PRESS RELEASE: Love Our City: Mayor Breed Invites San Franciscans to Unite for Citywide Cleanup on Sept. 8 - 9/6/2018
For immediate release: Sept. 6, 2018
Contact: Rachel Gordon, 415-554-6045
#keepSFclean
Love Our City: Mayor Breed Invites San Franciscans to Unite for Citywide Cleanup on Sept. 8
Public Works Hosting 40 Kickoff Sites Where Residents Can Pick Up Brooms and Bags;
Civic Initiative Aims to Get Everyone Involved in Keeping the City Looking Good
San Francisco, CA – Mayor London N. Breed today urged all San Franciscans to participate in the Love Our City citywide cleanup on Saturday, Sept. 8, 2018, with a simple ask: Grab a broom and dustpan, sweep the sidewalk in front of your home or business and pick up litter in your neighborhood.
At a press conference at City Hall this morning, Mayor Breed championed the need for a renewed commitment to Love Our City and keep it clean. She will be joined on Saturday by all 11 members of the Board of Supervisors, City workers, residents and merchants from across San Francisco who will be meeting up at neighborhood schools, parks, churches and libraries to pitch in and make a difference.
San Francisco Public Works will provide the necessary cleaning supplies to people who want to participate in Love Our City. Brooms, garbage bags and dust pans will be available at 40 neighborhood kickoff locations. Those who can’t make it to one of the kickoff sites are encouraged to gather with neighbors – or head out solo – to spruce up their own blocks.
“The Love Our City cleanup is about all of us coming together to improve our neighborhoods,” said Mayor Breed. “Last month, I signed a two-year budget for San Francisco that makes significant new investments in programs to keep our streets clean and safe. But it is incumbent upon all of us to do our part, which is why I hope every San Franciscan will join me this Saturday for our citywide cleanup.”
The citywide cleanup will run from 9 a.m. to noon. To register and to get more details, visit the Giant Sweep website at sfgiantsweep.org.
Love Our City’s goal is to create a collective resolve where everyone who lives and works in San Francisco lends a hand to improve the City’s diverse neighborhoods.
In the past fiscal year, Public Works crews responded to more than 98,000 street cleaning service requests and removed more than 20,000 tons of garbage off the streets. That work won’t stop, but the one-day Love Our City event aims to energize and trigger an ongoing, communal sense of civic pride.
“Love Our City is a call to action,” said Public Works Director Mohammed Nuru. “With the combined efforts of city agencies, nonprofits, schools and the people who live and work here, we must keep the momentum going to love our city every day of the year. It takes a team.”
Residents, business owners and community groups throughout San Francisco already have pledged to participate in Love Our City and are urging more people to sign on. The Recreation and Park Department, Department of the Environment, San Francisco Public Library, SF311, SFMTA and San Francisco Unified School District, among other government agencies, as well as Recology and Starbucks, are Love Our City partners.
Public Works employees will be distributing trash bags at the neighborhood kickoff locations; once filled with sidewalk litter, residents should place bags on the curb at an intersection (please do not block curb ramps), then contact SF311 with the location and a crew will come out to collect. Be sure to let SF311 know this is part of the Love Our City event. SF311 can be reached by dialing 3-1-1 or via the SF311 app.
"I believe it is the responsibility of every San Franciscan to do their part in keeping our City clean,” said Marc Christensen, president of the Merced Extension Triangle Neighborhood Association, who for years has been making daily rounds in his neighborhood picking up litter. “Whenever possible, throughout the year, spending a few hours to clean up trash and weeds on our sidewalks, curbs and streets will make a huge impact."
Chinatown resident Rosa Chen agreed. “By participating in this citywide event, we are taking a pledge to make sure the City is in a suitable living condition for all,” said Chen, who has spent countless hours sprucing up the historic alleyways in her neighborhood. “It’s not enough to just talk about it – we need to turn words into actions.”
About San Francisco Public Works: The 24/7 City agency cleans and resurfaces streets; plants and nurtures City-maintained street trees; designs, constructs and maintains City-owned facilities; inspects streets and sidewalks; builds curb ramps; eradicates graffiti; partners with neighborhoods; trains people for jobs; greens the right of way; and educates our communities.
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Press Releases
Release Date
Thursday, September 6, 2018
Mission
San Francisco Public Works is one of the largest and most complex municipal operations in the City, with a 1,600-member workforce and a $384 million annual operating budget. The department's active capital project portfolio exceeds $3 billion. As one of San Francisco oldest City departments, it is also one of the most forward-thinking. Keeping San Francisco beautiful, safe and sustainable.
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