A city’s character is etched in its streets, and nothing mars that impression faster than sidewalks fossilized with wads of discarded gum. This sticky blight is more than an eyesore; it’s a billboard for neglect, signalling to tourists and residents alike a troubling lack of civic pride and municipal competence.

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When a city appears defeated by such a trivial problem, it undermines trust in its ability to manage larger challenges.

When visiting a city for the first time, my initial impression is proportional to the density of wads of gum plastered on city streets and other common areas. If I were mayor of Halifax for a day, my one and only goal would be to rid the streets of gum by the end of that day.

I am embarrassed to take friends from out-ot-town to see the Halifax Convention Centre, the new central hub of the city, fearing that they........

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