Mayor Barbara Lee and council member Zac Unger's April 14 dumping enforcement ordinance is followed by a $1.1 million proposal that layers on an illegal dumping system a recent audit declared broken.
Another well presented article with background information and current proposals and comments. I agree with Ken Houston that graffiti is a sign to everyone that the neighborhood is not being maintained and illegal dumping is also ok. At this point it is about enforcement and I realize that isn't easy, but there have to be serious consequences for the dumping and then maybe it will be a deterrent. Finally renegotiating the contract with Waste Management and making legal dumping cheaper and easier would make a big difference. Rebecca needs to be dumped as well.
What’s this about some Oakland businesses not paying for trash service then dumping their trash in the businesses’ neighborhoods? Can’t Oakland require businesses to pay for trash pickup or deny them a business license?
So the solution, and I use the term loosely, is to throw money at the problem, a great deal of money, while ignoring anything that isn’t a fancy and tech forward? Can we put dumpsters in at the popular spots? Have we tried that? Have we tried to figure out if this is organized or if it’s just random people?
I have so many question. I bet a drone will answer them all.
I was in the room when the DA said she needed positive identification of the person(s) doing the illegal dumping in order to prosecute. That is much easier said than done. Scraps of mail or license plate numbers are not sufficient.
That is incorrect reporting about 8 members of the trash pick up crew. The discussion was about the EEOs. KOCB has about 60 people. They probably need 100. Gallo is right.
This coverage of illegal dumping is great. The solution is “all of the above.” Things needed to be tightened up on the enforcement side, but I believe we can make significant strides by addressing more gallons at the curb at lower prices. Also, KOCB needs better equipment.
absolutely !! thanks for your “sane perspective” Can we get something done around here. I thought Barbara Lee would have more common sense . Its time to penalize the offenders
Barbara Lee is not the right leader for Oakland today.
During her campaign, she said that "Oakland is not broken". For a leader to actually fix a city instead of blathering and fluffing, they need to acknowledge the hard truths first.
Also, Barbara advised Oakland to NOT recall Sheng Thao even when it was obvious that Sheng was corrupt and horrible at leading (eg the missed deadline for the state grants for retail theft abatement).
And I agree somewhat with Ken Houston. Other cities are not spending this much time and energy addressing garbage in the ground. We make a big mistake when we blame the unhoused. Let’s keep some attention on this topic. It can be cut 75% in one year:
- KOCB should be staffed and equipped to remove 30 million pounds per year.
- Zero waste policy is a complete failure. Residents need more gallons at the curb at lower prices.
- The legislation is written for commercial special assessment.
- Launch “Don’t Mess with Texas” style ad campaign.
We can reduce this 75% in one year. Enforcement is good. Prevention is better.
Another well presented article with background information and current proposals and comments. I agree with Ken Houston that graffiti is a sign to everyone that the neighborhood is not being maintained and illegal dumping is also ok. At this point it is about enforcement and I realize that isn't easy, but there have to be serious consequences for the dumping and then maybe it will be a deterrent. Finally renegotiating the contract with Waste Management and making legal dumping cheaper and easier would make a big difference. Rebecca needs to be dumped as well.
Gallo’s comments were well stated.
Advance apologies for my choice of words.
Fuck Rebecca Kaplan for all of the bullshit she has given to Oakland.
What’s this about some Oakland businesses not paying for trash service then dumping their trash in the businesses’ neighborhoods? Can’t Oakland require businesses to pay for trash pickup or deny them a business license?
So the solution, and I use the term loosely, is to throw money at the problem, a great deal of money, while ignoring anything that isn’t a fancy and tech forward? Can we put dumpsters in at the popular spots? Have we tried that? Have we tried to figure out if this is organized or if it’s just random people?
I have so many question. I bet a drone will answer them all.
I was in the room when the DA said she needed positive identification of the person(s) doing the illegal dumping in order to prosecute. That is much easier said than done. Scraps of mail or license plate numbers are not sufficient.
That is incorrect reporting about 8 members of the trash pick up crew. The discussion was about the EEOs. KOCB has about 60 people. They probably need 100. Gallo is right.
Josh— thank you for your comment. The article has been updated to reflect the correct position title.
This coverage of illegal dumping is great. The solution is “all of the above.” Things needed to be tightened up on the enforcement side, but I believe we can make significant strides by addressing more gallons at the curb at lower prices. Also, KOCB needs better equipment.
absolutely !! thanks for your “sane perspective” Can we get something done around here. I thought Barbara Lee would have more common sense . Its time to penalize the offenders
Barbara Lee is not the right leader for Oakland today.
During her campaign, she said that "Oakland is not broken". For a leader to actually fix a city instead of blathering and fluffing, they need to acknowledge the hard truths first.
Also, Barbara advised Oakland to NOT recall Sheng Thao even when it was obvious that Sheng was corrupt and horrible at leading (eg the missed deadline for the state grants for retail theft abatement).
The lightning loader rental is due to the other two city owned lightning loaders being down. See the report from OPW regarding 33 co-op contracts.
Gallo and Houston are PWTC committee members. Brown and Fife are not.
Josh -- thank you for your comment. The article has been updated to reflect the current committee membership.
And I agree somewhat with Ken Houston. Other cities are not spending this much time and energy addressing garbage in the ground. We make a big mistake when we blame the unhoused. Let’s keep some attention on this topic. It can be cut 75% in one year:
- KOCB should be staffed and equipped to remove 30 million pounds per year.
- Zero waste policy is a complete failure. Residents need more gallons at the curb at lower prices.
- The legislation is written for commercial special assessment.
- Launch “Don’t Mess with Texas” style ad campaign.
We can reduce this 75% in one year. Enforcement is good. Prevention is better.