Broken windows theory in action

One of the theories we teach in intro criminology classes is broken windows theory. You may know it of Mayor Giuliani, mid-1990s fame. The theory essentially posits that if neighborhoods fix the small problems, like graffiti, litter and other minor property crimes, more significant problems of crime will be prevented. For most of my students, this theory is applicable in those neighborhoods with those kinds of problems. Not many live in places where broken windows and graffiti, much less armed robbery or homicide are of real concern. But for me, living in one of those neighborhoods, theory tends to intersect with real life on a regular basis.

So I chuckled, knowingly, when Jerry and I received this letter from the city this week:

Dear Folwell Neighborhood resident:
Litter and excess garbage detract from the Folwell Neighborhood's appearance and livability...The City of Minneapolis is cooperating with the Folwell residents to put cleanliness first and foremost and to make Folwell Neighborhood a litter and garbage-free neighbhorhood...

Ok, sounds good.

It is proposed that acceleration of an existing City program, Dirty Collection Area Clean ups, begin in Folwell Neighborhood. This program requires the Solid Waste and Recycling Division to clean up litter, trash and garbage within 20 feet of the alley or curb line, whenever garbage is normally collected.

Right, good, that's their job.

If litter, debris or garbage is present in the collection area on garbage collection day, the area will be cleaned the next business day and the charge for the servcie will be placed on the City Utility Bill. The minimum charge is $75 for a cleanup; if more than one cleanup is performed in a 12-month period, each cleanup is billed at an increasing rate...

Chuckling stops:

It is important to realize that property owners are responsible for keeping a clean property, even if the resident or owner did not put the litter or debris on the property.

For real?

Yeah.

Guess it's time for Micah to start earning an allowance!

I'm tempted, though, to compile some evaluation studies on such programs and attend, armed and ready, the community information meeting on December 1st...