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The Great Bed-Stuy Clean-Up
By The Changeling | May 29, 2007
The lively discussion on the topic of neighborhood cleanliness (or rather, lack thereof), has inspired many of us to turn our complaints into action. David had a wonderful idea: a neighborhood clean-up day. He mentioned that his block has already had two clean-up days this year. Given the extent to which we hate trash, we should take the first steps to make this place a more beautiful place to live. Â
Leo has moved forward for us and set a date June 16th (Thanks, Leo!). This is a Saturday, so it will hopefully give many people a chance to take part, and it gives us a little over two weeks to get things organized.
Here are the topics that we might want to discuss in the next day or so:
1) Now that we have a date, what will the hours be? Should there be a rain date?
2) Bed-Stuy is a ginormous neighborhood, so where will we do the clean-up(s)? Should we pick a couple of sites/blocks focusing on a few blocks that lack a block association?
3) Should we meet as a group and move around to different locations as we complete our block clean-ups or should several clean-up groups be working simultaneously?
4) How to we get the word out to encourage participation?Â
Ok, discuss.
May 29th, 2007 at 9:44 am
Here are some random thoughts I have:
I think it will be most effective long term if you focus on a small area (or areas) with support from the local residents.
For instance, if you get one block together to clean up their block then it may be something that people continue to do beyond this one day. This can also spread to other blocks when others are aware of what their neighbors are doing. If 10 people on a block come out and clean up all the litter they will be more apt to say something the next time they see someone drop a wrapper on the ground.
If you can recruit a block leader from each block, they can help to organize the other residents and get the word out about what is going on. If there’s an active block association, even better.
There can also be a one or two high visibility commercial locations but in order to have impact beyond this one day it will be important to both get the word out and involve the local business owners if possible.
I think it would be best to have one large group hit a couple of areas at different times rather than try to have multiple groups. If 50 people descend on one corner it makes a larger impact and gives more visibility to what’s going on.
While there is the potential that it can create more trash, it could be a good idea to hand out flyers or have some sort of table set up while clean up is in progress on the commercial streets. If people pass by and realize that the cleanup is happening by people who live there and not sanitation workers then they may think twice about dropping that ice cream wrapper. This may stick with them throughout the summer.
Flyers are not ideal but I think it would be too difficult for everyone to wear a t-shirt or hat or something that tells what you are doing, at least not a first. However, you could try and get everyone to wear a similar “uniform” (i.e. every one with the same color shirt and/or pants) so that the group stands out more and brings more visibility to the effort.
If it’s looking like there will be a great turnout then call NY1 and the other stations to try and get them to cover it. The more buzz and exposure the better.
Email all the elected officials in the area and any other organizations, churches, etc. to tell them what you are doing and try to get their participation.
May 29th, 2007 at 1:46 pm
It should be in the morning between 8am and 11am before it gets to hot; and everyone who reads this should organize their block. The commercial side of each block should be addressed by the side street. It will not be the complete Bed Stuy but your broom and garbage bag will go a long way. Take action let us not get stuck intellectualizing this.
May 29th, 2007 at 6:49 pm
forwarding an official “flyer” to as many bed stuy groups via email would also be a good way to get the word out. yahoogroups has bedstuykids, which many families are members of, brooklynian’s forum, bedstuy gateway, etc. i agree that it should be a block based effort-as many blocks working together simultaneously seems more productive and efficient. let’s make it happen…
May 30th, 2007 at 8:30 am
I’ll work on a flyer and try to figure out how to contact the block associations. I’m sure that the business owners that I know will happily post a flyer in their establishments.
I also like the idea of a common uniform so it looks like it was organized. Let’s wear white tops/blue bottoms (blue shorts,pants, etc.).
I like the idea of everyone coming together to clean one area because it would make a statement to see 25-50 people in one place cleaning. This would also be a great for publicity. But I think people will be less willing to participate if the event is focused on cleaning up a block that is not theirs, so in the interest of maximizing participation let’s get as many blocks involved as possible.
May 30th, 2007 at 8:43 pm
LOVE this idea! I suggested it on that previous post as well! I have a nightly routine of picking up ALL trash I see on my way home.
I think the Brownstoner Association would be all over that… They do the bed stuy house tour…