Portsmouth City Council, Scioto County Commissioners, and Lawrence Scioto Solid Waste Management District have all teamed together under leadership of Councilwoman Lyvette Mosely to host the Comeback City Cleanup this month.
The event will be a major street cleanup that witnesses tons of trash being collected by volunteers and public employees, whether being discarded and abandoned furniture or debris blowing down the street.
The cleanup will focus on three staging areas that include Christ Sanctuary, at 416 Harding Avenue in Sciotoville; the corner of Sixth and Campbell Streets; and Iron Body Fitness, at 1315 Kendall Avenue.
The Comeback City Cleanup will be held on Saturday, April 15 at 8 a.m. at the three staging areas.
“This is your chance to show your love for your city and prove that we are truly the Comeback City. We know that there has been negativity in the media about our community, but this is our opportunity to come together and show the world how much we care about our home,” Mosley said. “Join us for the Portsmouth community cleanup day, where we will work together to make our city more attractive, cleaner, and brighter. This is a day for unity, pride, and positive change. We are inviting all members of our community to participate, to show that we are committed to making Portsmouth a better place to live, work, and play.”
Portsmouth’s city service department will be removing large trash items and furniture in alleys if reported to them prior to the event, by calling 740.354.7766. Mosley said that there will also be a lot of other cleanup activities going on.
“Together, we will clean up litter, remove graffiti, plant flowers, and beautify our community. We’ll show everyone that Portsmouth is not just a place we call home, but a place we’re proud to call home,” Mosley said. “This is our opportunity to show the world that we are the Comeback City, that we have the spirit, the drive, and the heart to overcome any obstacle and make our city shine. So come on out and join us for this historic event. Let’s show everyone that we love where we live, and that we are committed to making Portsmouth the best it can be. Together, we will make a difference and show that our city is a place of hope, unity, and pride.”
Mosley said she was selected by City Manager Sam Sutherland and the Lawrence Scioto Solid Waste Management District to lead the efforts of the cleanup. She believes she was chosen to lead the efforts, due to her passion for recycling and involvement in a program she started called Ward Walkers.
“Ward Walkers are people who live within the city’s six wards and like to get out and exercise and walk, but also have a passion for their neighborhood,” Mosley said. “They want their community to be clean. They’re not the ones who are littering, but know it happens and care enough to get out and take initiative in getting it cleaned.
Councilwoman Mosley stated that she believes the problem is getting better, as people become more aware of the trash around them. She hopes efforts like the Comeback City Cleanup and Ward Walkers continue to address a problem she frequently trash talks.
“It is important to get our city clean, because it shows pride of the individuals who live here, and it shows people who want to live here that we do care about our city,” Mosley stated. “When people come to our city, we need to show them we are a comeback story. If we’re going to be an All-American City, then we need to conduct ourselves like we are an All-American City.”
Reach Joseph Pratt at (740) 353-3101, by email at [email protected], © 2022 Portsmouth Daily Times, all rights reserved
