"Shabby" is not chic in Henry CountyThe decay of a neighborhood isn't something that happens overnight. It usually begins with one property owner who either doesn't take pride in his property or can't afford to maintain it. The house eventually takes on an air of shabbiness, the yard piles up with broken cars & junk, and the landscaping is let go. As adjacent homeowners leave the area, new property owners may be less inclined to maintain their properties, too...and the seediness spreads to other blocks.
With the economy in turmoil and foreclosure rates rising, this could turn into a big problem for Henry County. I can think of several neighborhoods that are already experiencing this vicious cycle.
Litter is a problem. No butts about it!
While walking along the sidewalks of McDonough, I am always stunned by the number of cigarette butts I see. It amazes me at the thoughtlessness of drivers and passengers who smoke and throw those burning cigarette butts out of their windows. Busy intersections are often covered in layers of spent cigarettes tossed while waiting at red lights or stop signs. Heck, my mailbox looks like it is used for target practice. I pick-up at least twenty butts per week in front of my home near the Square.
I think most smokers rationalize cigarette litter by believing, "Well, it's just one little cigarette butt." Of course, litter is litter (no matter how small it is)...but when thousands of people are rationalizing that way, it becomes a huge problem. Each cigarette butt can take up to 12 years to break down, littering our sidewalks, streets and parks and leaching toxic chemicals into our waterways.
Clean it up!
Most people aren't aware that it is illegal to have junk cars up on the lawns, piles of accumulated garbage & doggie do-do, abandoned vehicles on the street, and waist-high weeds. The Code Enforcement department of your city's Planning & Zoning department enforces these ordinances. Pick up the phone, place that call, and have the heavies at City Hall deal with the nuisance. It is in everyone's best interest.
HENRY COUNTY CODE ENFORCEMENT:
(770) 288-6200
CITY OF MCDONOUGH CODE ENFORCEMENT CONCERN FORM (PRINT AND DROP OFF AT CITY HALL) OR CALL: (770) 898-3507
CITY OF STOCKBRIDGE CODE ENFORCEMENT
(PROVIDED BY HENRY COUNTY): (770) 288-6200
CITY OF LOCUST GROVE CODE ENFORCEMENT:
(770) 692-2321
CITY OF HAMPTON CODE ENFORCEMENT:
(770) 946-4306
What you can do
One of my pet peeves is litter- it looks bad, it’s annoying- and the stats say that 3 out of 4 people have seen people litter. You can do something about it.
Henry County actually has a Litter Hotline number to report people who litter. The primary purpose is to send a message that someone is watching, as well as to educate people that there are fines involved for this behavior.
HENRY COUNTY LITTER HOTLINE: (770) 898-7453
But one of the easiest things you can do is to take matters into your own hands...literally! Try to pick up at least one piece of litter each day. This includes your parking lot at work, outside the grocery store or gym, along the sidewalk while you are jogging or walking the dog, etc.
You don't have to be a card-carrying member of the "litter patrol" to make a difference!
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