The Clean Neighborhoods Act was passed by the Tennessee legislature in 2010 and signed into law by former Governor Phil Bredesen.
This law would allow community organizations, schools groups, church groups, and other groups of people to contract with the city and county for the mowing of grass and removal of trash from vacant properties.
Imagine what a boon this could be to grassroots and neighborhood-level groups operating in our community?
Further, by allowing people in their own communities to earn income from eliminating blight, this law could take tax dollars out of the hands of dubious contractors and put that funding directly into the communities that need them.
When combined with our Juvenile Justice Project, the Clean Neighborhoods Act could pave the way for a neighborhood-driven jobs program for our youth.
While the Clean Neighborhoods Act is state law, neither the Memphis City Council nor the Shelby County Commission has passed the simple resolution needed for local activation of the law.
It’s time we made this happen.