SPRINGFIELD – Seeking to address crumpled wrappers, empty bottles and fast-food cups littered throughout the city, Jesse Lederman, president of the City Council, said the administration of Mayor Domenic J. Sarno should build a “Springfield Green Corps” that will recruit young people to deal with litter in neighborhoods and parks.
Lederman said the proposed program would provide youth with summer jobs and offer them field trips to learn about local career opportunities. In turn, the youth will remove trash from “high-litter areas” while participating in anti-litter campaigns.
“This is a hands-on opportunity for youth to be involved in making a difference in their own city while also addressing a community need that is critical to Springfield’s future success,” Lederman wrote in a statement. “Let’s make 2023 the year we clean up our streets, literally.”
Although Lederman suggested the city try a Green Corps pilot during the summer, he said the program could be extended to operate during three seasons of the year.
Lederman said possible funding sources for the program could come from revenue from the Eversource property tax settlement, American Rescue Plan Act funds or state workforce development resources.
The idea for the corps came from Worcester, which created the Worcester Green Corps in 2021. The public-private partnership that includes participants such as MassHire and the Worchester Regional Chamber of Commerce paid 25 youth minimum wage to hunt. garbage in that city. Lederman said the Worcester Green Corps collected 3,000 pounds of trash.
The City Council president said he believes keeping Springfield’s neighborhoods, parks and civic spaces clean is an important community responsibility and a better job needs to be done.
“The creation of the Springfield Green Corp will provide a unique opportunity to address a citywide challenge while also providing financial and educational benefits to the youth of our community,” Lederman said in a statement.
Sarno said that he is not against Lederman’s proposal and it is currently being reviewed by Timothy J. Plante, chief administrative and financial officer, and Patrick Sullivan, director of Parks, Recreation and Building Management in the city.
He added that Christopher Cignoli, director of the Department of Public Works, is also involved in the review process.
“We are already looking at expanding the clean initiative in the city, but I think the young people you can involve people, the more it works for them to maintain a clean (environment) but can it will also destroy their parents or family,” said Sarno.
“Maybe there is something we can do with it, building on the already established clean city and green initiatives,” he added.
Lederman’s proposal comes weeks after Ward 6 City Councilman Victor G. Davila directed the initiation of an Advisory Litter Committee to address trash in the Forest Park neighborhood.
Davila and committee members will host a virtual community roundtable on January 26, from 7pm to 8:30pm on Zoom.
Davila said residents are invited to share their comments and concerns about garbage issues in the Forest Park neighborhood and provide ideas on how to solve them.
“My committee members and I have been receiving emails and photos from neighbors about ongoing trash issues on their streets or main thoroughfares,” Davila said in a statement. “We compiled the problems and hope to hear more insights from the neighborhood at the virtual community roundtable.”
Erica Swallow, the chairperson of the committee, said that Cignoli, the director of the Department of Public Works, will attend the virtual roundtable.
“It’s great to see that DPW is engaged and we look forward to the collaboration,” Swallow wrote in an email. “The participation of the DPW will be essential for the implementation of the solutions that the public is looking for.”
Residents can pre-register for the roundtable discussion. For more information on the roundtable or to contact Swallow, send an email to hi@ericawallow.com.
