NYC is the Second Dirtiest U.S. City

Reader's Digest says that New York City is the second dirtiest big city in the country, which Chicago winning honors for dirtiest. Besides the fact that few people who actually read Reader's Digest actually live in NYC and care what the writers of Reader's Digest think, but the Daily News made sure to get the Department of Sanitation's reaction. Which was "It's a silly report," and a Department of Sanitation spokeswoman said that 91.1% NYC streets are "acceptably" clean these days. But clearly, "acceptably clean," which few scraps can be on the ground is not clean enough. NYC probably ranked lower because of the dog poop on the ground - even cartoons of garbage cans can't stop that. The Daily News helpfully points out "Hippie-dippy Portland, with a population of 529,000, won the title of most pristine, followed by San Jose, Calif., Buffalo and Columbus. San Francisco - where politicians wrangle over the right of the homeless to defecate in public - placed fifth." Gothamist, for one, isn't perturbed by this study, but we are affronted when we see Hollywood backlots substituting as New York streets, because backlots never have that necessary layer of grime. Sure, litter is annoying, but you kind of expect some urban detritus in your day.

A helpful reader once pointed out a form where you can request a litter basket for your street corner. And NYC probably has one of the dirtiest subways in the country as well.

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By Jen Chung in News on June 16, 2005 2:05 PM

Comments [rss]

Jason

Look, the US is NOT the world.If you've ever been to south asian cites(read:Delhi,Bombay...) you'll know what "dirrrrty" actually is.

null

I respectfully sumbit my nomination for World's Dirtiest City: Monrovia, Liberia.

James

I live in Los Angeles. I love walking out my front door and finding smeared residence-challenged person poop in the entry way of my building.

Peter

"I've noticed an increase in dog poop on the sidewalks here in Brooklyn over the past year."

When I was a kid growing up in bed-stuy (pig-stuy) in the 60's and 70's, there was dog poop all over the streets, presumably left by the abundance of stray dogs who wandered the neighborhood. The stray dogs also used to attack the garbage and litter it all over the streets.

Sounds like it's the same as it ever was.

One block at a time

Gothamist--you have performed an invaluable public service. Thanks for the link to the Sanitation Dept's online form to request trash containers.

I have just requested 10 trash containers for each block in my Brooklyn neighborhood.

Stephen

our subways are unbelievably filthy, especially compared to cities i've spent a fair amount of time in... DC, London, Montreal.

We have an army of MTA workers in this city, but the stations remain filthy. Filth is a combinion of 2 things IMO:

- the US' move toward a society of no maintenance. I work as an architect and constantly see the march toward that by public agencies. Almost any cost will be ok'ed if the material is low maintenance or doesn't need cleaning or repainting. Agencies know the sad truth, most maintenance workers don't really maintain anything but their paycheck in this country.

-NYers tradition of throwing trash on the ground. For many it seems unthinkable to walk 20 steps and hit the corner trash can.

Lizzy

To anyone who believes that Chicago is dirtier than NYC, I strongly recommend that you go to Gothamist's previous story "Glasses on the Cheap."

Susie

Surely you jest. Chicago is way, way cleaner than New York. And--the people there don't seem to make a habit of spitting on the sidewalks like they do here. (I just love that gagging sound followed by a big glob of expectorate hitting the pavement.)

Doctor Memory

Pfffft. One word:

"Philadelphia"

Teddy

I've noticed an increase in dog poop on the sidewalks here in Brooklyn over the past year.

noah

Mayor Daley makes us all pick up 5 pieces of trash before we can go home... chicago is clearly cleaner.

Oscar

I love trash.

Elaine

I would like to see some group monitor randomly chosen areas with high litter, and make a survey of the litterers by age, sex, race, and dress. I think we would get some pretty interesting stats.

d

What about Dirty Vegas?

Liz

Did I read it incorrectly, or does it say that Chicago is dirtier than New York?

Darn it

We totally would have won if ODB was still alive.

anon

I'm so angry, I could throw more trash on the ground.

anon

Um New Mexico is in the U.S. And it's not dirty, just dusty at times.

Anonguy

Kojak, if you say whole world meaning the United States and Europe you might be onto something. But you don't even have to leave the hemisphere to find dirtier cities (New Mexico springs to mind) much less when you broaden your horizons a bit (say Cairo or New Delhi).

Luckily these "filthy" cities have a lot more going for them than most places on earth...

Kojak

Sometimes I think NYC is the dirtiest city in the world. And I'm comparing that with every city I've been to, but I usually rate cities by their subways. If their subway is clean, then the city as a whole is clean. Our subway is the most disgusting subway I have ever ridden in, ever (But I still love it, cause its Uniquely NYC)

Please, somebody tell me what city is filthier then New York? I'm sure they're out there.