Greetings from Costa Rica. In a province named Santiago de Puriscal, enjoying beautiful weather, it’s 85 degrees today, fantastic food, try the gallo pinto (es muy rico, it’s very good) and laughing my gluteus maximus off about another Trenton city-wide cleanup. If jovial responses could remove stomach flab, a return to Trenton would showcase six-pack abdominal muscles resting firmly atop a 32-inch waistline. Trenton, suffocated by poverty, dying from disregard by state officials, and stymied from local government underperformance, ranks as the dirtiest municipality in Mercer County, one constantly in need of maintenance reminders. Clean up. Please, clean up. We beg you to clean up. We will pay you to clean your home. How much do you want? A government program should cover the cost. Another city cleanup, this one set for late March and April, continues a policy that features prances by dogs and show ponies as city officials have turned being clean into rocket science. Still, in the interest of being a solid citizen, officials released this information about the spring cleanup. Mind you, whatever item set out for collection for your designated day, could be picked up almost any day of the week. The Citywide Clean-Up Initiative will target all four wards in the city on the following dates: March 29th: Citywide Clean-Up of East Ward April 5th: Citywide Clean-Up of North Ward April 12th: Citywide Clean-Up of West Ward April 19th: Citywide Clean-Up of South Ward To ensure that items are collected, residents are urged to place items on the curb by 7:00 a.m. on the date of their scheduled pick-up. “This annual event is part of our ongoing commitment to preserving the beauty of our community,” said Mayor Gusciora. “By providing the necessary resources, we aim to reduce waste and curb illegal dumping, ensuring our residents have the tools they need to keep our environment safe, clean, and sustainable.” The clean-up removal will include collection of yard waste and furniture. “Last year we held this initiative once, and this year we’re planning to have it twice,” stated Director Onitiri. “We are here for our residents, and we want our community to remain vibrant. If you see something, we ask you to report it to our offices. It is through our collective efforts that we can ensure Trenton remains a clean and welcoming city for all its residents.” Interim Recreation, Natural Resource, and Culture Director Paul Harris shared, “Our objective is to improve the quality of life for our residents. Everyone plays a role in this effort. The more you report something, the quicker we can react and provide gradual improvements to our city. This initiative is just one of many ongoing efforts to revitalize our community.” First, city officials must hold up their end of this bargain, clean up dilapidated city-owned properties that choke the living daylights out of communities. Remember those houses on Walnut Ave. featured here — they have been eyesores for decades. Mr. Onitiri needs to take an oath that guarantees street sweepers work efficiently and show up during scheduled times. Mayor Gusciora needs to step up his game regarding inspections. And, yes, if fines change behaviors then that’s fine. Stop with all these grandiose press conferences and let’s get to work. The clean-up initiative will NOT collect: Construction Debris, Home Renovation Debris, Chemicals, Televisions, Electronic Devices, Unbundled Wood/Branches Over 4ft Long. Residents are advised to call the Division of Solid Waste Management at (609) 989-3175 for more information on the correct removal process for those items. Be back soon. Hope the neighbors on the 100 block of Franklin St. have kept our Chambersburg street clean. L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist. Find him on Twitter @LAParker6 or email him at LAParker@Trentonian.com. ...read more read less