People in Pueblo have concerns about blight in the city

People in Pueblo want their city to be cleaned up and improved. City leaders answered their questions Thursday night about what’s being done.

Historic Pueblo Inc. hosted a discussion about blight.

People asked questions about illegal dumping, burned buildings and abandoned homes.

City Manager Sam Azad said one of the concerns about trying to fix these problems is lack of resources, like funding.

Jim Sbarbaro, who has lived in Pueblo for more than 30 years, said cleaning and improving infrastructure is important for Pueblo’s future.

“If the people don’t rise up and take charge of their city, their polis, the place where they live, and the place where they raise their families, who else will?” he said.

The city is already teaming up with the Pueblo Urban Renewal Authority to do a blight study on the lower west side.