PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Mayor Cherelle Parker introduced Friday what she’s calling her Clean and Green cabinet. It includes three dozen city employees and local leaders.
Making Philly the cleanest, greenest big city in America was part of Parker’s campaign promise. She says the eclectic, 38-member cabinet will help make that happen.
“...They are going to utilize their expertise in their respective fields to create the action plan that we will work on implementing,” she said.
The group includes officials from SEPTA, PECO, the Horticultural Society, Visit Philly, the Parking Authority, community groups, and the Chamber of Commerce.
According to the executive order creating the cabinet, they’re supposed to meet five times a year to make recommendations.
Mural Arts Director Jane Golden says she hopes they’ll find solutions to the graffiti problem that’s resurfaced since the pandemic.
Councilmember Quetcy Lozada says they can learn from the pilot cleaning program in her Kensington District.
“Businesses and community members have told us that they’ve seen a difference thus far and so this group of people coming together to make a plan will make that better,” Lozada said.
Former Streets Commissioner Carlton Williams will lead the group. Beginning June 3, he says 12 city departments will be involved in a 13-week cleaning program that will clean every neighborhood and block.
In addition to the executive order, Parker signed a memorandum of understanding, splitting the Streets and Sanitation Department.
“If you want people in neighborhoods across the city believing in the city again, they have to see the work,” Parker said.