There was a time when the phrase “Don’t be a litterbug” wasn’t just a slogan — it was a cultural commandment. Kids heard it in school. Parents echoed it on car rides. And the roads, sidewalks, and neighborhoods of Jacksonville reflected it.

We took pride in clean streets, neatly trimmed medians, and city gateways that welcomed visitors with charm instead of trash. There was a shared sense that litter wasn’t just ugly — it was unneighborly. A little cartoon bug told us to do better… and we did.

But somewhere along the way, that collective commitment faded. The litterbug didn’t just die — it got replaced by apathy. Fast food wrappers in gutters. Broken bottles at bus stops. Blight creeping in like kudzu.

Well, guess what?
The litterbug is back!

In a move that’s part clean-up and part cultural comeback, Mayor Donna Deegan has launched a bold new initiative:

Keep Jax Cute: Don’t Pollute.

It’s more than a clever rhyme. It’s a return to the idea that how we treat our city reflects how we treat each other.

“This is more than a cleanup — it’s a cultural shift,” said Mayor Deegan.
“We’re building a Jacksonville where everyone can live, work, and play in neighborhoods that are safe, welcoming, and respected.”

The plan combines education, enforcement, and good old-fashioned community action. And it even comes with a fun twist — the Jax Litter League, a citywide competition with the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp and a raccoon mascot named T.P. McClean.

You can find more details and sign up here: jacksonville.gov/keepjaxcute

Jacksonville deserves to shine again. We have too much natural beauty, too many great people, and too much Southern pride to let our city be smothered in styrofoam cups and dirty diapers.

It’s time we taught a new generation what we once knew instinctively:
Trash belongs in the can, not in the creek.

So here’s to bringing back the bug – the litter bug that is!