For one neighbor, Saginaw’s fall cleanup was anything but a small event.
Ebony Taylor’s dream was fulfilled when a “Team Up to Clean Up” volunteer crew arrived to tackle the overgrown and litter-filled mini forest across from her home on Burt near South 12th.
Her concern has reached a point where a police report is on file from when she personally confronted a scofflaw who was engaged in illegal dumping across the street.
“This is awesome. I love it,” said Taylor, who rushed out her front door once again, this time to thank her benefactors.
“I try to do what I can. My grandfather bought this house and moved in here in 1959, and I’m the third generation, born in 1971. On every single one of these vacant lots, we had houses. I remember what it used to be like.”
Mayor Brenda Moore, with support from city staff and local agencies, called for the first fall cleanup after three successful spring ventures. Turnout on the fall-type Saturday morning was less than half the plus-100 from last May, but those who took part made an impact.
Vernon and Letisha Randle, and Cecil and LaQuanda Hoskins, are owners of PRH Group, which specializes in outdoor electrical projects, and the better-known I Heart Mac and Cheese restaurant, which specializes in comfort food. Their volunteer team included Mazzie Rudison, Gerald Robinson, Donald Kirk, Steve Anton and a trio of younger Randles — Vernon Jr., A’Myia and Tatum.
“These are all family and friends,” Latisha Randle said. “It’s all about the community.”
Nearby, at Fourth and Perkins, a squad in attire designed for “Saginaw High School Class of ’73” filled garbage bags with debris and then posed for a group selfie.
“We went to school with the mayor, and so we are here both to support and surprise her,” said Buford Gaiter Jr., joined by Linda Troutman, Mechelle Williams, Sabrina Lowery and Tina Houze. Andre Turner had oversight with three teens — Samari Drake from SASA, Morgan Bailey from Carrollton High and Demarcus Drake from Thompson Middle.
Turner pointed to a broken five-foot section of a rotted utility pole that he said had been “sitting by this street sign forever,” and he asserted that if local crews (county land bank and city) would do a better job, more volunteers might come forth.
Both entities have tight regular budgets, but the City Council received $52 million from ARPA, the one-time federal block grant, and the County Board reaped $37 million. The city has allocated an $800,000 share for cleanup and the county gave no dollars to the land bank.
A goal next spring, said Moore, is to bring in heavy equipment and professional crews for cleanup challenges that are beyond normal tasks for volunteers.
Any group that wishes to conduct an individual fall neighborhood cleanup may contact S.C.E.N.I.C., the Saginaw Code Enforcement Neighborhood Improvement Cooperative, (989) 759-1530.
