Clean up Day in Tulsa - August 4th

[RecycleMichael]

Here is the Tulsa World coverage...

http://www.tulsaworld.com/news/article.aspx?articleID=070728_1_A1_spanc16518

Makeover for Tulsa: Mayor sets a day to clean By BRIAN BARBER World Staff Writer
7/28/2007
An hour. That's all Mayor Kathy Taylor wants residents and business owners to devote Aug. 4 to help clean up the city before the PGA Championship. Officials are calling it Tulsa's 60-Minute Makeover. "The effects of continual rains over the last two months are still evident everywhere," the mayor said at a Friday news conference.

"Our Public Works mowing crews have been working hard to get back on track after weeks of delays. Now, we need Tulsans to step up and show their city pride by helping us put our best foot forward." The golf tournament, which will bring thousands of visitors to Tulsa from all over the world, will be Aug. 6-12 at Southern Hills Country Club. City officials have organized a citywide beautification effort from 8 a.m. to 11 a.m. Aug. 4.

Participants will be given bags and gloves and fan out with supervisors to collect litter, pick weeds and edge sidewalks. Volunteers are also being asked to help clean up around their own neighborhoods and places of business.

Taylor said the event is the start of a year-round initiative. "The timing couldn't be better," she said, noting the start of the PGA event. "What a great spark to get this new program started as we put a fresh face on Tulsa." Anyone who wants to organize a community cleanup on another day during the week may call the Metropolitan Environmental Trust for bags and gloves at 584-0584.

"People can pick up litter anytime," MET Executive Director Michael Patton said. "There's a lot to do." If there's rain, the event will be from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Aug. 5.

Volunteers are also needed to help with grass maintenance at Up With Trees sites. The nonprofit maintains about 450 tree sites, most of which are along highways and city streets. While the city does the major mowing, Up With Trees is responsible for the mowing directly around the trees and the weed trimming, Executive Director Anna America said.

"We have two staff supervisors and the rest of the work is done by volunteers, so it's a challenge to keep caught up, even under normal circumstances," she said. "But with all of the rain, we are working everyone even harder, and we certainly appreciate any help the public can offer." For more information, call Up With Trees at 610-TREE.

I am proud of the Mayor to help organize cleanup efforts. She really does care about this and I have seen her pickup litter at outdoor events more than a few times. She is willing to help keep our town clean and I hope that others will join us next weekend to clean.

I know that people like doublea will find ways to bash me and bash the Mayor for doing this, but I have worked for many an elected official and her motives on this one are sincere.

I am embarassed at how parts of our city looks right now and I plan to spend some time next Saturday cleaning it up. Please join us.