I read an article in Scientific American five years ago that could offer
innovative solutions to the dirty city problem.
Scientific American - March 1996
Urban Planning in Curitiba
Jonas Rabinovitch and Josef Leitman
Smog, gridlock, overcrowding and blight sometimes seem like the inevitable
price of metropolitan growth, but a fast-rising city in southeastern Brazil
has found a better way. Simple technologies, creative use of resources, and a
public transportation system that is pleasant, efficient and affordable have
turned Curitiba into a model of what more cities could be.
On of the programs outlined dealt with two problems. The amount of litter in
an area of squatters. And the need for the children living in poverty to get
school supplies. Curitiba's solution was to give school supplies to children
(or families) based on the the amount of garbage collected. They show quite
a dramatic before and after picture.
One other thing that they did, which I would love to see Minneapolis
implement in its downtown core. They encouraged all large office buildings
to have commercial space on its main floors (i.e., restaurants and other
businesses that don't close at 5 or 6 PM). This meant that more people would
be walking the streets, especially at night, which in my believe is the best
way to reduce crime and support livability. Downtown Minneapolis seems to be
mostly devoid of life at night from Marquette eastward (I KNOW this is a
gross exaggeration) but all the nightlife is focused Nicollet and west.
Especially on Hennepin and 1st Ave.
One question, the litter containers that are free. Does that apply to
residential owners? The woman I purchased my house from told me that the
little blue garbage bin next to the sidewalk is used by passerby's and that I
should continue to use it and empty since the neighbors are used to using it.
While we still get plenty of litter on my street. It is an easy way to
reduce the amount of litter. I would love to have one of the city litter
containers because they look much better and hold more. If I could have one
for my property I would definitely "Adopt" It.
Josh Kroll
Powderhorn
> Message: 10
> From: "Young, Susan A" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> To: "[EMAIL PROTECTED]" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Cc: "Myles, Janet J" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
> Subject: RE: [Mpls] Mpls: A Dirty City
> Date: Fri, 23 Mar 2001 14:15:17 -0600
>
> I apologize in advance, this is a long post, but I want folks to know that
> there ARE good things happening on the antilitter front---and there ARE
ways
> for ALL of us to keep our City clean.
>
> Yes, Minneapolis looks pretty rough right now---the snow is that horrible
> dirty gray/black color, we have leftover salt and sand piles in the gutters
> from our attempts to control ice and snow this winter, and the trees and
> lawns are still dormant and not on their best display.
>
> We also have FIVE MONTHS worth of litter and debris that our fellow
citizens
> threw out of their cars from their ashtrays and floor boards, or that blew
> out of commercial dumpsters, or that was strewn in our alleys, that has
been
> frozen in multiple layers of snow and ice and is now surfacing like
> prehistoric creatures from a glacier. Yup, it looks rugged. And yes, the
> City will begin it's Spring sweep of the alleys and streets beginning the
> first part of April---Mother Nature permitting. That Sweep is a massive
> effort, and by itself costs more than 1 million dollars of General Fund
> dollars. It's important that we realize that we all have individual
> responsibilities too, and I'm very proud to be a member of a list that has
> been so proactive in litter collection. As the resident Trash Lady, let
me
> recap a few programs that the City coordinates in Partnership with our
> residents........
>
> Adopt a block, intersection, street or alley: Yes, we provide gloves and
> yellow bags. Yes, you can put the yellow bags that you fill with litter in
> your garbage cart, and there will be no additional charge for disposal of
> the yellow bags with litter in them. That's the basic "rules." If there
> are Marvelous Neighborhood Efforts, like Craig Miller's groups on 44th
> between Lyndale and Memorial Parkway, I arrange for the bags to be picked
up
> the day of the event. They schedule four cleanups a year, in advance, and
> have a sign commemorating their efforts and commitment. Yes, that area was
> the pilot program for the rest of the "adopts" in Minneapolis, and thanks
to
> an awesome bunch of folks, 44th North will never be it's trashy "bad" self
> again! BTW, Craig was the first person to adopt a Litter Container before
> LC's were cool!
>
> Litter containers: by Council Action the City is now out of the "free"
> litter container business. We support the Adopt a Litter container
> program--we'll provide the container and the bags if the adopter will empty
> the container and keep the area around it clean. Alternatively, we'll
> provide service for a fee, which we'll conveniently add to the Adopter's
> City utility bill. By Council Action, we also provide litter containers
and
> once a week collection to all bus shelters--not bus stops, bus shelters.
If
> more than once a week service is needed, we work to find adopters. We have
> worked to find adopters throughout the City--we've sent letters, walked
> business districts, knocked on doors, spoken with organizations, and tried
> to be visible. If we missed you, and you want a litter container of your
> very own, call Janet Myles at 673-2789.
>
> Neighborhood Cleansweeps: neighborhoods have received the applications, and
> events will be scheduled soon. Look to the web, or to your neighborhood
org
> for dates and details. The Annual EarthDay Watershed Cleanup will be on
> April 21: contact Marcia Holmberg at the Park Board (612) 313-7723 to
> volunteer. Don't forget that City customers can take awesome amounts of
> stuff to the South Transfer Station, with a voucher, and that cleaning out
> of individual backyards and garages makes a huge contribution to our Clean
> City.
>
> Inspections is going to be enforcing existing ordinances on Commercial
> Dumpsters much more vigorously. These are a continual source of blowing
> litter, litter distributed by birds squirrels and other urban dwellers and
> general messiness. Those folks that use a dumpster in their business or
> apartments need to remember the rule: PUT THE LID DOWN WHEN YOU'RE
DONE!!!!
>
> Education: there has not been an anti-litter education program since the
> ones featuring Iron Eyes Cody and Hooty the Owl. Minneapolis will be
> kicking off an anti-litter education effort, and we are enlisting the aid
of
> other regional entities (Public AND Private) for a Regional Anti-litter
> program. Truly, as list posters have said, folks don't understand that
> litter is bad!!! It is a sad commentary on us that we need to TEACH this
> basic, golden rule message. Watch for posters, TransStop messages, radio
> spots, and other media outlets for the message. Mary Small and Bill
> Anderson will be coordinating this, and they've got some great ideas!
>
> There are other programs in the Heritage Homes area, the University rental
> area, the 38th and Chicago area, etc., that are specific to those areas.
We
> work with the ideas of our customers and try to support their energy and
> enthusiasm. Yes, Wendy and I are available for evening and weekend trash
> pickup with you.......we BELIEVE that in partnership we can achieve a Clean
> Minneapolis.
>
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