THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, March 26, 1995 TAG: 9503240173
SECTION: PORTSMOUTH CURRENTS PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Editorial
LENGTH: Short : 45 lines
In a world littered with disaster, trash strewn along the highways and by-ways of our town may seem like a trivial concern. But all the stuff thrown with utter disregard on the streets of Portsmouth is no little thing.
Somebody has to pick it up and that costs taxpayers money. With a budget stretching so thin it might break, Portsmouth folks ought to be aware that throwing a piece of trash or garbage on the street is just one more thing taking money away from the schools or other vital city functions.,
Just as important is the damage trash on the streets can do to Portsmouth's image. Nothing blemishes the already battered image more than junk wantonly tossed in public places.
Back in the 1960s, a lot of people made fun of Lady Bird Johnson and her army of followers, prominent women across the country who could get media attention to urge us to keep our surroundings clean and beautiful.
Their exhortations worked in more places. Little kids learned in school not to litter, just as they learn today to recycle cans. Grownups glared in disapproval at those who dared litter public places.
The project was a perfect example of ``jaw-boning,'' the technique Lady Bird's husband, President Lyndon Johnson, used so well to get what he wanted from the Congress.
Now 30 years later, nobody talks much about keeping America clean and beautiful. Clean Community Commissions disappeared here when federal money motivated by the Johnsons ran out. It's pretty evident that nobody in Portsmouth is doing much to discourage litter.
No matter how hard they try, neither city employees nor civic league members can stay ahead of those who litter with abandon and total disregard for the consequences.
Since ``jaw-boning'' doesn't cost anything, maybe it would be a good idea to re-establish a Clean Community Commission with a mission to raise the public consciousness about trash and garbage. They don't have to have a budget, just a good volunteer leader. by CNB