HARRISBURG, Pa. (WHTM) -
Sandwiched between vacant homes, Victoria Diggs said blight in her Hummel Street neighborhood puts her down in the dumps.
"It's everywhere," Diggs pointed. "They're right across the street. There's one, two, three. It's just horrible."
In order to battle the blight, Harrisburg Mayor Linda Thompson on Wednesday unveiled a three-pronged attack. Her plan consists of trash pickup, blight demolition, and strict codes enforcement.
Thompson touted trash as a continuous plague. PinnacleHealth will help sponsor a citywide cleanup on November 10 and 17. Twelve dumpsters will be placed in the South Allison Hill and Uptown neighborhoods.
"I see nothing but filth everywhere," Thompson said, "and it's because people just got out of those convenient stores and drop their soda bottles, drop their trash bags as if it's the right thing to do."
Thompson also announced that Harrisburg sanitation will now work five days a week. She said the move will free up manpower to work on other cleanup projects.
Starting October 15, several neighborhoods with trash pickup on Wednesday will be moved to Monday. To find if your home will be affected click here.
Thompson's second prong deals with knocking down condemned and vacant properties. By the end of the year, Thompson said nine properties are scheduled to be demolished. By next spring, she vowed 25 blighted properties more would be gone.
Here is that list:
- 239 N. 14th St.
- 241 N. 14th St.
- 60 N. 16th St.
- 62 N. 16th St.
- 64 N. 16th St.
- 66 N. 16th St.
- 2212 Jefferson St.
- 331 1/2 Hummel St.
- 311 Muench St.
- 2540 Lexington St.
- 615 Forrest St.
- 621 Forrest St.
- 623 Forrest St.
- 625 Forrest St.
- 627 Forrest St.
- 1417 Swatara St.
- 327 S 15th St.
- 329 S 15th St.
- 331 S 15th St.
- 37 N 16th St.
- 60 N 13th St.
- 62 N 13th St.
- 1727 Regina St.
- 1729 Regina St.
- 1731 Regina St.
Thompson said a total of 31 blighted properties would be demolished in 2012. She claims that is a city record. She pointed out that she has done so even after City Council slashed the emergency demolition budget in half, to $200,000. For 2013, she asked for the full $400,000.
The mayor's final plan is strict code enforcement. Thompson promised to punish poor property owners and litterbugs.
Thompson barked a harsh warning at slumlords to stay away. She said the health inspectors would also work as a codes officer and cite people who litter and do not keep properties clean.
"This is our city ladies and gentlemen. And all of this negativism, we all need to have some responsibility to say, 'Enough already!' Let's roll up our sleeves and move this city forward," she said.
Many, like Diggs, are skeptical. She confessed she wants to believe in Thompson's plan, but said she's waited so long for results. Diggs hopes this will be the plan that truly offers help.
"I don't want roaches and rodents and squirrels. It's just all kinds of stuff. I wish I could pick it up and move it, but I can't," she said.
