It’s a new year. With that come new expectations for the City of Harrisburg. Here are a few things I’m looking forward to, hoping for, and counting on in 2015.
A brighter city
It’s a top issue people have with the city—too many streetlights are burnt out, broken or missing.
It makes for a dark, sinister and scary public realm. Anyone who has travelled down one of the city’s darkened streets knows what I mean.
But that’s all supposed to change in 2015.
With grant money from the Pennsylvania Energy Development Authority to kick-start the project, Harrisburg is planning on inventorying, prioritizing, fixing and converting its 6,000 streetlights to LED technology. By the end of the year, most, if not all, of the city’s lights should be in good, energy-efficient, working order.
While this is set to happen, there’s a New Year’s resolution every resident and business should make to help the cause—turn on your lights.
If all residents turned on their porch lights, neighborhoods would instantly become safer and more attractive. If all businesses kept the outside of their buildings well lit, the city automatically would be more appealing.
It’s one of the simplest and most effective things each of us can do to add to the enlightenment of Harrisburg.
A cleaner city
Like the darkness of broken lights, the rubbish of Harrisburg is a tragic turnoff.
It’s one of the city’s most serious problems—trash. It’s everywhere. There are bags of ripped trash piled high along curbs. Trash cans overflow without tight-fitting lids, and that’s not the only city law people ignore. Televisions sit on the street. Mounds of furniture are put out. Even public trashcans spill junk onto the sidewalks.
Yes, there’s trash in any city, but I have to say, in general, Harrisburg is a mess. In fact, it verges on being filthy.
This is something also scheduled to change.
The city’s Public Works Department has proposed an ambitious strategy to overhaul the way it picks up trash. New trucks, new hires, new bins and new rules are all part of the plan for 2015.
However, that won’t be enough. It’s going to take more people properly pitching their garbage and picking up litter to help clean up this city.
It’s another thing for every resident, business, commuter and visitor to add to their lists of New Year’s resolutions. It’s time we all care more to keep Harrisburg clean.
A more unified city
The rich differences that make up Harrisburg are precisely what give this urban core its energy and vibe. Its diversity is what makes it a city.
However, those very differences can cause problems that hinder Harrisburg’s potential.
Around here, there’s a tendency to fall into an “us” and “them” mentality. The lines are drawn based on skin color, culture, ethnicity, income, how long you’ve lived here, where you’re from, who you know and who you don’t know.
In the past, this damaging fragmentation has been encouraged for a variety of reasons by a variety of people.
The fact is—disunity holds Harrisburg back.
Harrisburg’s success is dependent on teamwork and collaboration. The most important concept to impart is “partners.” No one person or group can do all that needs to be done to make this place better.
There’s a common call for more, but it will only happen if more of us work together.
A virtuous election
It’s a major election year in the city. Seats are up for city treasurer, four city councilors, six school directors and 10 district judges.
Harrisburg needs more people involved. Hopefully, this year, more residents will engage not only by running for offices but also by participating in the process.
In Greek, there is a word arete. In its most basic sense, it means to be the best one can be. It means striving for excellence and endeavoring to reach great human potential. Possessing arete means to find ways to overcome the difficulties of working with others and of working on projects in order to reach a common good that’s best for as many people as possible.
Having arete is to be informed, to be part of various social endeavors, to listen well, to find compromise, and to strive for shared goals.
It’s a trait expected of all citizens. A person who has arete recognizes civic duty and is an active part of the community.
Just what Harrisburg needs, especially in an election year.
Less gripe, more hype about the many good things in Harrisburg
Enough said.
Tara Leo Auchey is creator and editor of today’s the day Harrisburg. www.todaysthedayhbg.com
