SOLEDAD — The first event in the 2021 Mayor’s Beautification Initiative recently took place as a special neighborhood cleanup hosted from the Soledad Apostolic Church parking lot.
Mayor Anna Velazquez, the City of Soledad, Tony Virrueta, Salinas Valley Recycles and Tri-Cities Disposal put the effort together. Residents were invited to bring items in need of disposal to the four large trash bins, or to take hazardous items to a trailer or even speak with representatives on site from Save the Whales.
The May 15 event was part environmental cleanup and part morale boost for the city, and will continue with more efforts within the mayor’s initiative.
“We’re starting with the neighborhoods, especially working on the old side of town because we want to make sure that we’re inclusive,” Velazquez said.
In some instances, the more than one dozen volunteers from different organizations on site were able to go to residents’ homes and haul off large items.
“Just generally walking around Soledad, you’ll see litter,” Virrueta said. “What’s happening here is, it’s just bringing pride into Soledad, cleaning your own sidewalk. Hopefully this is contagious and other people see what’s going on.”
He added that the four trailer-sized trash containers filled with garbage show that there is a need for additional cleanups.
“Just seeing how full these are getting, it’s automatically showing you the need, and this is only a section of town,” he said.
Other parts of the city being looked into for cleanups include Front Street and how small businesses can be supported while also cleaning up the scenic area.
“Typically the City of Soledad does the city-wide cleanups, but we really wanted to make sure we really instill that pride in the neighborhood,” Velazquez said. “This is just the beginning. We’re going to work in other parts of town.”
In addition to beautifying the city, she said there’s an effort to instill a sense of responsibility into residents.
“It’s the responsibility of each one of us to make Soledad a better place,” Velazquez said.
With the cleanup of mostly litter items, Virrueta said there were other waste items, such as an old refrigerator that had sat in a yard for 20 years, and different hazardous materials, including containers of gas.
“Instead of throwing them somewhere, we’re putting them where they need to be,” he said. “Save the town from hazardous waste.”
Velazquez said the neighborhood-focused events have a different feel than the citywide cleanups, especially because they bring the message and the opportunity for cleanup directly to the residents.
She said the next event would likely take place in June when the state reopening means the city will be able to host larger efforts with more people.
“I want to make sure that everybody in our city understands that we have to work together and it takes all of us,” Velazquez said.
