6/13/2007
Media Contact:
Margie Smith Simmons, [317] 327-3690 |
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Mayor joined city crews in targeted clean-up of neighborhood facing challenges with crime
Indianapolis – Today, Mayor Bart Peterson joined crews from the Department of Public Works, Department of Metropolitan Development, Animal Care & Control and the Marion County Health Department as they performed an extensive cleanup, also known as a neighborhood blitz, in a portion of the United Northwest Area Neighborhood on the near northwest side of Indianapolis.
Crews began the clean-up at 8 a.m. with a brief ‘roll call’ meeting at Pilgrim Church. The following agencies performed a variety of activities:
- Department of Public Works – DPW crews repaired potholes, replaced damaged street signs, eliminated graffiti and removed heavy trash from streets and alleys. DPW also rebuilt several alleys targeted by the community as a priority for repair. In addition, DPW utilized community service workers to assist in various aspects of the cleanup with their main focus on removing brush and litter in the alleys.
- Marion County Health Department – In partnership with DPW contractors, MCHD environmental crews cut high weeds and grass and removed debris from properties that were cited and scheduled for abatement. Properties that were not cited will be identified by the city and entered into the abatement process. Property owners will be charged for all costs plus administrative fees.
- Department of Metropolitan Development – Zoning inspectors conducted illegal sign sweeps and cited inoperable and abandoned vehicles.
- Animal Care & Control – ACC officers performed targeted sweeps for stray and dangerous animals.
- Last Chance Towing – Last Chance towed illegally parked cars in the city’s right of way.
- The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department – IMPD assisted the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office in serving warrants in the area and had a strong patrol presence throughout the neighborhood.
“Blighted neighborhoods invite crime and can fuel anxiety and apprehension among residents. The targeted cleanups will help leverage some of our efforts against crime as well as enhance the neighborhoods’ quality of life,” said Peterson.
Today’s blitz was the fourth of several blitzes targeted towards local neighborhoods facing challenges with crime. Previous blitzes took place in the CAFÉ area and in the Brookside, Springdale, Windsor Park and Saint Claire Place neighborhoods.
Upcoming neighborhoods scheduled for blitzes are the 500 View and the Martindale Brightwood areas. Neighborhood blitzes will be performed approximately once a week and will continue through September 2007.
Neighborhood blitzes first began in the summer of 2006 as a part of the city’s summer crime fighting strategy. In 2006, over 20 blitzes were performed and crews collected over 8,000 pounds of brush, cleaned up 36 alleys removing over 71,000 pounds of debris, replaced 134 signs and patched over 325 potholes. In addition, crews abated over 2,574 for high weeds and grass, a 56% increase over 2005.
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