Third Annual “Taking it to the Streets” Initiative Proves Effective

Mayor Tony George announced the results of this Spring’s “Taking it to the Streets” Initiative. Three teams of Health and Building Code Employees returned to the city’s streets between late March and mid-May, with the mission of identifying and abating nuisance properties throughout Wilkes-Barre. This spring’s initiative resulted in 215 QOL violation tickets.

The neighborhood nuisance abatement program debuted in August 2017 and resulted in 355 QOL tickets issued, over the course of the 4-month long operation. In May 2018, the teams again visited all city neighborhoods and issued 264 QOL violation tickets.

“Each year, we are handing out fewer QOL violation tickets, which shows that the program is effective. It is clear to see that residents are adhering to the Quality of Life ordinance and keeping their properties clean and free of junk and debris. Residents are more comfortable and confident in reporting nuisance properties. They are taking a stand to keep their neighborhoods clean by alerting the city to trouble spots” said Mayor Tony George.

“Taking It to the Streets” is a weekly operation in which teams of building, health, and rental inspectors dedicate a day to walk each neighborhood and look for violations of the city’s  Building & Health Code.  This operation is a supplement to NIT Hits, which address specific nuisance properties. While the city will continue to address nuisance properties through tips from residents, the “neighborhood-by-neighborhood” strategy will save time and energy as we tackle these properties.

Additionally, “Taking it to the Streets” teams will enforce the city’s Quality of Life Ordinance and issue tickets for violations of the ordinance, including:

• Lack of maintenance of properties
• Littering
• Improper storage of trash and rubbish
• Storage of inoperable/non-registered vehicles
• High grass and weeds
• Graffiti
• Accumulation of snow and ice on sidewalks
• Outside placement of indoor furniture
• Animal waste accumulation
• Lack of proper permits