BUFFALO– Mayor Byron Brown and members of the City of Buffalo Division of Citizen Services Save Our Streets (SOS) Task Force completed the 2017 clean sweep season today by marking the city’s record-breaking 32nd clean sweep, the most ‘sweeps’ ever conducted in a single season.
Over the past six months, Mayor Brown and the SOS Task Force conducted 32 ‘Clean Sweeps’ citywide, to address blight and quality of life issues in the city of Buffalo. In today’s final sweep in the Masten District, a number of city services were performed, including the removal of debris and graffiti, house board ups, lawn mowing and the distribution of smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.
“I am proud of the continued collaboration between so many community partners and commend the efforts of Clean Sweep participants to improve the overall quality of life in Buffalo,” said Mayor Brown. “This year, between May 31st and today, October 26th, we conducted a record-breaking 32 Clean Sweeps, reconfirming my Administration’s continuing commitment to address blight and quality of life issues in each City Council District for the benefit of our residents and their neighborhoods.”
Overall, the 2017 Clean Sweep Initiative included: 22 large-scale sweeps, 6 mini-sweeps and 4 Buffalo Municipal Housing Authority sweeps. Of the total 32 Clean Sweeps, 5 were conducted in the Masten and Ellicott Common Council Districts, 4 each in the North, University, Niagara and Fillmore Districts, 2 in the South District and 1 in the Delaware District.
Throughout the 2017 Clean Sweep season, the task force offered essential quality of life services to residents including: dental services, health insurance enrollment, homeless outreach, fire prevention education, disaster preparedness, mental health services, youth and senior programming information, employment and training referrals, tree trimming, boarding and demolishing vacant homes, removing debris and abandoned tires, filling potholes, cleaning sewer receivers, offering 311 information to assist in addressing neighborhood complaints.
The Save Our Streets Task Force is part of the Division of Citizen Services, and is comprised of various City, County, State, Federal, government, not for profit and private agencies tasked with the mission to fight the war of blight and crime. More than 100 participants, representing 25 agencies and law enforcement organizations, took part in the weekly quality of life initiative.
The Clean Sweeps program began during the time of Mayor Brown’s predecessor, Mayor Anthony Masiello. Since taking office, Mayor Brown has expanded the scope and impact of the Save Our Streets Task Force, resulting in 289 neighborhood clean sweeps since 2006.