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By using this image of a trash-strewn street -- not in Plainfield -- is Queen City Pride inadvertently trashing us? |
Ever since QCP burst on the scene a couple of years ago, one of its main activities has been litter pickups. Very laudable. (Actually, an old Plainfield tradition -- going back decades.)
Litter is a forever problem, but I am willing to wager that an honest comparison of Plainfield to other surrounding towns will find that our downtown streets -- with one exception -- are about as clean as theirs.
That is thanks to the PMUA street cleaning program and the City of Plainfield's Public Works Division, which runs street sweepers throughout the downtown very early in the morning five days a week.
The exception is the area around the Plainfield train station, which is the responsibility of New Jersey Transit and which is consistently litter strewn because of the agency's neglect.
But what is it the "other thing" QCP should do?
Let's start with honesty in communications.
The flyer advertising this cleanup has two illustrations that give Plainfield a bad image.
The first, at the top of the flyer (and at the top of this post), is a picture of a seriously litter- and garbage-strewn street.
It does not appear to be of Plainfield, but the suggestion (by using it here) is that it does represent the Queen City.
Never in all my years have I ever seen a street in Plainfield -- on its worst day -- ever look like this. Even cleaning up behind the 4th of July Parade doesn't look anything like this.
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How are these trash cans (not Plainfield's) germane to this event? Participants will not be filling trash cans, nor straightening overflowing cans. So why show them? |
Secondly, the image of overflowing garbage/recycle cans also does not seem to be of Plainfield. Our recycles are blue, but do not have the white sign attached to this one. Our garbage cans are black -- not green as in the photo.
Besides this, how are garbage cans even germane to this project? What is the point of even showing them?
Images are important. They should be selected to accurately represent the issue or concern being discussed.
Think for a moment what these images do to those who see this flyer -- including the St. Peter's Prep students and anyone else at the school who saw the flyer, presumably posted there to drum up support.
The images convey to the casual observer that Plainfield is a filthy place, worthy of pity but not desirable as a place to live, work or shop.
In addition, why shouldn't QCP focus people's attention on the real issue: New Jersey Transit's continual failure to keep the area it is responsible for around the station(s) clean.
Instead of saying "downtown", why not shine the spotlight on the real culprit?
As for images, what about the previous ones QCP has used of people with rakes, bags and gloves at work on a cleanup?
If trash is the object, shouldn't Queen City Pride stop trashing Plainfield?
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