PICO CLEANUP

Things are pretty sticky on Pico Boulevard, especially between Alvarado Street and Vermont Avenue.

But not for long. On July 13, 50 volunteers will be on that stretch of road cleaning the gum off the sidewalks as part of the Pico-Union Community Pride Day.

The cleanup brigade will be part of the beautification of the area organized by Pico-Union community groups, the Los Angeles Police Department’s Rampart Division, local churches and schools, and Jose Gardea, chief field deputy for Mike Hernandez, the area’s City Council representative.

One of the highlights of the day will be the start of a mural project on the protective metal shutters of businesses along Pico.

Members of Americorps, the federal “domestic Peace Corps,” will begin work on five murals with the assistance of local artists.

The murals are designed to get businesses more involved with the community and to deter graffiti.

Volunteers will assist in cleaning alleys and streets of trash and painting over graffiti.

City workers will be out trimming trees, planting four trees and, after the gum is gone, steam-cleaning the sidewalks.

This is the first of three summer Pico Boulevard cleanups, which will extend from the Harbor Freeway to Normandie Avenue. Volunteers will be treated to lunch.