TIM YATES: Reclaim Albany’s reputation as a clean city

When I was younger, I remember reading in the The Albany Herald a letter from an out-of-town visitor complimenting us on how clean our city was. Unfortunately, today we would get no such compliment.

Recently I read Carlton Fletcher’s column about the serious litter problem in our city and county. That’s when I became more observant and realized we have gone way beyond a problem that could be easily fixed.

Also in The Albany Herald, I remember reading an article about a study that showed how one piece of litter left uncollected could literally lead to a blighted community. More litter is added to that one piece, eventually leading to a neighborhood/community that does not care anymore. Houses rot. Businesses leave.

I don’t know what should be done, but I do know that everyone needs to be involved. People must realize that no one should need to pick up after them. They should take their own litter home and put it in the garbage where it belongs. Maybe the use of social media, which has become so popular, could be used by elected leaders, citizens, etc., to prompt compliance. Two other ideas could be the use of public service announcements on television or the use of billboards that say, “Did you just throw litter out of your car? Shame on you!” Minds better than mine could develop a campaign.

A friend once told me when I was complaining about something that had not been done, “Tim, why don’t you do it yourself?” First United Methodist Church has a Great Day of Service every year. This year it is being held on March 11. The Disciple Sunday School Class is taking my friend’s advice and plans to pick up litter in the median of Westover Boulevard. I would like to encourage others to do the same in their neighborhoods or wherever it is needed.

Let’s not let our community become blighted like so many communities throughout America. Let’s truly take pride in Albany and make it a wonderful place to live, work and worship.

TIM YATES

Albany