Our streets are blighted

Our streets are littered with burned-out and abandoned buildings, lots are filled with garbage, and others have been turned into auto salvage yards. Streets are full of potholes and cracks. Sidewalks are in disrepair. And when we get torrential rain, some of our neighborhoods are flooded and sewer drains are backed up.

Our Public Works team is overwhelmed and lacks leadership at the top to manage our city’s infrastructure. 

We must:

• assign one member of Public Works to be the coordinator for services to each ward and have that coordinator serve as liaison between the residents and the Commissioner of that ward

• establish goals and priorities for each ward and publish accomplishments, delays, and non-completions for all projects undertaken

• repair the department’s existing equipment and replace the missing equipment

• engage the community to participate in block cleanup projects

• enforce our building codes, nuisance laws, and seize and remove dilapidated, burnt, and abandoned properties. Dilapidated and burnt buildings need to be torn down and removed

• provide sufficient staffing to restore and maintain our infrastructure