by Donna McBride, City Councilwoman, Casa Grande
Blight is a serious problem across the country, including Casa Grande. It is marked by deteriorating and abandoned homes and buildings; vacant lots with trash, high weeds and grass; and abandoned and vandalized cars.
I know all those weeds we see around town is driving us all crazy!
The City of Casa Grande has three code enforcement officers who handled over 2,300 cases this past year. The good news is that 64% of our residents complied and took care of the issue on their own.
For those that don’t, the city has a Clean It and Lien It program and has invested $100,000 a year for the past six years to fight blight. Blight can cause loss of property value, increased crime and reduced quality of life for our community. One thing is clear, city staff can’t do it alone.
Our community recently jumped into action to fight the blight. Businesses, civic groups, youth organizations and citizens joined forces during the Keep Casa Grande Clean & Beautiful Campaign Adopt-A-Street program at the end of March.
Arizona Public Service provided trash bags. Student groups cleaned up around their campus. Hospital staff tackled Florence Boulevard. Families cleaned up the streets of our historic downtown area.
Community engagement is vital.
Meet Kim and Michael Harper. Originally from Michigan, this amazing couple came out west to enjoy our weather. But they were not impressed with the litter lingering around town. Instead of just complaining about it, they jumped into action, starting a campaign called Clean Up Casa Grande.
They took to social media and created a Facebook page and currently have nearly 150 members. They encourage people to pick up trash; to adopt a street.
They lead by example, often taking their daily walks with the goal of filling up a trash bag. They encourage people to post pictures of their filled trash bags.
While the City of Casa Grande creates opportunities for our community to get rid of waste and combat blight, it is the day-to-day efforts of people like Kim and Michael that is just as important. They have energized others to be part of something bigger.
So, take their challenge, grab a bag, take that walk around your neighborhood and fight the blight!
Contact Casa Grande Adopt a Street at 520.421.8630 or email cgplanning@casagrandeaz.gov. Find Clean Up Casa Grande on Facebook. https://www.facebook.com/groups/cleanupcasagrande
