Why does it always say, "Don’t walk" before I've completed crossing the street?

The flashing "don't walk" or upraised hand is a warning to people who have not yet entered the intersections that it's too late to safely cross the street before the traffic signal changes allowing cars to proceed. Signals are timed to allow plenty of time for people who have already started walking to safely cross the street.

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1. Who do I contact if a streetlight is out?
2. Who do I contact if a traffic signal light is burned out or appears to be not operating correctly?
3. How is the placement of traffic signals determined?
4. How do pedestrian signals work?
5. Is it really necessary for me to push a button to activate the pedestrian signal, or can I just wait for the light to change?
6. Why does it always say, "Don’t walk" before I've completed crossing the street?