I think the most important thing is, that the change comes somehow from the inside. Take the very extreme, you cordon off whole streets, sweep them clean, put up plants and cycle lanes, do all the fancy cleaning stuff, maybe even far into the houses, cleaning floors for free. And afterwards maybe you even invest in some guards, policemen, for patrolling the streets. I bet it would become some kind of sports in that area to litter.

On the other hand, give the inhabitants the opportunity to clean their surroundings themselves, maybe give them to decide on whether some cleaning should be done or a new playground should be bought. If you can get some kind of agreement in the population of the area, I think this would last longer. But then, “giving the opportunity” includes stuff like education, work, and generally enough “lazy” time and income-safety to having time to worry about litter on the street.

Actually this sounds a lot like a hen-and-egg-problem, but realistically you can’t have one without the other.

I think the most important thing is, that the change comes somehow from the inside. Take the very extreme, you cordon off whole streets, sweep them clean, put up plants and cycle lanes, do all the fancy cleaning stuff, maybe even far into the houses, cleaning floors for free. And afterwards maybe you even invest in some guards, policemen, for patrolling the streets. I bet it would become some kind of sports in that area to litter.

On the other hand, give the inhabitants the opportunity to clean their surroundings themselves, maybe give them to decide on whether some cleaning should be done or a new playground should be bought. If you can get some kind of agreement in the population of the area, I think this would last longer. But then, “giving the opportunity” includes stuff like education, work, and generally enough “lazy” time and income-safety to having time to worry about litter on the street.

Actually this sounds a lot like a hen-and-egg-problem, but realistically you can’t have one without the other.

However, I just thought of a question. If you fixed up every ghetto neighborhood and made it clean and fixed all the “broken windows” would the neighborhood change? Or is it still a problem with the people and their attitudes? Either way, I think it would be safe to say “nice” neighborhoods and communities with places like Whole Foods will always have less visible crime. Perhaps they will have a lot more white collar crime though? I’m rambling now… Thanks for the post though.

However, I just thought of a question. If you fixed up every ghetto neighborhood and made it clean and fixed all the “broken windows” would the neighborhood change? Or is it still a problem with the people and their attitudes? Either way, I think it would be safe to say “nice” neighborhoods and communities with places like Whole Foods will always have less visible crime. Perhaps they will have a lot more white collar crime though? I’m rambling now… Thanks for the post though.