Now that the weather is warming up, and the snow is melting, all the winter trash that was hidden is coming out. I know that there is going to be trash just about everywhere this time of year, but I am tired of the trash that is being dumped and thrown along many of our "commercial areas" such as Brooks, Thurston, Arnett and Genesee Streets.

Many of you know about, or have heard about the Broken Window theory. Where as neighborhoods that are left to decline, and become graffiti and liter strewn, are more likely to be the areas of higher crime. I love the idea of the community coming together and doing street clean ups, but I also believe that the city needs to enforce and hold people accountable for dumping garbage on the streets.

Below I am posting a place where you can submit a complaint to the city via the web. If enough of us continue to speak up, maybe they will listen. As though a little garbage on the street may seem insignificant, it is just one of many factors that subconsciously tell people that "no one is in charge here" and "I can do what I want, no one will know who did it". So please give our Neighborhood Service Center a call, and/or fill out the online complaint form. The squeaky wheel gets the oil, and boy can me use some oil!

-Shawn
Southwest Neighborhood Service Center
923 Genesee St
585-428-7630

NSC Online Complaint Form

From the City of Rochester Website
Can my neighbor have loose garbage on their property?
No, section 305 of the Property Maintenance Code of New York State states as follows:
§PM305.1 Accumulation of rubbish or garbage. All exterior property and premises, and the interior of every structure, shall be free from any accumulation of rubbish or garbage.

What will happen if an owner does not remove the un-contained refuse from their property after a notice and order has been issued?
Seven days after a notice and order has been issued a reinspection will be conducted, if the violation remains, a ticket for $150 will be issued to the property owner and the debris will be sent to contract for removal at the expense of the property owner.