Neighborhood kids lead cleanup effort

Karen Zekan

Tuesday, Sept. 16, 1997 | 11:02 a.m.

Dumpster loads of garbage, tree branches and ratty furniture are on the way to the dump today as a result of a multiagency partnership with residents to help clean up one of the valley's most blighted neighborhoods.

A sea of children quickly took the lead in Monday afternoon's three-hour cleanup along the cul-de-sacs off Palos Verde Street and Twain Avenue, plagued for years by gang activity, graffiti and absentee landlords.

With the help of a handful of adults, nearly three dozen youngsters pushed brooms through gutters, raked broken bottles and dirty diapers from weed-strewn lawns, and raced overflowing 64-gallon trash cans every half hour to mammoth collection bins donated by Silver State Disposal Service.

"They just took over," Metro Police Officer Steve Meriwether said of the children, stepping into the road near McKellar Circle to pull a boy with newspapers in his arms out of the path of an oncoming car.

"A few of the kids came out at first, and then it just snowballed. Many of these kids, their parents work 12-15 hours a day, so they see this as their chance to go to work like mom and dad, to do their part to help. Hopefully, they'll keep it going."

Metro has stepped up its presence in the neighborhood near Flamingo and Paradise roads, both to discourage criminal activity and to foster a bond of good will within the predominantly Hispanic community scarred by the Dec. 29 murder of 18-year-old Daniel Mendoza at the hands of former Metro Officer Ron Mortensen.

Police have towed abandoned cars from streets and alleys, enlisted the support of neighborhood kids in painting over graffiti, and opened communication lines with families and gang members.

In turn, they've gained the respect of families and children alike, the latter often alerting officers when they see taggers spray painting on neighborhood walls and other mischief.

Ivan Mendoza, the late Daniel's 13-year-old brother, was among the crowd helping clean up after finishing his homework. He said part of his effort was in memory of his brother.

For Manuel Olivas, 11, the project was simply "just fun. And if we clean the neighborhood, there's more room to play soccer."

"We promised months ago that we wouldn't abandon this neighborhood, and we haven't. We're still here," said Lt. Gary Schofield, part of the three-officer team placed in the area months ago to mend fractured relations.

"There are fewer calls for service since we started working down here, and the gang members aren't controlling this neighborhood anymore. The neighbors are keeping the place clean. Moms and dads are out with their kids. It's fantastic."

Silver State Disposal played an integral part in Monday's cleanup, donating 50 Dumpsters to the neighborhood of about 75 apartment complexes that previously had only 24 trash bins.

The county's Public Response Office is also part of the neighborhood face lift, working to see that property owners have sufficient enclosures for waste disposal.

Gangs, drugs and a corrupt property manager jailed for stealing his and other tenants' rent money were among the reasons Martin Godinez, 34, moved his wife and toddler out of the Palos Verde area two months ago, yet he came back Monday to help clean up.

"I'll do anything to help the police if it can make a difference," he said. "This place is disgusting, and this stuff has got to stop. They need to start giving property owners tickets, (fine) them $5,000 if they don't clean up their property."

"I wish a lot would start changing around here, but truthfully I don't know if it will," said Agnes Jochim, her young daughter at her side. "This used to be such a nice neighborhood. I used to drive a cab through here, and it was great. Now you've got to watch your kids every minute."

Jochim has launched her own beautification effort by sharing with her neighbors cuttings from her many front yard plants in hopes that they'll plant them.

"It can make a difference," she said. "All it takes is a little bit of water. That, and a positive attitude."