East Cleveland-based GE Lighting upset over Cleveland's turn to Chinese manufacture for streetlights

CLEVELAND - There old phrase -- "Let there be light" -- is on the tongues of many in Cleveland City Hall.  However, there is a controversial question hovering over the phrase.  It is not so much about the light as it is about who will turn on the switch.

It is a political battle between East Cleveland-based GE Lighting, which has been in the lighting business since Thomas Edison's success story and a Chinese company promising to move its North American manufacturing operation to Cleveland, if the city will grant it the business of replacing streetlight over a 10-year period.

City Council's Finance Committee heard testimony from representative of both companies, as it wrestles with which company it will recommend to the full council for a vote. Mayor Frank Jackson has asked council to approve his proposal to select Sunpu-Opto/Semiconductor of China as the sole supplier of LED street lights for the city.

"We will relocate our manufacturing facility in the city of Clevlenad," said Peter Tien, representing Sunpu-Opto Semiconductor. "We will have warehouses, distribution  and assembly work through local vendors to do some of the auxiliary components."

However, GE Lighting, based at Nela Park in East Cleveland, feels it was cut out of the bidding process. Company president Michael Petras said GE received a questionnaire, but little else in what were the city specifications. 

"There was no public bid or specifications put out," said Petras.  "We feel very capable of what we're able to do and all we're asking for is competition in an open bidding process."

Officials with GE Lighting contend, among other thigs, they should be allowed to bid for the LED products. The charter of Cleveland requires all purchases totaling $50,000 ore more be competitively bid and that the contract be awarded to the best and lowest bidder.

The administration of Mayor Frank Jackson has said it felt GE did not make the kind of LED lights city hall wants for Cleveland's 67,000 street lights. 

Petras said his company could do the job, as it has done for many other cities in the United States.

The full Cleveland City Council will soon vote on the issue.