Trees are not the only thing that bloom in spring

Litter can be found just about everywhere in Hamtramck, including in the alleys in the business districts where certain business owners don’t seem to mind allowing their trash to pile over dumpsters. Photo by Robert Zwolak

By Charles Sercombe
Every year around this time it comes up.
Once the snow melts away for the season, it exposes huge amounts of litter on the streets and in our yards.
Too many people apparently think it’s OK to toss litter into the streets. And that goes for businesses as well.
Just check our alleys along the commercial districts and you’ll see mounds and mounds of trash thrown out by business owners.
By the far the biggest culprit appears to be Rent-A-Center on Jos. Campau just south of Caniff. They throw out so much garbage it spills over their dumpster and into the alley.
City Councilmember Robert Zwolak said he’s been walking the alleys to record the location of potholes and recently stumbled on the garbage thrown out by Rent-A-Center.
“Where’s code enforcement?” he asked. “No one is going to pick up this mess.”
If Zwolak were in charge, he would order police officers to go after code violations while they patrol the city.
“Police officers are authorized to enforce every ordinance in the city,” he said. “They should write them a ticket and see you in court.”
In a related note, street sweeping will begin next Thursday. City Manager Katrina Powell said the city’s main streets and emergency routes will be swept on Thursdays but only for a total of no more than seven times.
Side streets will be cleaned on Mondays. A schedule of street sweepings will be released soon, Powell said.
Powell also told The Review that she is thinking of hiring part-timers to pick up litter on sidewalks in the business district.