EDITORIAL

Published 12:00 am Tuesday, April 11, 2000

L’Observateur / April 11, 2000

Have you ever tossed a cigarette butt from your car window or dumped your ash tray while stopped at a traffic light? Have you ever thrown trash from a fast-food restaurant onto the roadside? Have you ever disposed of old tires, mattresses, refrigerators, shingles or clothes dryers by finding a dark spot on a deserted road in the middle of the night? Too many people have. Some do it without a thought, flicking a butt from awindow. Some, like the illegal dumpers, plan carefully to break the law.All these acts are against the law, for which a violator can be ticketed, fined or, in extreme cases, put into jail.

A trashed-up roadside reflects badly on any community and its residents.

It sends a message to business, industry and other would-be residents that the area is undesirable. However, more business, industry andresidents bring more tax revenue into a community, which means more money for governmental services and schools.

It isn’t hard to be a good citizen and not trash up a community. There areresources to properly dispose of large items, from tires to large appliances. Everyone can keep a trash bag in their vehicle, and smokers canwait until they’re home to properly clean their ash trays. To do otherwiseis inconsiderate of other people and hurtful to the community as a whole.

Louisiana is in the midst of the Great American Clean-Up, which began March 15 and continues through May 15. It’s an opportunity for people toget rid of bad habits, teach proper respect of their fellow citizens to young people and help them learn by example.

A civic organization or a business or a family can all do their parts in keeping their areas clean. Picking up litter is only a part of the project.Beautify the place with flowers, cut the grass regularly, remove graffiti or even plant some trees.

Neighborhoods can get together to help fix up unsightly buildings in need of repair or paint. Junked cars can be removed. It isn’t hard or time-consuming to bring about a transformation in the entire look of a community once people are motivated. Once a community is transformedlike that, it’s easier to keep clean as people take justified pride in where they live and work.

We encourage people to examine their habits and take on the challenge of making the River Parishes community an example throughout the state and nation. We have much to be proud of here, so let’s show our civic pride in ameaningful way.

– L’Observateur

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