Mayor Chavez Mandates a War on Weeds - August 11, 2006

City of Albuquerque Directors and

Managers line up to sign in

for the War on Weeds campaign.

Mayor Chavez uses a weed whacker

to cut weeds in Albuquerque during

the War on Weeds campaign.

City employees rake up weeds

in a median during the

War on Weeds campaign.

A City employee sports a

"Clean Team" vest during the

Mayor's War on Weeds campaign.

Mayor Chavez, along with more than 300 City Directors and Mangers, began the War on Weeds. Weeds were picked at various locations around Albuquerque on Friday morning. The Mayor encouraged the citizens of Albuquerque to get out and keep Albuquerque beautiful. "Hopefully by our example, we will motivate everyone to pick their own weeds," he said.

This event has taken place at least once a year since Mayor Chavez has been in office and this tradition seems to help create an awareness of our weed problem in Albuquerque. We all have to do our part in keeping our city clean, not just of trash and clutter, but the weeds need to be taken care of too. It took a lot of hard work, but the medians that were targeted look dramatically better.

With all of the rain from our monsoon season the weeds seem to be growing and spreading much faster this year. This is a problem that cannot be ignored. It takes each and every one of us to take control of this problem. It is apparent that the citizens of Albuquerque appreciate the effort that was put forth by the mayor, the directors and the managers, but now it is up to the neighborhoods to maintain their weed problem.