Holyoke community comes together for spring street cleanup

Yahoo

01-04-2025

HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) – As the weather starts to warm up, the city of Holyoke is warning the public about areas that need to be cleaned before any penalties are issued.
All hands were on deck in Holyoke on Monday as spring street cleanup began, so residents and business owners will see trucks conducting their regular street sweeping. That also means more parking enforcement signs will be posted.
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It's that time of year again when leaves and branches start to fall, and trash builds up and clogs our sewer system. Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia is reminding residents and business owners about the shared responsibility to keep the city clean.
'As a municipality, we try our best to keep it clean,' said Holyoke City Council Member Juan Anderson-Burgos. 'You know, we have our trucks passing by and cleaning and sweeping.'
Depending on what parts of the city need more attention, street sweeping can take up to two weeks to complete. But Anderson-Burgos says it can be quicker if neighbors get together–a tip Holyoke resident Jonathan Ventura has been following since 2008.
'We try to rake up, clean up, and even after the floods and everything, the water comes down the streets, even if the gutter gets cleaned up, we try to rake up all of those leaves and everything else,' Ventura said.
And if it's too much for one neighborhood, anyone can call the city to help.
'Who doesn't want to live in an area that's not clean?' said Anderson-Burgos. 'So if we do our part, it just leaves to better results.'
The city of Holyoke wants residents and business owners to keep common areas such as sidewalks and drains clear of trash and debris. According to the city ordinance, Holyoke public works is not responsible for keeping alley ways and other private properties clean.
And if your property is not clean, a task force called Flex Squad will notify you before any fees or penalties come into play.
'As a way to say, hey, this came to our attention, and we remind the public of the ordinance law,' said Mayor Garcia. 'And of course, if landlords or property owners don't come around and comply, then that's when the fines come in.'
If everyone works together to beautify the city for the upcoming summer season, it will help to eliminate hazards for future generations.
'Because if little kids get ahold of those, that's really bad,' Ventura said. 'That's a bad influence on younger generations to come and everything else. So we all as adults should clean up our waste, not tossing it out to the streets and everything. There's bins all over the corners.'
If you see an area that has not been cleaned, you can file a complaint online through the city's SeeClickFix app.
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