San José,
Caltrans Ramp Up Campaign to Eradicate Litter
Mayor Gonzales to focus to clean up on
“100 Hot Spots” and freeways in San Jose
San José, CA ---- Litter beware. The
City of San José and the California Department of Transportation
(Caltrans) are on the attack.
Mayor Ron Gonzales and Bart Desai, Caltrans District 4 Deputy Director
for Maintenance, announced the expansion their joint anti-litter campaign,
Pick Up San José, to clean up San José streets and highways
today.
Maintenance crews from the San José General Services Department
will dedicate every Friday afternoon to focus on cleaning up litter at
the “100 Hot Spots” that have been identified throughout the
community.
In addition, all Caltrans maintenance staff in the South Bay district
will focus on picking up debris and sweeping freeway ramps and mainlines
every Friday.
“A clean city strengthens the pride of our residents for where
they live,” said Gonzales. “A clean city helps keep our neighborhoods
strong and safe and welcomes visitors and businesses.
“With everyone’s help, we can eradicate the eyesore of litter,
just as we have successfully wiped outgraffiti over the past four years.”
In addition, approximately 1000 anti-litter volunteers from neighborhoods
throughout San José will be working to clean the ten worst littered
spots in each of the city’s ten council districts.
“It’s everyone personal responsibility to keep their world
clean in the first place,” said Desai. “Our message is: ‘Don’t
Throw It. Tell a Friend.’”
Pick up San José focuses on three approaches to cleaning up San
José: Eradication, Enforcement and Education. Additional enforcement
and education activities are planned to begin later this fall.
The anti-litter campaign builds on the city’s successful anti-graffiti
program. Since Mayor Gonzales made it a city priority in 1999, there has
been a 92 percent reduction in graffiti in San José as a result
of aggressive cleanup, law enforcement, interagency cooperation, and strong
neighborhood volunteer commitment.
Gonzales announced the expansion to include anti-litter at his State
of the City address in February this year, and the new effort and partnerships
were launched on Earth Day in April.
The Santa Clara Valley Water District also announced its commitment
to clean and safe creeks as part of San Jose’s anti-litter campaign.
“Coastal Cleanup Day” will be on Saturday, September 21, where
thousands of volunteers pick up trash and debris from creeks, rivers,
coasts and shores as part of an annual statewide effort.
The District also sponsors an “adopt-a-creek” program. For
information about Coastal Cleanup Day and Adopt-a-Creek, contact the district
at (408) 265-2607, ext. 2880.
The County of Santa Clara and the Valley Transportation Authority are
among the city’s anti-litter and anti-graffiti partners. The Santa
Clara County District Attorney’s Office continues to successfully
prosecute graffiti vandals, and the county’s juvenile diversion
program also regularly schedules youth offenders to help with litter and
graffiti clean up.
VTA has been very effective to prevent graffiti vandalism using on-board
surveillance cameras that have been instrumental in apprehending nearly
100 vandals since 2001.
San José residents interested in helping fight graffiti and litter,
or who want to report problem areas should call the city’s 24/7
Customer Service Call Center at (408) 277-4000. |
