A Survey: Is Santo Domingo Any Cleaner?

[Keith R]

When I was in Santo Domingo this past August, I noted that the streets in many parts of the Districto Nacional (DN) portion of Santo Domingo appeared cleaner than I remember them from my days living there (1995-99). This was particularly notable in the Colonial Zone, Gascue, the Malecon (with all its trash cans and banners about taking pride in nuestra "Ciudad Limpia") and some of the major streets. I noticed little to no difference in San Carlos, however, which made me wonder just how deep the clean-up effort really went, even in the DN.

I noticed little difference in Santo Domingo East (Ozama) & West. I did not visit SD North.

The Dominicans I spoke to at the time that felt the DN had gotten cleaner pointed to Mayor Roberto Salcedo's efforts as the main reason. Some wondered if it would continue once he left office. Some said it was only possible because he got the cooperation of the national government (because he is of the same party), whereas the other 3 mayors did not (is that true, that they don't? Or just PRD talk?)

I'd like to hear from people living in Santo Domingo, especially if you have been living there for several years (and therefore likely to have a true "before" and "after" perspecitve). In your opinion:

1. Has the DN become noticebly cleaner in recent years?
2. If you answer yes to question #1, then to what do you attribute it? What is being done right? And is it transferable to other cities, if the mayors get fully behind it?
3. If you think it has only improved in some parts of the DN, which ones, and which ones are being neglected?
4. How big is the contrast with SD East, West & North? Beyond the usual excuses about competing parties, what are these municipalities doing right or wrong regarding their trash/litter problem?
5. Is trash collection in your barrio (please indicate which one) now regular, and if so, at what frequency?*
6. In your estimation, how many of your neighbors actually pay their garbage collection bill? Is city hall getting any better at collecting the money? Or is it periodically running out of money to pay contractors because it never forces citizens to pay their collection bills?

I'd also like to know how often people still see botelleros in their neighborhood, and whether the colmado in your neighborhood is still operating an informal deposit/return system for your soda bottles. [Pictures related to both sent to greenteam@dr1.com would be greatly appreciated -- we can include attribution to you if we use them in the blog series on waste and recycling.]

Thanks in advance for your help!

Best Regards,
Keith
Green Team

* Or is it like it used to be for me in 1995-99 -- you never knew when the trash truck would show up, so you were always ready for that mad dash to the curb...

[Keith R]

Hmm, the silence is deafening. You mean with all the DR1ers we have in SD, not one has an opinion on this?

[Larry]

Keith,

Not directly related but concerning SD and the envirnoment.....the fumes emitting from some of the vehicles here is horrible. No sense in elaborating, because ou know exactly what I mean. I wish there was something that could be done.

Larry

[Keith R]

Originally Posted by Larry

Keith,

Not directly related but concerning SD and the envirnoment.....the fumes emitting from some of the vehicles here is horrible. No sense in elaborating, because ou know exactly what I mean. I wish there was something that could be done.

Larry

Unfortunately I do. We had a fiesty debate over this very issue a few weeks back:

Needless Dominican Deaths

Some people (who I shall not name here & now) tried to argue it was not so big a problem.

You can bet that the Green Team will be tackling this issue too!

Best Regards,
Keith

[2dlight]

I found the Colonial Zone with way too much trash in the street in 1996. In my most recent trip in July I found a perceptible decrease in trash in some areas( I walked all of the Colonial Zone) and none in others. I did see squads of mostly women, sweeping the sidewalks of the Malecon west of the original obelisk. There were also landscape crews cutting grass and picking up trash from the sparse stretches of beach in the same area. A trash truck picked up trash every night along Calle Espaillat; don't know how many residents paid for the service though.

[sugar72]

I live by the Independencia, and go very little to East Side, but things have been consistently improving in this area. A lot of garbage cans and containers that used to be in public spaces were removed, also a lot of signs that were not directly attached to the buildings. where I live, garbage collection is done so many times a week we are not even bothering to get it out everytime, I dont know if this is the situation in the whole area because we do live closeby one of the headquarters of the City Hall, but i guess in general it has improved. I dont think so much work has been done with street pavings since almost every day there is a new hole everywhere. They did a great job at the park mirador in terms of security, but I feel they took down a couple more trees than they should have. (Dont know, probably I am too sentimental, I used to like it au naturel). Botelleros still collecting bottles, but usually dive in the garbage cans instead.

[Keith R]

Thanks, folks. I appreciate the input!

[Chirimoya]

In the ten (yes ten) years since I first visited the DR, the capital has become much cleaner.

Of course, this is simply based on personal impression. It could be that I've become more used to it.

Seriously though, it has improved. It has to be the combination of better municipal cleaning which in turns enhances public pride, and the slow but sure effect of public education.

The domestic garbage collection is erratic, still.

[juanita]

I saw something that totally amazed me the other night. On the corner of Roberto Pastoriza & Lincoln, there were about 5 couples all dressed with their folklore uniforms, dancing in front of cars anytime the traffic lights would change. In the park beside, they had a band playing merengue while other couples would walk to each car giving out small garbage bags to be used in the car. We are slowly moving in the right direction!

[suarezn]

I have seen a definite improvement in cleanliness ever since Roberto Salcedo became the mayor as compared to when The PRD controlled city hall and Johnny "El Caballo" Ventura was mayor. There's definitely a long way to go, but most areas are cleaner and more organized. Specifically the amount of political propaganda has been reduced tremendously, which helps a lot.

Now The PRD wants to take back city hall with Pacheco going for mayor. I really hope people remember the times when Johnny was mayor and don't vote them back in.

Now, in my hometown of Cotui / La Mata there's been quite an improvement over the last few years. It used to be that the park was full of trash all the time, now there are a lot more businesses (bars, chimichurri stands, etc) right on the park which generate probably three times the trash as before, but they have a crew that sweeps and washes every morning...