Originally posted in The Rawlings-Blake Review, Issue #194

Spring has finally arrived, and I know I’m not the only one who is ready to put the snow and cold behind us! After a long winter, many Baltimoreans are ready to get out their brooms and start sweeping out the cobwebs. But it’s not just our eaves and cellars that need to be swept out. Earlier this week, I was pleased to announce that, starting next month, the Department of Public Works is going to help “Clean Up Baltimore” by extending mechanical street sweeping to every City neighborhood.

For years, mechanical street sweeping has helped clean the streets of Downtown and central Baltimore, as well as many of our major commuter routes and a few of our neighborhoods. But currently, just 30% of city streets are swept on a regular basis. The Citywide Mechanical Street Sweeping Program will ensure that more than 90% of city streets are swept at least once a month.

Not only do clean streets make for more lively neighborhoods, they also mean cleaner waterways. Left alone, large pieces of debris can lead to clogged storm drains and flooded streets. Dangerous chemicals and germs left behind by things like automobile debris, animal waste, and yard treatments drain into our streams and into the bay. The tons of trash collected by street sweepers are properly disposed of, instead of ending up in our storm water system.

Cleaner communities are more livable communities. A big focus of my administration has been investing in communities, and looking for ways that we can work with residents to make Baltimore a stronger, more appealing city.

This commitment is reflected in the budget that I presented to the Board of Estimates on Wednesday.

My proposed FY15 budget shows how far Baltimore has come in recent years. In addition to expanding our street sweeping program, the budget includes no cuts to City services and no tax increases. There are not many other cities in America who can say they managed to cut property taxes, invest in education, and eliminate blight from communities while simultaneously reducing their structural deficit by more than half.

It is a strong budget, and it clearly demonstrates that Baltimore City is committed to our residents’ quality of life.

I have lived in Baltimore my entire life, and I love this city. I want nothing more than to see Baltimore’s communities grow and thrive. I am committed to moving our city forward and in these efforts, I am truly grateful for the partnership of Baltimore’s dedicated and passionate communities.