Lack of local ownership of the community means the people who spend the most time in it are the least invested in it, so they treat it like shit because doing otherwise doesn't do anything for them (in their views).

Idk, but I have a bunch of crackheads hanging out around my area that litter, when there’s like 5 garbage cans they can use. Also, my dogs end up trying to eat the crackheads’ chicken bones.

I've noticed a big problem is that a lot of owners no longer live there but rather rent the house out. Tenants have no incentive to sweep the sidewalk or shovel etc.

You notice right away which homes have homeowners and which don't.

I think you nailed it. If you don't own the apartment, if you run around sprucing the area up, some dickhead landlord will jack up the rent.

But living in squalor isn't good for mental health.

But it isn't this bad in wealthier rental areas like Manhattan. But I think that is because the tenants in Manhattan aren't scared of getting pushed out given their wealth.

Are there urban areas in the US that are heavily modest-income rentals in terms of housing stock that nevertheless still DON'T have a major litter problem?

Aye, but they call it the poverty trap for a reason.

@$$hole people.

I think it's a combination of things:

1. Lack of local government funding to provide resources and support services to keep areas clean and maintained I.e., Montclair Ave. and Broadway are covered in litter. Just adding garbage cans to the end of each block and ensuring that they are maintained by the city's sanitation services could help with future littering. 

2. Community mentality Some people believe that nothing will change. Some people feel overwhelmed by it and will give up before trying. Others are used to it and might not realize that they deserve better. Also, the areas that are hit the hardest are those with low incomes. It's hard to prioritize the safety and cleanliness of your surroundings when living paycheck to paycheck and focusing on trying to survive. 

3. Newark needs better infrastructure and sanitation regulations. Apartment buildings need to provide residents with better sanitation options and have the proper amount of resources to keep up with the sanitation created. 

Two examples of inadequate sanitation practices displayed by apartment buildings

Forest Hill Apartments has fewer than 10 dumpsters, and they are filled to capacity before garbage day arrives. Another issue is that the locations are inconvenient for some, so dropping off garbage in front of someone else's house (which is really effin rude) is more appealing than walking a few blocks to drop off a 13-liter bag of trash.

The apartment building on Verona Ave. and Beaumont (near the daycare) has residents toss their trash in regular-sized garbage cans, which they leave in the front of the building until garbage day. This attracts rodents and can easily become a hazmat situation. Just because this apartment building isn't as large as the Forest Hills apartments does not mean it shouldn't invest in better practices for disposing trash.

Of course, there are those who feel entitled to litter, but ultimately, it comes down to what the Newark government prioritizes, which sadly does not include the health of its residents.

Edited for grammar and spelling.

Growing up in the Ironbound our streets were immaculate, and the ladies would even wash the sidewalks daily. The last 10 years it’s almost unrecognizable. The amount of litter on the streets is mind blowing. People don’t have any consideration for their community here like they used to. Really sad.

What do you think changed??

I wish I knew It’s horrible to see though

One issue is when people don’t use garbage cans. Animals rip apart bags and then it’s spread down the block. The city should do more to insist on cans and dumpsters instead of bags just piled on the curb.

It boils down to incentives. Either social or regulatory. It’s that simple. I lived a few years in Singapore where littering carried heavy fines as well as serious social sanction. Littering was non existent even in the low end public housing complex I lived in. I don’t buy the excuse the the urban poor are to busy surviving to care about cleanliness. They clearly know the value of cleanliness but just don’t care enough. Cost nothing to pick up after yourself. It’s just another excuse to transfer personal responsibility to others.

I also lived for awhile in a medium sized city in the South. Lots of poor black folks where I lived and without exception they kept their yards spotless. Grass cut, fences mended, the whole 9 yards. No one wanted their neighbor to “talk” about them.

High density city living results in loose social structures so people are not policing each others behavior as much You would expect the city to step in and play that role by way of tighter enforcement of regulations. Alas, what can you expect from an administration that can’t pick up the garbage on time consistently. Hence you have the situation we have today.

Good point

I have a strong belief that litter isn't good for the psyche. I could be wrong.

As I said before, the city itself is dominated by the ghetto class who don't give AF, and city officials comprise of people who pander too much to them.

Does anyone else hear that dog whistle?

Truth hurts sometimes. BTW I'm Black. You don't have to be Black to be part of the ghetto class. Look at trashy Down Neck and the southern part of the North Ward.

Sanitation department throwing bins. People not putting trash in bags.

It boils down to every single consumable product these days involving plastic-packaging. Plain and simple. Plastic never degrades, so even adding one piece of litter on the street per day means it’s there forever.

Everyone is talking about city incentives and all other manner of nonsense.

When people coming in are from the third world, they'll treat it like the third world. Ironbound streets look just like São Paulo. Irvine Turner Bvd looks like a street in Accra. Encourage and educate neighbors to take part in the collective cleaning of our neighborhoods. Each neighbor should be responsible for their part. When kids were on the front porch of my apartment building, smoking that Mary Jane, I went out and told them off. Of course they ran. We have to protect our own city and our planet from folks that have no regard for their environment. Birch slap them (metaphorically of course).

Go to the place and see how far you have to walk to throw out your trash. Many places outside of Downtown, there isn’t a public use trash can for several blocks. Trash bags get ripped apart by animals or cheap bags just shred on their own. Additionally, Sanitation is a large contributor. Either loose trash left behind or trash escaping from old trucks with a poor seal. And then there are drivers who throw their food wrappers and drink cups out the window or dump them in a parking lot

The city should push landlords to take care of their front sidewalks and homes, too many owners just collect rent and let the houses crumble as they do not live in the area.

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.

It’s probably those particular renters, or are you saying NO ONE who rents has ANY incentive to keep their home clean and nice? Kind of a wack comment

This is a great point.

Could you pay people to sweep their block?

Meaning could the city do that?

Being less than 2 sq miles doesn’t hurt either.