KEEP THE TORCH BURNING CLEANUP GIVES HOUSTON A BETTER CHANCE TO BE NAMED HOST CITY
Houstonians Show their City Pride by Cleaning Up for the 2012 Olympic Games
June 20, 2002 - Houston is in the "Final Four" of U.S. cities in consideration for the 2012 Olympic Games. The United States Olympic Committee (USOC) site selection team will be back in Houston July 12-13 for another evaluation in order to narrow down the four American cities to two.
Keep Houston Beautiful, along with various City of Houston departments have undertaken the challenge of making sure that the Olympic Committee tour route is clean and representative of our great city.
In preparation for the Committee's visit, Keep Houston Beautiful will be hosting a cleanup along a portion of the tour route. The event will kick off at 8AM on Saturday, June 29th behind Pappas BBQ (1901 San Jacinto). Hundreds of city employees, corporate and community volunteers will be on hand to pick up trash and paint-out graffiti at the underpasses along Pierce from La Branch to Jackson.
"Houston has another opportunity to make a great impression," said Robin Blut, Executive Director for Keep Houston Beautiful. "The Clean Neighborhoods Program has proven to be a successful mechanism for empowering communities to play an active role in the way their neighborhoods look. The communities along the tour route have really stepped up to the plate. We are so fortunate to have such strong civic leadership."
The Greater Houston Partnership and the Downtown Management District are just two of the numerous civic organizations that will be participating. The event is sponsored in part by Republic Waste Services, Pappas Restaurants Inc., and Montgomery Watson.
"Republic Waste Services is always willing to go the extra mile in its efforts to build a livable, clean city," said William C. Linthicum, Vice President of Republic Waste Services.
The Mayor's Office and the City of Houston's departments have also afforded this project phenomenal support. The Mayor's Anti-Gang Office, along with the City of Houston Parks and Recreation, and Solid Waste Management Departments will be participating Saturday by cutting esplanades, hauling bagged trash and debris, and painting out graffiti along the tour route in the weeks preceding the Committee's visit.
"When you invite guests to your home, you always want to put your best foot forward and make a good impression. The Solid Waste Management Department is proud to be a contributing team player in the efforts to spruce up our city to bring the 2012 Olympics to Houston," said Thomas "Buck" Buchanan, Solid Waste Management Department Director.
The City of Houston Neighborhood Protection Division of Public Works and Engineering will be cutting vacant lots. The Harris County Toll Road Authority along with the Texas Department of Transportation have significant roles to play in insuring that our high ways are green and clean.
Council Member Carol Alvarado has been supportive of this event from its conception as it will take place in her council district.
"The communities I represent are extremely civic-minded," said Council Member, Carol Alvarado. "It has been my great pleasure to work with those residents who feel they have a duty to give back. This project is a great opportunity to bring Houstonians closer together in an effort to make our city the envy of the world."
Houston's 2012 Foundation has been the catalyst behind all city-wide efforts aimed at making the Olympic Committee's visit a pleasure. The Foundation designed the tour route to highlight many of the communities and facilities that make Houston a great place to live and a perfect place to hold the 2012 Olympic Games.
The North Houston Greenspoint Chamber of Commerce will also be contributing on Saturday by removing illegal signs from street corners and esplanades in their area.
We urge all Houstonians to come out on Saturday and show their city pride by lending a helping hand. Individuals or groups interested in taking part in the Keep the Torch Burning Cleanup can contact Robert Cowin with Keep Houston Beautiful at 713.839.8855.