In 2009, CBS 21 News hit the streets to show you just how bad the problem of illegal dumping is in the city of Harrisburg.
Today, we revisited those streets to learn, after four years, unfortunately not much has changed. The city even pledged $100,000 to help in the clean-up.
Old couches, car seats and piles of trash are dumped right next to places like Bill Hooper's income tax service business.
Bill Hooper, Business Owner:
"My thing is, you don't want to go to a place where there's trash."
Bill has been in business on North 6th street for close to 20 years.
Bill Hooper:
"During the summer, this grass is real high. If you go behind there, you see people dump garbage all back up here. You got racoons and rats.
And when Bill sees people littering, he does some trash talking.
"And I remember, a gentleman sitting outside, throwing trash on the walk. I said, 'Don't do that.' He said, 'Oh it's the ghetto.' I said, 'No! It's a ghetto when you're making it a ghetto!"'
In 2009 , then Mayor Stephen Reed's administration shelled out $100,000 for cleanup. But Bill says that didn't even put a dent in the problem. So he'll continue to police the block of 6th Street where his business is, making sure those illegal dumpers stay out. Hoping one day the couches, garbage and other gross stuff, will be gone for good.
Mayor Linda Thompson says that there is a big cleanup scheduled this spring, in April. Pinnacle Health is donating 12 dumpsters and 35 church groups will come in and help clean up the city.
The Mayor and District Attorney are also working to install cameras to help catch these people dumping trash.
Today, we revisited those streets to learn, after four years, unfortunately not much has changed. The city even pledged $100,000 to help in the clean-up.
Old couches, car seats and piles of trash are dumped right next to places like Bill Hooper's income tax service business.
Bill Hooper, Business Owner:
"My thing is, you don't want to go to a place where there's trash."
Bill has been in business on North 6th street for close to 20 years.
Bill Hooper:
"During the summer, this grass is real high. If you go behind there, you see people dump garbage all back up here. You got racoons and rats.
And when Bill sees people littering, he does some trash talking.
"And I remember, a gentleman sitting outside, throwing trash on the walk. I said, 'Don't do that.' He said, 'Oh it's the ghetto.' I said, 'No! It's a ghetto when you're making it a ghetto!"'
In 2009 , then Mayor Stephen Reed's administration shelled out $100,000 for cleanup. But Bill says that didn't even put a dent in the problem. So he'll continue to police the block of 6th Street where his business is, making sure those illegal dumpers stay out. Hoping one day the couches, garbage and other gross stuff, will be gone for good.
Mayor Linda Thompson says that there is a big cleanup scheduled this spring, in April. Pinnacle Health is donating 12 dumpsters and 35 church groups will come in and help clean up the city.
The Mayor and District Attorney are also working to install cameras to help catch these people dumping trash.