Downtown litter troubling

On a recent morning, I had the occasion to enjoy breakfast at one of our many fine downtown restaurants we have. Going around the block to park, I couldn’t help but notice parking lots downtown that had broken glass everywhere, or litter or trash everywhere.

As I got out of my car and walked to the restaurant, there was more trash and litter on some sidewalks as well. I would have been very embarrassed if I would have had a first-time guest to Spokane with me. Upon leaving the establishment, I then witnessed what appeared to be a homeless man relieving himself on the side of the building where I had just eaten.

Do some business owners downtown just not care about the unappealing appearance of their lots, property and sidewalks anymore? It looked terrible. I will never understand why some people feel that they can use the city as their trash can. Litter is also bad as you come off the Maple Street Bridge heading southbound and go around the curve.

We live in a throw-away society, it seems. Maybe we need many more trash receptacles downtown. But then, you can’t make people use them. I am not sure what the answer is, but I only hope the downtown looks a bit more welcoming, and cleaner, later this month when the World Con Convention with its 5,000 attendees are in Spokane. Otherwise, many may leave with a bad impression of our city.

Tom Harding

Spokane