It's an example of what Philadelphia thinks of itself, that it can tolerate these filthy, smelly, and unhealthy Dumpsters sitting right in the public right of way. But the people who are coming from out of town for an evening at the Academy of Music, or the Wilma Theater, they don't want to have to walk around a filthy Dumpster when they're all dressed up in their finest clothes. I wouldn't be surprised if some of them decide they're not coming back. Managing Director Joe Martz, who has pledged a one-time clean up of more than 30,000 vacant city lots this year, agrees. If we want people to come here, develop businesses here, raise their families here, we need to make them feel safe, clean, and healthy.
Cleanliness helps a city thrive.
Paul Levy, director of the Center City Special Services District, attributes much of that neighborhood's economic recovery to the fact that they've been keeping it clean for the last nine years. If you walk into a neighborhood where there are lots of litter, graffiti and broken glass, you get the message that nobody cares. It sent a message that things were looking up. Martz's cleanup is a start. Urban Warrior could not agree more.