Mayor Muriel Bowser showcased her appreciation for the sanitation soldiers of the capital as the Department of Public Works (DPW) launched into action with their annual Great Graffiti Wipeout during National Public Works Week. The citywide clean-up crusade kicked off May 20 and will stretch until July 12 in a bid to beautify all eight wards by erasing unsightly tags from public spaces. "We are incredibly grateful for the work the team at DPW does year-round to keep our city safe and beautiful by providing world-class city services," Mayor Bowser declared, as per Washington, DC.
The effort not only targets vandalism but also aims to uplift the community's aesthetics with the MuralsDC program, turning blank walls into canvases for local talent. Residents eager to erase the unwanted art can dial up the 311 hotline for DPW's removal service. Coupled with their mission to scourge the streets of grime, DPW is inviting residents into its behind-the-scenes action via a freshly minted podcast, “Inside DPW: The Podcast that Explains How Public Works…Works.” Starting May 28, the audio experience is up for grabs on a medley of platforms, including SoundCloud and Spotify.
During a heartening week of tribute to those who maintain the city's heartbeat, DPW Director Timothy Spriggs expressed a sentiment of pride, "DPW employees are some of the hardest working people I know—they do the work most people take for granted, and they do it with heart," according to a statement per Washington, DC. The new podcast, he emphasized, will showcase the humanity in the employees who manage waste, issue tickets, service city vehicles, and steadied the frontlines amid the pandemic’s peak.
Furthering the celebratory events, DPW took their rolling stock to "Donuts and Trucks on the Hill," a gathering spearheaded by the American Public Works Association (APWA) before the U.S. Capitol, to underscore the essential public works services to passing legislators and their aides on May 19. The display was part of the APWA's efforts during National Public Works Week, honoring millions of public works professionals throughout North America and Canada. A reminder of the crucial - and too often overlooked - role that these departments play in the day-to-day functioning of our cities and towns.
