Residents working hard to keep neighborhood clean, safe
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STEUBENVILLE -- First Ward Councilwoman Asantewa Anyabwile sees a correlation between how a neighborhood looks and how its residents behave.
"It helps people feel better about themselves when their environment is nice," she said. "It feels good to look out your door and see a nice, neat, clean street."
Anyabwile, who serves on council's Pride Committee, said a year ago, she and a few volunteers worked their way through the south end bagging trash and discarded household debris.
"On Rosswell (Avenue) last year, the whole street was in disarray," she recalled. "Since then, someone moved up on Rosswell who literally goes out every day and picks up paper. She's got people going out cutting lots, taking care of lots that have been abandoned. You can feel a different energy, people wanting to care for that street."
She credits Maxanna Brooks with being the "spark" that helped change attitudes on Rosswell Avenue.
"She goes out every day, sometimes twice and day, and as she walks through the neighborhood, she picks up trash," Anyabwile said.
"She cuts weeded lots, she inspires (her) neighbors to cut weed lots and trims bushes at abandoned houses. One neighbor bought a weed lot cheap and keeps it cut, and now he has a place to park his cars on an overly crowded street. She has been a spark for that neighborhood, (and) the energy is beginning to change."
Anyabwile said most people want to have nice homes (and) clean, quiet, respectable neighborhoods, though there are always a few who, for whatever reason, don't care.
"I've gone through neighborhoods with volunteers picking up trash, handing out trash bags and encouraging folks to help," she said. "More people over time get on board and help. (But) some folks feel they shouldn't have to pick up behind others. We then have conversations about pride, being an example for the youth and even just looking outside and seeing nice, clean peaceful streets."
Anyabwile said because there are so many vacant lots and abandoned lots in her neighborhood, she makes it a habit to pick up trash within at least a one block radius of her home "and one of the neighbors cuts weeds up and down the street."
"I see other neighbors, with a little gentle persuasion, trying to keep the fronts of their houses clean," she adds. "I know a lady who sweeps her whole block.
"I absolutely believe in community effort in the upkeep of our neighborhoods, along with the city doing its part in all areas of the city. I always say, trash will have babies: In other words, if people see trash on the ground, they figure it's alright to throw more trash in that spot. People are less likely to throw trash in a clean area."
She figures people also feel better about their neighborhoods when they look neat and clean.
"People feel better when their neighborhoods are nice," she said. "We then take pride in where we live. Crime diminishes. There is a better sense of community, of caring what happens in the neighborhood."