Trenton neighborhood wants more help from the city

A common theme offered by Trenton residents living in successful enclaves such as Mill Hill and Hiltonia or challenged locations on Stuyvesant and Walnut avenues connects with frustration.

Life is not all easypeasy for citizens living on Fisher Place, a small street just off West State St. that includes about 20 homes.

Four of those houses have been shuttered including one that had copper piping removed and another that attracted squatters.

Here’s Fisher Place resident Mike Drago in full frustration mode regarding the city’s inability to respond about important issues. Drago complained about “the economic disparity on (his) street (4 boarded up abandoned homes) and the neighborhood, and the city’s inability to enforce important ordinances, such as parking, street sweeping, securing abandoned properties and preventing illegal occupation of homes (squatting and suspected squatting) and more.”

And more? Elise Young, an important overseer of Fisher Place. accepted a critical baton from Drago. Young forwarded an email she sent to Public Works Director Merkle Cherry.

“We’re requesting to have the ‘No Parking signs’ (for sweeping) re-installed and routine trash removal and parking enforcement re-established, as was the practice until it inexplicably ceased about a decade ago. This area of our historic district is filthy. It is a health hazard. Removing trash — including hypodermic needles and other drug paraphernalia, used diapers and condoms — has become a part-time volunteer chore that homeowners didn’t ask for, and yet we’re compelled to do it at least weekly, year round, with trash bags and pickers that we paid for.”

Young wrote, “Fisher Place homeowners are the volunteer caretakers of the 1.5-acre park at Fisher and West State, spending their own money to maintain and fuel a 40-yearold lawn tractor; acquire and plant shrubs, trees, annuals and perennials; remove and haul fallen trees; distribute bulk grass seed and fertilizer; spread literally tons of wood chips donated by private contractors; and install artwork by Trenton residents. We get ZERO assistance from the city or from Isles, the park’s owner. At least once a day, Fisher Place volunteers must remove trash that blows into the park from a block that isn’t swept, even as surrounding blocks are. Children play in that park. Dog owners exercise their pets in that park.”

Next, Young, and mind you, Trenton could use 10,000 residents like her and Drago, shared a phone conversation that lasted 30 minutes. Frustration? Yes, and understandable considering that both Fisher Place residents have invested time, energy, money and sweat to improve their neighborhood.

Essentially, Young feels put off because the city shows a reluctance to support people who care, clean and want a better life for themselves, family members and neighbors.

The Drago and Young requests sound simplistic, yet, city officials fail to deliver crucial services that benefit intact communities. A disconnect from citizens who care about their neighborhoods seems like a major oversight that government leaders can ill afford.

Merkle alleged some issues have been addressed and promised installation of parking signs this week.

“We’re looking to work with anyone in the city, especially committed residents who want to do good things and be helpful in keeping the neighborhood clean,” Merkle said.

“Any assistance that the city can provide will be offered to the residents on Fisher Place and any where else. This is not going to be just lip service. I do understand the frustration.”

Quality of life issues remain key to real revitalization. Even a Public Works’ website dispenses information about concerns voiced by Drago and Young. The site notes:

Litter, trash, graffiti and neglected buildings create an atmosphere of neglect and apathy. Every resident who keeps his or her property tidy makes an important contribution to community well-being. The City government is committed to keeping Trenton clean and welcoming.

•Unsecured abandoned buildings invite trouble. Call 989-3163 to have cityowned vacant buildings boarded and cleaned of illegally dumped trash.

•To report illegal dumps, unsecured privately-owned vacant properties or poorly maintained rental properties call 989-3563.

•For help getting streets and alleys cleaned call 989-3200.

•To learn when trash is picked up in your neighborhood or to arrange special pickups call 989-3175.

•Recycling truck missed your house? Call 278-8086 (English) or 278-8083 (Spanish).

•Erase graffiti with a call to Graffiti Blasters at 989-3175.

•Have overgrown street trees trimmed by calling the Shade Tree Bureau at 989-3255.

•Report unsanitary conditions in restaurants and pests in public places with a call to 989-3280.

Trenton needs government officials and politicians who will develop working relationships with residents. When they do not respond frustration builds.

And as frustration builds, especially for city tax-paying worker bees who feel they receive less bang for their contributed bucks, people move on to better residency options.

If you live in Trenton then demand that government officials here your voices. Shout, scream, write, march, protest but do not give into frustration.

For those people who understand that this capital city has tremendous potential, keep fighting for a better Trenton.

L.A. Parker is a Trentonian columnist.