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UTICA, N.Y. -- A steady parade of Utica's public service employees have been out cleaning city streets every Wednesday, rain or shine, for 25 weeks.

Mayor Robert Palmieri's Quality of Life Sweeps have become a hallmark of his administration this summer.

On the sweeps, department heads and city employees are encouraged to pick up trash, clean up lawns and talk to residents. The mayor says the program is his way of restoring pride to the city.

"We want to bring the hope back to them. This city is a great area. We've got great people out there, and we want people to feel safe and we want it to be clean for them," Mayor Palmieri said.

The mayor says the program's biggest success has been putting people in touch with department heads to identify and solve problems.