Photo credit and article by Gabriella Dragone | May 16, 2025
PATERSON, NJ – Mayor Andre Sayegh joined city officials, community leaders and local business owners on Friday to announce the launch of Phase 2 of the Urban Enterprise Zone’s (UEZ) “Clean Commercial Corridors Initiative,” a citywide effort to improve cleanliness, appearance and pride across Paterson’s business districts.
The initiative, a partnership with Wells Cleaning Company and its CEO Tshon Wells, a Paterson native, marks a significant expansion of the original 2022 program — growing from a few key corridors to 57 blocks across multiple neighborhoods.
“Keeping our city clean is not a spectator sport. We need everyone engaged,” Sayegh said. “This initiative ensures that our commercial corridors are maintained, and it’s a proud moment for Paterson, because a young man, a proud product of our city, is going to be leading this effort — Mr. Tshon Wells.”
Wells, who began his career washing windows in downtown Paterson, now owns a growing business headquartered in the city. “Thinking back 10 years ago, I walked these very streets with a water bottle and a squeegee, knocking on some of these same businesses,” Wells said. “This is full circle for me… We’re here to combat littering and illegal dumping. We’re excited about the program and honored to serve our hometown.”
Phase 2 of the Clean Commercial Corridors Initiative will focus on sidewalk and curb maintenance, graffiti removal, and seasonal services such as snow and weed removal. According to officials, 90% of the workers hired for this phase are Paterson residents, tying the initiative directly to local workforce development.
The program is supported by the UEZ and signals a shift from Phase 1, which in 2022 focused primarily on Union Avenue, Main Street and 21st Avenue through a grant from the Clean Communities program. The new phase has broader economic, community and quality-of-life goals.
The work is being overseen by the Paterson Urban Enterprise Zone and carried out by Wells Cleaning Company, a city-based business owned by Tshon Wells. The $1.15 million program is funded through federal American Rescue Plan dollars.
The new cleaning efforts began on May 16.
Under the plan, city-hired workers will sweep sidewalks and empty trash bins daily from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., excluding Sundays.
“This is not just about cleaning streets,” Dipto Roy, Director of the Urban Enterprise Zone said. “It’s about revitalizing business districts, welcoming shoppers and visitors. This project is serious to us because we want our streets to look good and feel safe.”
Roy also announced related improvements including an expansion of solar trash receptacles, a streetscape project on 21st Avenue, and upgrades to several pocket parks.
Deputy Mayor Elsa Mantilla, long-time community advocate and business owner on 21st Avenue, praised the city’s commitment and the mayor’s leadership. “I know that whatever the mayor does, he does from his heart,” she said. “Let’s keep cleaning. Let’s keep doing the best for our city — not just talking, but doing.”
City officials also acknowledged the contributions of the Department of Public Works, which recently acquired two new sanitation trucks — one dedicated to downtown and the other for unscheduled bulk pickups.
“Quite frankly, we’re going to be fully focused on making sure our city is cleaner,” said Sayegh. “But everybody has to do their part as well.”
The city also launched a new anti-litter campaign dubbed “Paterson is Picking Up,” modeled after Texas’s successful “Don’t Mess with Texas” campaign, which reduced litter by over 70%.
“This is a team sport,” Sayegh said, referencing both the community effort and the city’s partnerships. “And today, with a local Black-owned business taking the lead, we take a major step toward keeping Paterson clean, vibrant and full of pride.”
