Thanks for Your Ideas
In response to last month’s Kaleidoscope article regarding ideas for helping to make Bayonne a cleaner town, you will find three ideas listed below. There were many other good suggestions and they will be shared in future issues. Take a look to see if there are any areas that you can get involved with.
BEST & WORST AWARDS
Recognition should be given to those neighborhoods which are setting good examples for the town by keeping their individual properties free of litter, caring for their lawns, planting trees or flowers and doing whatever it takes to beautify the surroundings.
The Kaleidoscope will keep an eye out for areas in town which deserve recognition and also welcomes its readers to write in their nominations. It would be nice if some of the local businesses would be willing to donate prizes. A catered block party would be a nice reward.
On the other hand... attention should also be called to those areas around town which are overrun by litter and have become eyesores. This is not meant to embarrass people who are physically unable to take care of the basics or who are plagued by passersby using their lot as a dumping ground. These two particular situations can be solved by volunteer cleanup teams and plain clothes patrols issuing summons which are backed by stiff fines. (See Stiffer Fines below)
However, there are properties whose owners are not doing their share... be on guard... you may become the recipient of a Worst Area Award.
CITY WIDE, CLEANUP DAY
This idea was presented to me by Mayor Kiczek at a recent meeting which we had. He felt that a city wide, citizen participation, cleanup day can get the town back on the right track. Hopefully, residents and visitors would take pride in the new, clean look and would try to keep it that way.
STIFFER FINES
Most people do obey the laws. However, others just don’t get the message. This is why we need stiffer penalties and on-going enforcement. Fines for littering, graffiti and disobeying the pooper-scooper law should be increased to an amount which will deter potential violators. NOTE: Hats off to Mayor Kiczek who is taking steps to beef up the pooper-scooper law. He is requesting that the council triple the fine from $50 to $150. and also intends to have police and health officials (who may often be dressed in plain clothes) continue to patrol until the problem is resolved.
I would like to see the mayor and council stiffen penalties in all other areas of abuse, especially for people who fling their litter onto the ground or out of their car window... and for the ones who set their empty cans and bottles on the sidewalk or worse yet in the street. In some cases, community service may be an effective and productive way to teach a lesson.
Remember... by getting actively involved,
you will be doing good for the community and
you will feel good about yourself.
