Unlike a previous column that requested imagination, this offering needs none. Just look at the accompanying photo. Beautiful. Right? The photo shows an amazing house in my community on the 100 block of Franklin St. in the former Italian enclave known as Chambersburg. While deterioration occurs throughout a section of Trenton that many Italians called home, where back yard gardens produced tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, basil, herbs, etc. important staples for cooking, persons on the 100 block of Franklin St. maintain clean lifestyles. And, guess what? Numerous houses match the one shown here. Franklin St. connects with historical accounts of Italian women who swept and hosed down sidewalks daily. Despite being betrayed by a Public Works department that did not send a street sweeper to our block on three occasions last week, our block remains clean thanks to several people who resolve the trash against curb issue. Wise people know that the 100 block of Franklin St. represents the street that needs immediate attention regarding several problematic houses. A simple walk-through by a city inspector could resolve some issues regarding, say, appliances on porches. The 136 Franklin St. residence operates as an illegal rental, according to an Inspections Department employee. This house never passed inspection since becoming a rental property in 2018. It’s troubling that city officials do nothing about many money-grubbing landlords who break the law. If the aforementioned employee discloses information about a landlord in blatant violation of city codes and ordinances then no action follows, well, one can understand allegations of cahoots and corruption. For the most part, residents on the 100 block of Franklin St. enjoy good lives. Just a smidgeon of support and communication from city officials could establish our block as a stronghold. Finally, come back on Sunday for an interesting story, actually, it’s amazing, about an incident that occurred on Franklin St. in May. L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist. Find him on Twitter @LAParker6 or email him at [email protected].