A clean environment is every person’s duty
Washington Mayor Scott Putnam told members of the Rotary Club Tuesday how he and his administration plan to fight blight. And an article in Wednesday’s edition explained how the city has partnered with Arc Human Services to clean up blighted properties and abandoned sites.
An Arc crew last week removed piles of garbage dumped in an empty lot off Shaffer Avenue, and Monday they cleared weeds and brush that for several years have blocked a sidewalk on the east side of Shaffer.
But that sidewalk in places is too broken apart and dangerous to walk on, and why the property’s owner has not been compelled to repair it is a question still in search of an answer.
The partnership is good for the city and especially good for Arc clients, who benefit greatly from the work experience. However, city government should not be left alone to battle blight and clean up litter. It’s everyone’s responsibility.
Ignoring litter and graffiti only encourages slobs and vandals. Not addressing these smaller crimes creates and environment in which more serious crime flourishes. A trashy environment leads to trashy behavior.
Property owners need to realize that keeping their buildings, lots and sidewalks clean and safe not only protects them from liability claims but also increases property values and makes the area more attractive to business.
Those who live and work in the city have their responsibilities, too. Attracting new residents and businesses to town benefits everyone, and we can help that happen by calling the attention of property owners and city officials to problems we see. It wouldn’t hurt, either, to pick that discarded coffee cup off the sidewalk and deposit it in the trash container at the corner.
Every little bit helps.