letters to the editor

Cleaning up Our Streets Over the last few years I’ve noticed a steady deterioration in the cleanliness of the streets in my neighborhood on the Upper East Side. There have been times lately when the streets looked as bad as they did in the 1970s. I know because I grew up here.

I started by photographing problem areas and venting to City Council Member Keith Powers and to Community Board 8’s District Manager Will Brightbill. Powers suggested I work with his staff and use the city’s 311 app to document specific trash problems. Brightbill confirmed the steps I needed to take to trigger remedial action.

From November through March I photographed excess trash conditions and uploaded the photos via the 311 app. I also sent copies to Powers’ staff and they followed up with the Sanitation Department. Slowly but surely, conditions improved. I learned that the Department of Sanitation had been issuing fines to offending property owners, providing the “stick” needed to change behavior and counteract over-reliance on the Doe Fund. Powers also obtained additional funding for trash pickups on Second and Third Avenues in the 70s and 80s and ordering new trashcans.

This foray into retail activism taught me a few lessons:

• If you don’t say something, nothing changes.

• You need to learn what the levers of change are for your issue so your activism is effective.

• You need to be persistent and methodical.

• You need to show that engagement works so others follow suit.

Please use the 311 app and call your representatives. This is one problem we can actually solve if we do it together.

Suzette Brooks Masters

Upper East Side

Mr. Rogers’ NeighborhoodsWhat a wonderful, sensitive, beautiful article by Bette Dewing honoring Mr. Rogers and his generous, loving thoughts and talks to us and our children (“Easter & Passover Wishes, via Mr. Rogers,” March 29 — April 4). My Julie and Tommy watched the show daily and sometimes I with them. It never ceased to amaze me how he seemed to hit the right tone in the content of the show. Thank you so very much for your article which reminded all of us of the simple, loving gestures and actions we can do each day to and with our neighbors.

Maggie Mills

Upper East Side

[A friend] forwarded Bette Dewing’s column to all of the deacons at Madison Avenue Presbyterian Church. I’m so glad she did. The column was so important and relevant to the season, and using Mr. Rogers’ focus on neighbors and kindness to those around us, even the so-called “staff,” made it clear and simple.

Nancy Hauber

Upper East Side