As a realtor in Howard county for the past 13 years, part of my job is to sell our wonderful county. Our schools, our parks, our stable population, and thriving economy are all ways we "sell" our county. But I can't sell the pride we should be taking in our local community and lush landscaping that our governments spend millions to maintain.
This is because of the enormous quantity of trash that has accumulated along the roads and in our neighborhoods. It is embarrassing to show potential buyers homes while driving past this landscape. Who throws their lunch bags into the street? And liquor bottles, cans, even cigarette butts are in the roads by the bucketful.
The plastic bags, which I personally abhor, hang in the trees and brush like ornaments. It's just deplorable. Those of you who have spent money to adopt a road in the county aren't even keeping up their part of the bargain.
Earth day is on April 22. Let's all do our part to save the earth by cleaning up our own neighborhoods and trying to be part of the solution, not the problem.
Linda Betts
Ellicott City