Litter Challenge on Seventh Street

That wet spot shows where a city street sweeper passed on East Seventh Street this morning. Someone dropped newspaper inserts all along the block on both sides, causing a big mess. As traffic began to build up, the passing vehicles stirred up the papers on the sidewalk, blowing them into the street.

Here comes the sweeper for another try to keep the street clean.

It is a little-known fact that downtown streets are swept every day, but it is at such an early hour that most people don't see the street sweepers. Imagine what the city would look like without these diligent workers!

Litter cleanups are a popular volunteer activity, but in my opinion a better solution is for people to put their snack bags and other trash in one of the many receptacles downtown. If there is no nearby trash can, a civic-minded person can always hold on to the trash until there is a proper place to dispose of it.