Mayor Announces New Downtown Salem Clean-Up Program

Salem Mayor Kim Driscoll has announced that the City will be retaining a private contractor that specializes in property management to help improve conditions around downtown Salem. 

Specifically, the contractor, who is yet to be named, will focus on litter control, weeding beds and disposing of fallen leaves, graffiti removal, power washing surfaces, painting bollards, light poles, and other public structures, and cleaning the interior and exterior of public trash and recycling receptacles. The work will be conducted weekly, and in some cases daily, through October.

“Great cities are about more than just the buildings around us or the streets beneath our feet,” said Mayor Driscoll, in announcing the plan during the Celebrate Salem Awards in April. “Great cities take planning and they take investment in larger, transformative projects, but they also take an attention to the smaller things. By enhancing litter control and maintenance, we make our public spaces even better to enjoy.”

“This work is intended to complement the on-going efforts of our own public works crews,” said John Tomasz, director of public services for the City. “It will also provide an extra set of eyes around the downtown, to help us better identify damage or other issues that might require more substantial follow-up.”

“This proposal demonstrates a creative commitment by the City to address an ongoing issue in our downtown areas,” said Councillor-at-Large William Legault. “I am hopeful of seeing a marked improvement in the cleanliness of the business district that will spur greater civic pride and involvement from business owners and residents.” 

“The addition of a downtown cleaning contract allows for a concrete solution to a real problem that Salem has been facing,” said Ward 2 Councillor Heather Famico, who represents part of the downtown. “This contract, along with the support and continued efforts of our residents and business community, will strengthen the commitment toclean up our community. All hands on deck.”