Wow! Fixing One of Huntington's Big Problems!

This morning's front-page Herald-Dispatch headline is encouraging, to say the least -

"Meeting will address sewer problem."

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This is a big one, folks! The news report said, in part, "A $357 million plan to deal with Huntington's longstanding combined sewer overflow problems will be presented at a public meeting tomorrow. The plan, which calls for initial improvements costing $54.5 million, will be explained at a public meeting at 7 p.m. in the Jean Carlo Stephenson Auditorium at Huntington's City Hall. The Sanitary Board will discuss the final draft of the proposed long-term control plan."

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Progress .... I love that word! Together, we will acccomplish anything we can imagine!

Mr. Mayor, May I Ask Your Assistance?

(This morning I sent the following email to our mayor. I know we can count on him to negotiate with CSX regarding this issue.)

Good morning, Mr. Mayor: Above the walkway within the 10th Street viaduct is a “sub-roof” that was originally constructed to protect pedestrians from water and debris that could fall from the railroad bed, which is overhead. Over the years, the space between the roof and the railroad bed has become a litter and trash receptacle for the folks walking through the viaduct. At present, this space is completely full of trash and litter.

I have been cleaning the sidewalk and traffic lanes, but within just a few hours after cleaning, the debris from above the protective roof blows down onto the sidewalk and into traffic lanes. Since the “roof space” is full at both ends, pedestrians are merely throwing their litter down on the sidewalk and into the traffic lanes. I have raised funds (cost for the 10th Street viaduct equipment - $2,364), which I would like to expend for placing a trash receptacle and a cigarette disposal unit at the north and south entrances to the 10th Street viaduct. If you will work with the railroad company to get the trash removed from the “sub-roof” and arrange to have the two openings closed, I would like to have permission to install the equipment. Of course, I will do the installation according to the City’s specifications as it relates to the correct positioning upon the sidewalk at each end of the walkway. In addition, I will personally service the equipment and dispose of the litter from them. I will also spend time at that location handing out “anti-litter” cards to enlist the support of folks, who walk through that viaduct on a daily basis, for using the new equipment. If my “experiment” is successful, I will raise funds for placement at the other city viaducts.

Thank you, Sir, for all that you do for our citizens. May I hear from you?

2018 All-American City Award

Every citizen of Huntington and Cabell County has an opinion as to what our area's needs are, if we are to prosper and grow as we move deeper into the 21st-century. We talk ourselves silly about it! Personally, we are of the opinion that "talk is cheap"! It is time to develop an action plan, and we would like to discuss the formation of an "All-American City Task Force" to develop a strategic plan to attain the 2018 All-American City Award. It is bestowed yearly by the National Civic League. Huntington won the honor in 1958. The application for the designation can be made as a neighborhood, town, city or area. We propose that the "task force" set as its goal to work to gain this prestigious designation as an "area", which would include the city of Huntington and Cabell County.

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We have given some thought as to which actions could be considered and accomplished during the next decade. Our area "task force" would make application for the All-American City designation for the year 2018. Other issues may be added, as the "task force" begins its work. Here is our contribution to the list:

1. Initially, the consolidation of city and county services.



2. Complete the consolidation of the governments of the City of Huntington and the government of Cabell County. The new government would be called "The Consolidated Government of Huntington and Cabell County".



3. Establish a well-funded consolidated law enforcement agency with sufficient manpower and equipment and a strong presence in all neighborhoods.



4. Establishment of Historic Neighborhood designations for distinctive residential neighborhoods to protect the architectural "signature" of each and to ensure the historic preservation of Huntington's various neighborhoods. Modify state law related to the sale of delinquent tax liens on properties, the disposition of dilapidated and fire-damaged structures and the development of affordable housing, leading to the elimination of concentrated public housing "projects".



5. State legislative action to establish Home Rule allowing local taxation that will support well-delivered governmental services that will lead to our areas image and an attractive and progressive place to do business and raise families.



6. Recovery of the areas reputation for orderliness and beauty by modernizing infrastructure. Finalize the closing of the current landfill and estabish a new one that will focus on recycling of solid waste. Replacement of the antiquated combined sanitation/storm sewer and all other infrasturcture elements, including the recovery of paved-over residential-area brick streets, the repair/replacement of curbs, gutters streets and trees and the placement of litter receptacles and cigarette waste disposal units in all business and residential neighborhoods.



7. Establish an area-wide task force of citizens and professionals to end homelessness, vagrancy and the demand for illegal drugs. Innovative planning to create affordable housing and the elemination of the demand for illegal drugs.



8. A marketing and educational campaign to foster a dynamic citizen involvement and a new "sense of community. A decade of continued beautification of our business districts, neighborhoods and riverfront.

How about adding your ideas. Click on "Post Comments" at the end of this posting. (you can make comments "anonymously". After clicking on "Post Comments", click on "Anonymous". Then, give us your ideas for the "task force's" consideration.)

Together we will accomplish anything we can imagine!

Don't Judge a Book by Its Cover

Each of us has talents that we can use to make life better for others. Sometimes our shyness or lack of confidence can cause us to hold-back and not pursue our dreams, or to delay in taking part in our community. Every human being has value; I truly believe that.

My wife sent me this link to a short video; I have watched it every day since. If you need some encouragement, just click on the link below (make sure your speakers are on). You might want to make sure you have something to wipe your tears away.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k08yxu57NA

Together we will accomplish anything we can imagine!

"Dirty Old Town"

I know .... I spend a lot of time on this blog talking about the lack of cleanliness of our area. In reality, the "dirty old town" image we project is one of the primary reasons we are not drawing new residents and businesses. Who wants to move to a "dirty old town"? NO surprises there then. Huntington fares very badly in a litter survey carried out by the West Virginia Division of Environmental Protection (WV DEP). While towns all over the country have made great gains, Huntington is classed as a litter black-spot.

Blame has been laid on the City of Huntington's administrators and the Huntington City Council, but I don’t think that is entirely fair because to me the people who walk along dropping litter as they go bear more responsibility. Can you blame a local authority for the uncaring citizens and visitors who trash our streets and highways? Certainly there is no doubt that our taxpayer-supported city, county and state governments have a responsibility to keep our streets and highways clean, but it’s an uphill and expensive job in Huntington and Cabell County and this is backed up by what I see everyday. The worst thing about this is that more money than is right is already being spent cleaning up after the lazy-litter-perpetrators I have already mentioned. Let us be clear about this, this is money that could be directed to the Huntington problems of controlling drugs and crime, up-grading the condition of our streets, curbs and gutters, etc. (I could go on-and-on with the major issues we must fix.) Simply stated, all it takes is for people to have some civic pride. However, that pride is lacking.

Should I expect people to have that pride? Not at all, but I do expect people to know that dropping the wrapper from their chips in the middle of a street and not in a litter receptacle, is wrong, unsightly and makes our communities a litter bug’s dream and an eyesore to live with. There have been a couple of occasions where I have picked up people’s discarded rubbish and went after them saying ‘oh, excuse me you dropped this! And in most cases I have been told to ‘f*ck off’. Charming indeed, but not nearly as charming as their compulsion to pollute our streets. When my son was small, NOT dropping litter was what I considered an important lesson and one that would later become the bane of my life when it was my turn on clothes washing days, he held litter in his pockets. Well that's the way it should be, because litter shames us all. One element of the solution is to have trash receptacles and cigarette butt disposal units on every corner of every street and the implementation of an advertising campaign that will use billboards and public service radio and TV-spots targeting the largest group of offenders (according to a national study) - 15-year-old to 35-year-old males. I'm doing extensive research on both solutions to determine the feasibility and projected cost. I'll keep you posted.

What Are They Thinking?

U.S. LitterButt's Pledge

I pledge allegiance as I trash, the United States of America, and to the carpet of cigarette butts under which it's hidden. One more, what can it hurt, another non-biodegradable acetate filter for all.

- John R. Polito - July 4, 2002 -

Slum Landlords Need To Be Identified, Vilified and Prosecuted

In 1959, when Huntington was named an All-American City, the lack of affordable housing was identified as a major issue that needed to be addressed during the decade of the 1960's. Almost fifty-years later, it is still an issue and our city government continues its long history of diverting its eyes from another one of our biggest issues - slum landlords.

I have visited the homes of some of our most vulnerable citizens while attempting to spread what I call "the gospel of litter". They are vulnerable because they are not able to afford living in more stable neighborhoods. Frankly, their rented homes and apartments, in many cases, are not livable. The plumbing doesn't work, the floors are rotting, the windows barely keep out the cold and the overall condition of the structures they call home is very poor.

There are several slum landlords in Huntington. They go about the business of collecting rents while refusing to keep their unlivable properties repaired and safe. Building codes are being violated, but the renters are powerless to require their landlords to keep their properties livable and safe. Many of these renters are subsidized by the Section 8 Housing Program of the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development. In addition, many Marshall University students are victimized by unscrupulous landlords who charge exorbitant rents when you consider the condition of a great deal of the available off campus housing.

It is time for these slum landlords to be identified and vilified! The City of Huntington must beef up its code enforcement function and prosecute slum landlords who refuse to properly maintain their shabby and unsafe rental properties. Why not license all landlords and require that they identify each and every housing unit that they rent? Why not enforce the ordinances related to building codes and landlord and tenant laws? As Cicero said, "The welfare of the people is the highest law." He meant ALL of the people; not just the more affluent ones.

We Take Trees for Granted

"If you see someone sitting in the shade under a tree today, it is because someone cared enough to plant one years ago."

- Warren Buffett -