July 28, 2007
SF's Garbage Like LA's? No!
And now for a little garbage-related news this side of the bridge:
While others are pushing their dust-covered garbage cans back out onto the curb east of One Rincon, those of us west of Balboa Park are having our hands slapped for keeping ours out too long. Seems like the folks actually participating in the Sunnyside Neighborhood Association are fed up with the offensive vision of unhidden trash bins on their streets. According to an undated newsletter, which we can only assume is current, since the website is brand spankin' new, "Garbage cans on sidewalks aren't just unsightly and an obstacle to pedestrians. They're also a violation of the local public works code." Do pedestrians really trip over garbage cans? Because, if so, we'd really kind of love to see that.
But wait, say you. What is this Sunnyside of which you speak? Well, if you must know, it's actually a bona fide SF neighborhood famous for tumbling houses, proximity to the Glen Park BART station, and palm trees sprouting out of dilapidated greenhouses. Yes, it is still in San Francisco. And although we've lived in our "affordable" home for a little over a year, we're still uncertain as to whether or not our sleepy little SF hood is "Sunnyside" or "The Sunnyside." BTW, it's hardly ever sunny here. If you're lucky, maybe someday we will educate you on the wonder that is the Alemany Gap. (Hint: It's not a GAP on Alemany.)
For now, we blush and pull our trash bins into our garage, hoping the noble executive board of the Sunnyside Neighborhood Association wasn't referring to our own can-related transgressions. From now on our cans will be stored out of sight. Hey, at least we have garbage service at all.
By Deborah
|
Brock-
Go to the top of the steps on the Melrose side of Sunnyside park. There is a black garbage can that blew over and is blocking the sidewalk across from the park. Pick up was Fri AM.
It's windy there and empty cans often blow over onto the sidewalks or into the street. A handicapped woman in a motor chair can't get up the street to shop because of the lazy people who don't bring in their cans. Neighbors have to move the cans for her.
Plus the empty cans sitting out for days make the area look ghetto.
Just FYI, the Melrose side of Sunnyside Park is Miraloma Heights (I think). Mangels is the northern border of our fair Sunnyside (of which I'm sure - see map on http://www.snasf.org/).
Also, I'm wondering where this woman is going "up" to shop - Tower Market? That's a long haul for someone on a motor chair.
[2] Yes, I assume Mollie Stone aka Tower is where she is headed. I've seen her going all the way up there a couple of times
speaking of garbage, is it me or are we being taxed by letting the homeless and indigent chinese take the recycling out of the garbage cans?
here's my theory:
the recycling being taken from the garbage would have gone to our waste management company, sunset, bfi, wmi, whomever.
these folks taking it out are selling it to them when they should have gotten it for free. (our local waste management company employs plenty of people to pull all recycling materials out of our trash on a conveyor belt)
that increased cost gets passed on to us the customer of the trash company.
not only is this disgusting, a public health hazard but it's also stealing.
should we pass a law saying it's illegal to take recycling out of any container?
Hey lazy people, clean out your garage and keep your garbage cans inside. When I see those on the sidewalk and I know it's not trash day, I kick them down (and back into your yard - if you have one). I then start to think about burning down your house and killing your children.
Ditto for people that park their cars on the sidewalk. I spit on your cars and stuck gum in interesting places.
It is illegal to steal from the recycling bins. I belive all other garbage is fair game once it's set on the streets; however, someone could probably challange that in court (if that is the case). But, since we're in San Francisco, good luck getting anyone to actually do anything about anything.
Dearest Suckafree [4],
I think it is already illegal to "steal" cans and bottles out of the blue garbage bins.
The police, if called at the non emerg line 553-0123, will dispatch a car if you phone in. It's obviously a low low priority, as the gangbangas are shooting people's heads off.
There is an ancient hunched-over asian woman who picks garbage from my area every week. It's too pathetic to report.
I do see a lot of professional bums at the recycle centers with bags of cans. I guess it's better to have them do that than to hit up for spare change.
[5] It is legal to take non-recycle garbage once it's on the street in a can or dumpster as long as the taker does not cause a mess.
There have been lawsuits over this issue with the "takers" winning. I think there was a case involving some celebrity like madonna. Someone was taking her garbage and selling it on ebay. Since 99.99% of people in the world are insane in one way or another, there are people out there who would have an orgasm to hold a piece of madonna's half-eaten hamburger or her old toothbrush. EEE-OOOH.
if we stopped letting the homeless collect recycling, made it illegal to give them cash, maybe they would get the help they need, or move on to a another city that is as naive as we are.
Sorry Mariconsoy, the homeless will just start breaking into your cars and apartmens and mugging you on the street (like they do near the Social Security building towards check collection time). The reason that they'll never leave is because there are too many drugs on the street - it's harder to get heroin in Iowa (plus they'll get put on a bus back here anyway).
why do we let homeless get off the bus or train and come into this town in the first place?
i read somewhere that cops used to hang out at the greyhound station to stop them back in the 70's. we should do that again at caltrain, actransit, muni, amtrack extension, etc.