New Orleans' anti-litter campaign was the right message, but the wrong approach

Right message. Wrong approach. That's how I'd describe the latest effort to keep our city clean. 

Back in November, the Landreiu administration announced a new public awareness campaign designed to clean up the city. You know, New Orleans: the filthiest city in America.

City Hall called the inititive "Don't Trash Dat." I call it, "dat ain't gonna work," and that's exactly what's happened. Nothing.

The city is as dirty as it's ever been. Nothing is different. It's gonna take a lot more than an old Saints cheer to clean this mess. The city of New Orleans needs to change the whole attitude of it citizens and even the visitors who come to our city. A new mentality is needed. New Orleans needs to take a Disney World approach to trash: zero tolerance. 

I doubt New Orleans will ever be as clean as the Orlando theme park but having that as the goal, actually having a goal is key. Strict enforcement and steep fines for those that litter is the only way.   

And it is possible. A generation ago Chicago, a city with a population much larger than New Orleans, was a filthy city. The nay-sayers said it would never be clean. Within a few short months, Chicago was clean and it's stayed that way ever since. 

We need to do the same thing as the windy city. A clean New Orleans is waiting.