Mayor Urges Residents to Clean Up

Mayor Scott Jackson this week released a letter to residents asking everyone to keep their property "clean and green."

The mayor's plea comes after residents in the southern end of Hamden have spoken out about the condition of some of their neighborhoods and how some property owners have failed to keep their property presentable.

The residents have attributed some of the problem to people from out of town who frequent Dixwell Avenue businesses, especially bars, and leave behind garbage on private yards.

They also have pointed out that some property owners who own vacant lots have allowed those lots to become filled with liter and garbage and have ignored requests to clean them up.

Jackson has said that improving the appearance of the town, especially in the southern end, is a priority of his administration.

To the Editor:

We all know that having pride in our homes, neighborhoods, and businesses is the foundation of a strong Hamden.  This community pride is one of the reasons Hamden was selected by CNN as one ofthe Top 100 Places to Live and selected as one of America's Promise Alliance's 100 Best Communities for Young People.

We should all be proud to call Hamden home. But we must all re-commit ourselves—residents, businesses, and government alike—to keeping Hamden the “clean and green” town that we love.  

As Earth Day passes and summertime approaches, we are asking everyone to make an extra effort to cleanup around their homes and businesses. The way Hamden looks reflects on all of us, and we must all do our part to keep Hamden the place where families and businesses choose to invest.

It takes only a moment to sweep up litter in front of your home or business. It takes only respect for yourself and your neighbors to dispose of trash in the appropriate containers.  It takes only compassionate community spirit to help an elderly neighbor tend to his or her yard.  It takes only a change of focus to use artistic skill on a canvas instead of a wall.  

But the aggregate sum of these small moments and small efforts are immeasurable.Please take a moment today to sweep up in front of your home or business, to rake your yard, or to ask your customers to properly deposit their trash or recycling in the appropriate containers.  

Making Hamden the cleanest community in Connecticut is a big task, but by working together we can shine the right spotlight on all of our great neighborhoods.

Mayor Scott Jackson