Louisville Metro Councilwoman Attica Scott, D-1, is partnering with Metro Corrections and Solid Waste Management to launch a new program aimed at clearing out trash in alleyways.The "Clean it up" initiative begins Tuesday and will use inmates in a work release crew from the city jail to clean up blight in District 1 neighborhoods. The first area that the program will target will be the Parkland neighborhood where a shooting spree broke out on May 17.Scott says the program is a chance for inmates to earn back the community’s trust and volunteer in their former neighborhoods."To my knowledge what the inmates get is giving back to the community. This is their community service. This is there way of helping to take care of the neighborhoods where some of them come from,"she says.The program is focusing on a dozen different alleys in west and southwest Louisville through the month of July to address illegal dumping. Scott’s office has purchased five security cameras to catch illegal dumpers as part of the council’s effort to get tough on violators.Last week, Scott’s office completed the “Cut it out” program that had several lawn care companies voluntarily mow grass at the worst abandoned properties in her district. It successfully cut one-third of the 155 worst properties with overgrown grass for free. Scott says addressing abandoned properties and other blights is an important part of tackling crime in the district and residents are stepping up, but the city needs to do more.
"My office needs to work more and more with the different departments in the city to say and ask the questions: what are you doing," Scott says. "Let’s see the list, let’s see the paperwork and give me some goals you have laid out year-to-year. My job is to keeping asking those questions and keep asking those questions until we get answers that satisfy people in my district."
