Gene Rehmert, a CAPS volunteer in Beat 2432, sent the following reminder to his friends in Beat 2432. Of course, this is true for all beats and neighborhoods. Thanks for sharing, Gene.
Now that spring is approaching, there are a couple of things we should be aware of that can help the community deal with Spring weather and activity.
In Spring, the precipitation changes from snow to rain. There are a few things we all can do to help the sewer system accommodate the water.First, pick ups trash in the gutter and along the parkway that might block sewer grates. Plastic shopping bags and flattened plastic soda bottles are particular problems. I know many people thing that street cleaning is the responsibility of the city, but street sweepers are just starting up, and if the streets are flooded, it will be our problem first.
Second, when you park your car on the street in the evening, it is a good idea to take a second to see if any of your tires are standing on a sewer grate. If there is a heavy rain and the grate is partially blocked by a tire, it will be easier for trash or leaves to block the remainder of the grate making it much less effective. If your car happens to be over the grate, it is also on the low spot of the street, and most susceptible to flooding.
This item has to do with graffiti. Spring is when the artistic urges of many come to the surface with a desire to decorate a garage, fence or street sign with paint or grease pencils. Our neighborhood has been particularly hard hit this year with graffiti stretching all the way to Howard. If you see graffiti, please take the time to report it to 311 or your local alderman's office. The operator will want to know the address, the type of surface it is on, and approximately how high off the ground it is. You do not have to leave your name when making this kind of report. If your property is the target of the tagging, please get it cleaned off as soon as possible. Graffiti has a way of attracting more graffiti if it is left displayed for long.
--Gene Rehmert
