Our Messy Alley

We met with DPW officials back in November to discuss the loose trash, various dumping problems, and collection issues facing residents. They assured us they would tackle these problems moving forward but unfortunately the situation has only gotten worse. Check out the photos below.

We cleaned up 7 contractor's bags full of trash just from our alley on Saturday. This is just inexcusable.

Today's Feast

This bag, that is literally wide open, was just tossed outside into the alley. I left to run an errand and it was there upon my return. Now, if I don't go out there and pick this up, tie it, and put it in our can, it will be spread everywhere by the rats and cats. I've emailed DPW about it but have not heard back as to whether they will send someone to inspect and find out who is behind this. It happens at least twice a week. This is just madness.

Our alley after trash collection on Friday

We have long complained about the way DPW trash collectors spill trash onto the ground, but this week is blog worthy. This is just a mess- and this is after the alley had been cleaned just 5 days earlier.

Granted some of this is from people putting bags of trash out rather than containers, but not all of it. Most of it in the alley itself is from the collectors.

Either way, we need a hand from DPW.

The Dumping Continues in November and December

It is no secret that the vacant lot in the middle of our alley continues to be a source and attraction for a sanitation problems--rats, overgrown grass, illegal dumping, and loose trash.  It's better now than it was five years ago, thanks to the hard work and determination of our neighbors, CM Graham's attention to the problems, and DPW's inspectors.

We made such progress with DPW previously when they were taking a proactive approach to preventing dumping by residents, but now many of those gains have been reversed.  Check out the photos below.

Illegal Dumping on and around the  vacant lot on Nov 26, 2012

My observations: sources of dumping

The cycle of dumping and sanitation issues in our alley generally begin with a couple of problem houses dump 1) bulk items and 2) set out thin trash bags outside of the Supercans, which happens at least twice a week.  The bulk items that they dump attracts other dumping which remains there for a week or two, because much of the dumping occurs on private property--the vacant lot--and it is sometimes difficult to get DPW to remove it.  In addition, the bags of kitchen waste that the same houses throw out without a Supercan are then ripped open by rats, making the alley look like no one cares about it and giving the signal to others that it's okay to throw anything out there- including more loose trash and bulk items.  Hence, the cycle of dumping.

The trash all over the ground also signals to DPW Collections that no one cares about the alley, so when the trash collectors pick up bags from the Supercans and toss them in the truck, they just leave all the trash that falls out scattered on the ground and alley.  The last photo shows our alley yesterday, right before DPW came through for an alley cleaning to prepare for a meeting with Director Howland today.

Thin trashbags about to be ripped open by rats.  This happens biweekly.

These photos below were taken of the vacant lot area yesterday:

Photos taken December 13th, 2012

I personally think that there has to be a multi-pronged solution here including, 

1) Pre-emptive actions by DPW, including observing bulk items in backyards so when they are dumped, they know the sources

2 )DPW inspectors coming out here late on trash nights or early the next morning to see the bags of trash, so the people responsible can be warned or fined.  If the inspectors come through after the trash is picked up, it is too late many times because the bag has been ripped to shreds and it is difficult to ascertain from where the lose trash came.

3) DPW ensuring all Supercans are brought in rather than huddled permanently around the vacant lot

4) DPW Collections ensuring that the collectors do not leave trash strewn all over the alley 

5) Continued neighborhood clean ups by residents

6) Owner of the vacant lot taking a proactive approach to removing trash and dumping from his property and cutting the weeds

7) A way to prevent Metro Ferals volunteers' cat food from feeding the rats and littering our alley with paper plates every night. There has to be a way they can feed the cats without littering and feeding the rats.

8) Residents continuing to work with DoH to bait for rats

Deteriorating sanitation in our alley during August and Sept

Here is a photo round up of just some of the dumping and trash issues we've faced in the last month and a half.  It's amazing to me that I hear neighbors on other blocks say that they get tickets for improperly stored trash because someone put it behind their house and it wasn't theirs---but we can't get any response from DPW inspectors to crack down and prevent this.  

September 22, 2012 

Sept 19th, 2012

Dumped chair on September 3, 2012 on other side of vacant lot.  Reported to DPW

Construction debris that was dumped by a contractor passing through our alley on Sept 5th.  I got photos of his tag and reported it to Inspector Chavis at DPW and through the 311.

This is the kind of filth the Park View Beautification Crew routinely cleans up--mainly due to uncontained trash that rats and cats rip open.  This was from August 11,

See how trash bags are left behind for rats to get into?  Then the lose trash from open bags is scattered all over during every trash collection.  It should not be this way.  We are happy to clean our alley but we need DPW's help in preventing this kind of situation every trash collection day.

This is how much loose trash we have- (two or three piles)--this was one afternoon of sweeping on Sept 13th  in just this section of our alley.  We need DPW to work with us to help prevent uncontained trash!

More dumping, August 2, 2012







More loose trash, Aug 23rd.  Corn, anyone?

This is typical of what we pick up our alley at least a couple of times a week.  So gross.

This is what we find at least once a week and it perpetuates an unsafe cycle.  Someone throws this stuff in a can without a bag, the sanitation workers will not collect it, it gets knocked over by whomever or rats, and then the rats spread it everywhere and feast.


The grass in the vacant lot hasn't been mowed in months.  The mosquitos and rats love the long grass.  We asked for enforcement from DPW.

  

From clean up on Aug 27th.  The Park View Beautification Crew members cleaned this---a big thanks to Dianne Chambers, Anthony Cimino, Jean Paul George, and Zach Baldwin for dealing with this

Spring Clean Up

  We had our first spring clean up last week and managed to tackle a new block with the help of John from Kenyon Street.  Looking forward to the next clean up on April 21st!

Picking up where we left off

We apologize for the break we've taken from blogging.  We have been posting many of our updates on our Facebook page, but we realize that not everyone uses FB so we are going to start updating this more frequently!

Our clean up dates remain the same rain or shine (well, unless it is a downpour!)
1st Saturday and 3rd Sunday of the month at 10:00 am.  The 400 block of Irving, Kenyon, and surrounding streets of Warder and Park Place will meet in the alley.   The 500-600 blocks can meet down by the neighborhood sign at the corner of Georgia and Irving.

Hope to see you there!!