Union City NJ is impeccably clean. The demographics are similar to North Ward Newark or the Ironbound. It comes down to:

1. Most people give a shit. When the city isn’t already filthy you appreciate it and want to keep it that way.
2. The city pays people to go around and sweep streets. Every street will get probably 4 or 5 passes in a day.
3. Public bins on almost every corner, with bag liners, and emptied frequently.
4. The city has strict code enforcement and does not tolerate bullshit from absentee landlords the same way most places do. If there is an issue with a particular building or area, someone will complain and the city will deal with it.