9/19/2007
Media Contact:
Margie Smith-Simmons, [317] 327-3690 |
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City crews to clean-up Ralston Hovey Arsenal/Forest Manor neighborhoods during neighborhood blitz
Indianapolis – Crews from the Department of Public Works, Department of Metropolitan Development, Animal Care & Control and the Marion County Health Department will perform their 16th extensive cleanup, also known as a neighborhood blitz, in the Ralston Hovey Arsenal/Forest Manor neighborhoods bounded by 38th St., Keystone Ave., 30th St. and Dr. Andrew J. Brown/Sutherland Ave.
Crews will begin the clean-up Thursday, September 20, at 8 a.m. with a brief ‘roll call’ meeting at Coleman Academy, 1740 E. 30th St. The following agencies will perform a variety of activities:
- Department of Public Works – DPW crews will repair potholes, replace damaged street signs, eliminate graffiti and remove heavy trash from streets and alleys. DPW will also rebuild several alleys targeted by the community as a priority for repair. In addition, DPW will utilize community service workers to assist in various aspects of the cleanup with their main focus on removing brush and litter in the alleys. DPW will also remove illegally parked cars from the city’s right of way.
- Marion County Health Department – In partnership with DPW, MCHD environmental crews will cut high weeds and grass and remove 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 will conduct illegal sign sweeps and cite inoperable and abandoned vehicles.
- Animal Care & Control – ACC officers will perform targeted sweeps for stray and dangerous animals.
- The Indianapolis Metropolitan Police Department – IMPD will assist the Marion County Prosecutor’s Office in serving warrants in the area and will have a strong patrol presence throughout the neighborhood.
“Blighted neighborhoods invite crime and can fuel anxiety and apprehension among residents,” Mayor Bart Peterson has said. “The targeted cleanups will help leverage some of our efforts against crime as well as enhance the neighborhoods’ quality of life.”
Thursday ’s blitz will be the 16th of several blitzes targeted towards local neighborhoods facing challenges with crime. Previous blitzes took place in the Coalition of Northeast Neighborhoods, Windsor Village, Southeast Community Organization/Fountain Area Community Team, Bates Hendricks, Crown Hill-Mapleton Fall Creek, Haughville, Grace Tuxedo, 500 View, Martindale-Brightwood, United Northwest and CAFÉ areas, as well as the UNWA/Highland Vicinity, Brookside, Springdale, Windsor Park and Saint Claire Place neighborhoods.
Neighborhood blitzes began in June and were performed approximately once a week . The final 2007 blitz is scheduled for Thursday, September 27 in the SECO neighborhood.
Neighborhood blitzes first began in June 2006 as 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 properties for high weeds and grass, a 56% increase over 2005.
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