Shelby to hire teens, others for cleanup
Taking aim at two chronic local problems — youth unemployment and blight — Shelby County officials on Monday will announce plans to hire more than 100 teens and young adults in the summer to collect litter and do other cleanup work at sites across the Memphis area.
The county mayor’s Blight Fight Team will consist of 100 workers ages 14 to 24 earning $9 an hour to conduct cleanups at 10 priority sites in the county, plus any areas identified as particularly litter-prone. It also will include 10 supervisors ages 21 and older making $12 an hour.
The program will last eight weeks, from June 5 through July 28, with the crews working 8 a.m. through 2 p.m. Monday through Friday. Lunch and supplies will be provided.
County officials haven’t given an exact cost for the program, but it likely will exceed $250,000. The money will come from the county’s general fund.
Mayor Mark Luttrell said it’s money well-spent.
“There’s not enough to keep all of our young people busy,” he said. When there’s a lack of jobs and activities, “you can anticipate that there will be some problems.”
The 10 areas to be cleaned up are scattered from South Memphis to Northaven and from Frayser to Southeast Shelby County.
The county is working with the group Clean Memphis on the project.
“I think what this will provide is a wonderful opportunity for young people to be engaged in their own community,” said Janet Boscarino, co-founder and president of the group.
Reach Tom Charlier at thomas.charlier@commercialappeal.com or 901-5292572 and on Twitter at @thomasrcharlier.