23 in 23

23 in 23: Public Works’ Plan to Clean Up 23 Communities in 23 Days is a neighborhood clean-up program instituted by newly-elected Mayor of Birmingham Larry Langford in November 2007 and carried out by the Birmingham Department of Public Works. The number "23" refers to the number of communities in Birmingham's Community Participation Program.

As presented, the program involves three waves of work crews spending one day working in each community. The first wave includes 24 limb loaders and 8 pickers removing trash and debris. The second wave includes 30 horticulture crews to cut and clean parks, rights-of-way, alleys, ditches and vacant lots. The third wave involves smaller trash and brush crews picking up debris from the second wave.

The program utilizes no additional personnel or equipment. It has been praised by City Councilor Miriam Witherspoon for making the best use of existing resources.

Progress

During the first 23 day campaign crews picked up 17,369 tons of trash and debris (755 tons per day), cut 1,134 overgrown lots (49 per day), and placed notices on 656 abandoned cars (28.5 per day), of which 188 were hauled off (8 per day). This was accomplished with 72,400 staff hours (362 workers x 200 hours each)

Between January and June 2008 the program reported 100,142 tons of trash collected and hauled away along with 2,311 overgrown lots mowed, 256 houses demolished, 607 ditches cleaned, 642 blocks of alleys cleared, 2,115 cars tagged, 835 cars towed, and 20,302 potholes patched.

Sequence

The order in which communities are serviced was determined by geography:

1. Five Points West community
2. West End community
3. Grasselli community
4. Brownville community
5. Southwest community
6. Titusville community
7. Smithfield community
8. Ensley community
9. Pratt community
10. North Birmingham community
11. Northside community
12. Southside community
13. Red Mountain community
14. Crestline community
15. Crestwood community
16. Woodlawn community
17. East Birmingham community
18. East Lake community
19. Airport Hills community
20. Roebuck-South East Lake community
21. East Pinson Valley community
22. Huffman community
23. Cahaba community

Response

Langford made a presentation after the completion of the first 23-day campaign, during the the January 2, 2008 City Council meeting. After the meeting, rap duo Over C's performed "Don't Trash My Hood", a rap song inspired by the campaign. Birmingham Public Works director Rickey Kennedy credited the program with raising morale among public works employees.

See Also

• Operation Green Wave, a similar initiative established by William Bell

References

• Coman, Victoria L. (December 11, 2007) "At halfway point, some Birmingham residents pleased with citywide cleanup; others have concerns." The Birmingham News
• Coman, Victoria L. (Deecember 29, 2007) "Birmingham cleanup harvests tons of trash, cars." The Birmingham News
• Bryant, Joseph (January 3, 2008) "23-in-23 cleanup campaign touted after City Council meeting." The Birmingham News
• Hippensteel, Jena (July 22, 2008) "Birmingham crews collect 100,000 tons of trash in cleanup campaign." Birmingham Business Journal
• Bryant, Joseph D. (July 22, 2008) "Birmingham citywide cleanup initiative yields 200 million pounds of rubbish." The Birmingham News

External links

• 23 in 23 at birminghamal.gov