Photo by Alexis Hauk

Though it only happens once every four years, a presidential inauguration is quite the strain on our city’s resources. That includes public works and sanitation services, which will work assiduously (one hopes) to clear up the detritus left by the hundreds of thousands of spectators that clogged the National Mall on Monday.

Still, our sanitation workers could use your help. Just because a trash can is full, does not mean it’s OK to stack your Starbucks cups and Big Mac wrappers next to the barrel. It’s not that difficult to carry your cup a few more blocks to the next available receptacle. Yeesh. (Oh yeah, and did you really have to organize all those used coffee cups in an “Obama 2013” message? Not sure he would appreciate, and D.C. sure doesn’t.)

So, on January 20, 2017, when we’re celebrating the inauguration of President Clinton/Biden/O’Malley/Cuomo/Christie/McDonnell/Rubio/Ryan/Kang, please take better care to pick up after yourself. The scene captured above, near 18th and D streets NW, is just gross.

Photo by Martin Austermuhle