In our local paper today there was this article entitled, "Downtown Beautification" and it highlighted the efforts of a group of volunteers, now in its second year that go around the city and pick up litter. A big thank you to them. I grew up in this town, my Father was born and raised here, and now we live in the family home. It's a modest city home, nothing fancy, but it's our home. In the last several years the streets of the city have fallen victim to hundreds of families who take no pride at all in keeping their property looking good. People used to take pride in their homes, and they actually cared how it looked, but that seems to be a thing of the past, and it is quite disappointing. Now don't get me wrong, there are still some who do care, obviously this group of volunteers are some of them, and I thank them for their efforts. In an unrealted article just below this one, entitled, "Sobering Reality" about a mock DUI accident, I am reminded that indeed the sobering reality is, begin to take some pride in your home town, begin to set the example, and show some pride in your property. Whether you rent or own, it's still your home. All it takes is the simple step of throwing your trash in a container, not on the street.
My friend, we are in a throw away world. I see it all the time , people throwing trash on the street. When I ran a district, I would stop them and make them not only pick up the trash they threw out, I would make them pick up the entire block, or give them a 100 dollar ticket. Their choice.
@sarasdadandmom Terry, and the sad thing about it, they appear to be clueless, thinking it's normal, nothing wrong with it at all.There are times I wish I had a badge.
AMEN! I wish everyone would do what they can to make their spaces and towns beautiful. Our town is having a litter event this week too. Luckily, we didn't find too much trash in our neighborhood and parks. Great message in your photo, Rick.
Great message, Rick. It really makes me mad when I see people throwing trash out their windows when they are driving. If they had to pay a steep fine and work about 500 to 1000 hours picking up trash in 100+ degree/humidity weather, I could guarantee they wouldn't do it again. I agree that people just don't take pride in much of anything anymore. Just saying.
It amazes me how often I see people just drop their trash wherever they may be. Especially in a place like NYC where there's a trash can on almost every corner, is it really that hard to hold onto your garbage for the space of one block?
Wow, this is kind of powerful, Rick. People actually throw their trash in the street and leave it in their yard? I think there might be some kind of zoning agaist that where I live. We once had two unregistered cars (newly bought used car for a daughter and husband's old car after he bought a new used car) in our driveway and within a week the police showed up to tell us one of them had to go. True story.
@lauriehiggins Yes, unfortunately Laurie, some areas are worse than others, but it really disgusts me when I see somjeone just freely discard trash as they walk. In this area you cannot safely confront individuals without the fear of being shot. Part of the area near where I live is pretty heavy in drugs and gangs. No repsect.
Love it!
& Sadly its true that so many don't care anymore. We came from a neighborhood full of people like that & it made our property value plummet. More people need to take pride!
Hats off to your volunteers. The trash throwing problem seems to be everywhere. If it's not in your neighborhood, count yourself blessed. Back in high school days my husband was an avid camper. He'd be so angry when he discovered trash at a campsite. "It's lighter when you bring it back out than when you carry it in!" he'd complain. I do wish people cared more, but I just don't see how you can change them when everything from containers to human life is disposal. Bottom line, I guess, is that it starts with me, so when I'm out walking, I think I'll bring a plastic bag along, just in case I see something where I can make a difference. Thanks for the thought provoking post Rick.
Don't even get me started. Sigh. I'm glad some people are trying to improve the town. Most people have some serious deficiencies in the personal responsibility department. I'm going to quit typing now before my blood pressure shoots up!
It's very frustrating to deal with this attitude. I've seen it more and more. People dropping garbage where they sit in the bleachers during a ball game is the most disturbing trend to me. People feel it's ok and encouraged to throw garbage around their feet and around those sitting around them. It's disgusting having to walk through other people's discarded garbage to get out of the seats. But, I'm told it's excpected. My gosh I would not want to clean it up after thousands of people have trashed the area. It's an entitlement attitude that carries over into everything people do. If it's tolerated then one more won't hurt, right? People make me crazy sometimes.
I wish people took pride in themselves, their homes, their kids, their country but the general attititude is one of entitlement. We no longer need to work for anything and that includes our pride.
Message and picture tell a sad story..hats off for the volunteers. Its hard to believe that people strow garbage out of the windows. how can they live insurroundings like that...wouldn't want to see the inside of their homes. we have hefty fines here for throwing trash out of the car windows on our highways.
I coudln't agree more. If people take pride in themselves they will take pride in their home & surroundings. Even here in Australia, we have "A Clean Up Australia Day: where thousands of volunteers go around the cities & country side picking up rubbish. Why people can't dispose of them responsibly in the first place I'll never know.
I'm lucky enough to live in a neighborhood where everyone takes care of their yards but I have lived in neighborhoods where it hasn't been the case. I think people get too busy working or maybe they just don't care. This neighborhood even goes so far as to go on clean up days at the nature park (walking distance to where we live). I love that
Wonderful you have volunteers to bring attention to this problem and are doing something about it. Unfortunately you see this everywhere, driving down the road it's not uncommon to see someone throw their junk out the window or just look at all the fast food garbage strewn about in parking lots. It's everywhere...people don't seem to give it a second thought. Really sad that some people really do appear to be completely clueless!
Just this week, our town sponsored "Dumpster Days" where they brought a huge dumspter into town to give people the opportunity to clean up/clean out their properties. Then next weekend there will be a town cleanup and volunteers will go 'round picking up any garbage that's left and helping community members that are unable to do the work themselves.
VERY well said Rick, we are lucky to have moved to a neighborhood where people take care of the area, the area we moved from though not-so-much. . . never fails to amaze me how easy it is for some people to simply drop trash out the window of a moving car, or to deposit their trash in their driveway and just allow it to accumulate. .. .
May 9th, 2011
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& Sadly its true that so many don't care anymore. We came from a neighborhood full of people like that & it made our property value plummet. More people need to take pride!
It doesn't take much to throw your rubbish on a bin - I agree!
I wish people took pride in themselves, their homes, their kids, their country but the general attititude is one of entitlement. We no longer need to work for anything and that includes our pride.