Become a Block Captain
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A block captain may be a community clean-up coordinator, a Neighborhood Watch coordinator, or a political organizer, or all of the above. A block captain is generally considered to be the lowest-level political figure.
Block captains in Philadelphia, a program begun in 1965, are authorized and organized under the Philadelphia More Beautiful Committee (PMBC) of the Sanitation Division of the Streets Department.
The PMBC says this:
The PMBC Program is a partnership between the City, your neighbors and you to keep your block clean. If your neighborhood decides to participate in creating a cleaner block, you can organize and elect a Block Captain to make it happen. Here's how:
- Contact PMBC at (215) 685-3981 to receive a petition in the mail
- Circulate the petition among your neighbors to elect a Block Captain. You will need 51% of the residents on your block to sign the petition —one (1) adult signature per household
- Mail your completed petition to PMBC —a Clean Block Officer will contact you and help you get started
Resources
- PMBC: Block Captain
- Philadelphia Reflections: Block Captains
- The No-B***s*** Guide to a Litter-Free Block, Philly Magazine, July 9, 2015
- Philadelphia block captains keep eyes peeled for litter and riffraff, Newsworks, August 19, 2011
- Philadelphia Officials Host Event To Show Appreciation For Area Block Captains, CBS-3, March 26, 2011
- Help Desk: No block captain? No trash can
- Volunteering in Philadelphia
- South of South Neighborhood Association
- Woman and three children die in Feltonville rowhouse fire
Other Cities:
- Block Captain's Guide (pdf, Antioch CA)
- Block Captain Duties (Albuquerque NM)
- What Are Block Captains? (central OK)
- Block Captain Resources (San Mateo CA)
- Block Captain Program (Frisco TX)
- Block Captain Resources (Terra Linda CA)
- Block Captain Responsibilities (pdf, Cheyenne Ridge OK)