published April 9, 2020 at 10:48 AM.
