Cleaning up trash off the streets to stop help stop the violence in Harrisburg.
Illegal dumping has become a big problem in the Capital City and many believe the trash problem directly relates to crime.
Thursday night, members of the Harrisburg City Council held a meeting to address the problem.
It is places that are overflowing with trash that people are concerned with. Trash has completely filled some areas of the city.
The main culprit is illegal dumping, but each time someone litters instead of throwing away trash or recycling the correct way, it adds to the problem.
"It is a disgrace the way it looks, trash is everywhere," commented one person.
Thursday night, people gathered at the YMCA in Harrisburg to talk about the trash problem.
"When I got this notice that this was going to happen today, I said I'm coming to let you know that this is absolutely uncalled for," explained Bill Hooper.
Bill Hooper owns a business on the 2500 block of Sixth Street and he says empty lots next to his business are filled with trash.
"People come and just dump there because it's a good place to hide trash," Hooper added.
Good to hide trash because the Harrisburg Housing Authority does not keep it up.
"The lot has not been cleaned up, I contacted the city last year with an official complaint, nobody did anything," Hooper continued.
Bill says it's affecting his business.
"Would you want to come into an area where you see garbage and trash all over the place?” Hooper questioned. “I don't think so."
Thursday night's meeting aimed to change that.
"I believe we can keep Harrisburg clean," Sandra Reid stated.
City Councilwoman Sandra Reid is leading the initiative to keep Harrisburg clean by launching a new program called the "Keep Harrisburg Clean Fund."
"It's not going to be utilized for anything else except for keeping Harrisburg clean," Reid told those in attendance.
The program will help pay for trashcans, brooms, weed whackers, and anything else needed to keep neighborhoods clean.
Councilwoman Reid believes if we keep the streets clean, we'll reduce crime.
"There's too much of a coincidence that the neighborhoods that are overwhelmed with crime are also overwhelmed with trash," Reid said.
If you want to donate to the "Keep Harrisburg Clean Fund", you can write a check to the Harrisburg City Treasury and put "Keep Harrisburg Clean Fund" on the check.
Illegal dumping has become a big problem in the Capital City and many believe the trash problem directly relates to crime.
Thursday night, members of the Harrisburg City Council held a meeting to address the problem.
It is places that are overflowing with trash that people are concerned with. Trash has completely filled some areas of the city.
The main culprit is illegal dumping, but each time someone litters instead of throwing away trash or recycling the correct way, it adds to the problem.
"It is a disgrace the way it looks, trash is everywhere," commented one person.
Thursday night, people gathered at the YMCA in Harrisburg to talk about the trash problem.
"When I got this notice that this was going to happen today, I said I'm coming to let you know that this is absolutely uncalled for," explained Bill Hooper.
Bill Hooper owns a business on the 2500 block of Sixth Street and he says empty lots next to his business are filled with trash.
"People come and just dump there because it's a good place to hide trash," Hooper added.
Good to hide trash because the Harrisburg Housing Authority does not keep it up.
"The lot has not been cleaned up, I contacted the city last year with an official complaint, nobody did anything," Hooper continued.
Bill says it's affecting his business.
"Would you want to come into an area where you see garbage and trash all over the place?” Hooper questioned. “I don't think so."
Thursday night's meeting aimed to change that.
"I believe we can keep Harrisburg clean," Sandra Reid stated.
City Councilwoman Sandra Reid is leading the initiative to keep Harrisburg clean by launching a new program called the "Keep Harrisburg Clean Fund."
"It's not going to be utilized for anything else except for keeping Harrisburg clean," Reid told those in attendance.
The program will help pay for trashcans, brooms, weed whackers, and anything else needed to keep neighborhoods clean.
Councilwoman Reid believes if we keep the streets clean, we'll reduce crime.
"There's too much of a coincidence that the neighborhoods that are overwhelmed with crime are also overwhelmed with trash," Reid said.
If you want to donate to the "Keep Harrisburg Clean Fund", you can write a check to the Harrisburg City Treasury and put "Keep Harrisburg Clean Fund" on the check.