Denver Streets Are Trashed: We Could Learn a Lesson From New York Mayor

In 1982, a record 23.8 inches of snow paralyzed the city of Denver and a few months later, longtime Mayor Bill McNichols lost his job. It took 33 hours for Stapleton Airport to open and the city side streets and sidewalks were impassable for weeks.

This week, New York City was hit with a “bomb cyclone” and 20 inches of snow in Central Park. Yet, within 24 hours the city’s streets and sidewalks were cleared and the city was open for business. The difference: New York City Mayor Zohar Mamdani turned to a longtime program, expanded publicity and gave a higher incentive. The city offered $30 an hour for anyone able to shovel snow. A reported 1,400 people shoveled for hours; cleared the streets and sidewalks; made some extra money; and likely poured that revenue back into the city.

What a simple, genius idea.

Mayor Mamdani also put businesses and apartment owners on notice that fines would be quickly imposed if the public areas were not shoveled.

So, I think it’s time for Mayor Mike Johnston and Denver City Council to take note. Here’s an opportunity to get residents involved with cleaning up Denver.

Litter in street gutters and overflowing trash cans, including in downtown, has been an issue for at least the last twenty years. It’s become commonplace instead of an embarrassment.

I’ve heard the excuse that there aren’t enough city workers to keep up with the litter. How about each city council member dig into their budgets and find a “Clean City” fund to pay residents to clean up sidewalk and street gutter trash in their districts? I think many would gladly grab trash bags and work a couple days a week for $19.29 an hour, the minimum wage in Denver. This also would help households struggling with higher grocery costs.

The money also could come from fining businesses for not picking up litter. This should include grocery stores, some of which have gotten so lax that customers need to clean out buggies before shopping.

Take a clue from Mayor Mamdani and get our residents involved. Wouldn’t it be amazing if seeing litter in Denver’s street gutters or overflowing trash cans became a rare sight instead of a daily eyesore?

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