Natchez has its eyesores. Everyone knows that.

The aldermen have tossed about ideas to clear dilapidated properties. Downtown development groups do their best to plant flowers and beautify our streets. But the eyesores don’t go away.

As a community, we’ve always talked about tackling the issue head on in general terms. Complainers — all of us — say, “Why doesn’t someone do something about all the rundown properties.”

How do you eat an elephant? One small bite at a time.

The Mayor’s Beautification Committee has a chunk of elephant on their plate.

The group decided to tackle the St. Catherine Street stretch of roadway leading into downtown. They pick up litter, cut grass, clean the lots and plant new flowers.

Members of the Mayor’s Youth Council will pitch in, and the whole group will soon be able to take ownership of that stretch of town.

Think of all the city and civic groups Natchez has. If everyone volunteered to munch on a piece of elephant, our town might look different before we know it.

The beautification committee has the right idea — start with the entrances. Then all we have to do is work our way in. Throw in a little help from city work crews and we’ve rid ourselves of one great big, annoying elephant.