Thanks for all the great comments. I've asked the legislative staff to do some research into any obstacles to this approach. While it's important for the state to remove obstacles, fundamentally, this is an issue that requires a commitment from the city and/or county. I encourage you to write you councilor or commissioner if you'd like to see this approach (or a similar one) move forward.
This is an issue I’ve been concerned about for years mostly because it gives the unhoused a bad rep. Many people don’t realize that they have no place to put their garbage. I think you have a great idea and I’ll help pay for the garbage collection. Let’s see if we can get the powers that be to get on board. Thanks!!!
On this we can agree. However, I would like to see it taken a step further and provide no fee access to all refuse transfer stations, and placement of refuse collection containers of multiple sizes, including dumpsters, throughout the cities, counties, and the state. I fully believe that much of the garbage and roadside dumping would be eliminated if people did not have to pay large fees to dump trash. Folks that are just getting by with paying rent, buying fuel, groceries, electric bills etc., are not inclined to pay hefty dump fees. Not to say that commercial businesses should not pay for refuse collection and handling.
Awesome idea! Really appreciate the depth of humanity in your leadership. This initiative will benefit all of us, but will particularly allow for a more beautiful living environment for our unhoused neighbors. Thank you! I'm wondering--for clean ups in particular, might there be a way to hire unhoused folks to do the clean up rather than contracting it out? This would assist those in economically challenging situations in addition to the fact that those doing clean up would likely have more pride in the work because they'd be taking care of their home.
If we can solve the garbage problem for unhoused neighbors, the next big step might be working with unhoused folk to create environments of beauty to restore the body and soothe the soul. Sheltering under the overpass kills what is human within. Dostoevsky says: We will be saved by beauty.
What a great idea, Marty! This has been on my mind for a long time, too: how can we blame the homeless for their trash? -- if we, the housed, lacked a mechanism of disposing of our waste, our yards would be quite a sight!
In a related vein, I've been thinking also about the human waste dilemma for homeless folks. The rest of us can count on finding a loo in the next room, at any time of the day or night; what is a person without a bathroom-containing home to do? Would there be a way to provide more public port-a-potties for their use?
Or better yet -- if we can't see our way as a nation to provide an adequate number of affordable housing units and social services to assist those in need -- then more sanctioned, safe camping spaces, with these essential services provided. It is unconscionable that one of the wealthiest nations on the planet cannot just step up and ensure that everyone has, at a minimum, a safe, clean, secure place to sleep.
As a middle class person living in a middle class neighborhood I would be OK with paying an extra $7 a year to facilitate garbage collection for unhoused members of our community. I am not sure how feasible it would be since a lot of the camps are scattered randomly and people move from one place to the other. I would like to address another issue ( related in my view ): the problem of decibel pollution. Can our city police department ( or DMV ) regulate how much noise comes out of tail pipes ( especially some motorcycles and some hot rod types favored by high testosterone drivers) ? There is the visual ( and health related ) garbage problem, thanks for addressing that Marty, but let’s also address the issue of folks who like to drive like a bat out of hell and disturb the peace of already noisy neighborhoods.
Thank you for your good ideas and for thinking about the unsheltered and garbage crisis. So appreciate your service as my representative. All the best to you.
Hey Marty, Could not have said it any clearer! But how to get City/County to actually put trash cans out for the public to use? That is the question. Are you actively lobbying for them? Hope so!
For over four years I provided rough shelters for up to three people. Water, trash cans, porta potties, storage, and shelter was provided. The individuals could not mange to put trash in the cans, clean the porta potties, or put belongings in storage out of the rain. Smoke detectors were disabled by them. They were evicted last year due to refusal to comply with fire restrictions. Some people need to be in regulated institutions.
Thanks for all the great comments. I've asked the legislative staff to do some research into any obstacles to this approach. While it's important for the state to remove obstacles, fundamentally, this is an issue that requires a commitment from the city and/or county. I encourage you to write you councilor or commissioner if you'd like to see this approach (or a similar one) move forward.
This is an issue I’ve been concerned about for years mostly because it gives the unhoused a bad rep. Many people don’t realize that they have no place to put their garbage. I think you have a great idea and I’ll help pay for the garbage collection. Let’s see if we can get the powers that be to get on board. Thanks!!!
On this we can agree. However, I would like to see it taken a step further and provide no fee access to all refuse transfer stations, and placement of refuse collection containers of multiple sizes, including dumpsters, throughout the cities, counties, and the state. I fully believe that much of the garbage and roadside dumping would be eliminated if people did not have to pay large fees to dump trash. Folks that are just getting by with paying rent, buying fuel, groceries, electric bills etc., are not inclined to pay hefty dump fees. Not to say that commercial businesses should not pay for refuse collection and handling.
Hope this can happen!
Awesome idea! Really appreciate the depth of humanity in your leadership. This initiative will benefit all of us, but will particularly allow for a more beautiful living environment for our unhoused neighbors. Thank you! I'm wondering--for clean ups in particular, might there be a way to hire unhoused folks to do the clean up rather than contracting it out? This would assist those in economically challenging situations in addition to the fact that those doing clean up would likely have more pride in the work because they'd be taking care of their home.
If we can solve the garbage problem for unhoused neighbors, the next big step might be working with unhoused folk to create environments of beauty to restore the body and soothe the soul. Sheltering under the overpass kills what is human within. Dostoevsky says: We will be saved by beauty.
What a great idea, Marty! This has been on my mind for a long time, too: how can we blame the homeless for their trash? -- if we, the housed, lacked a mechanism of disposing of our waste, our yards would be quite a sight!
In a related vein, I've been thinking also about the human waste dilemma for homeless folks. The rest of us can count on finding a loo in the next room, at any time of the day or night; what is a person without a bathroom-containing home to do? Would there be a way to provide more public port-a-potties for their use?
Or better yet -- if we can't see our way as a nation to provide an adequate number of affordable housing units and social services to assist those in need -- then more sanctioned, safe camping spaces, with these essential services provided. It is unconscionable that one of the wealthiest nations on the planet cannot just step up and ensure that everyone has, at a minimum, a safe, clean, secure place to sleep.
Yes! It’s so dumb to complain about littering when there’s no place for them to put it!
As a middle class person living in a middle class neighborhood I would be OK with paying an extra $7 a year to facilitate garbage collection for unhoused members of our community. I am not sure how feasible it would be since a lot of the camps are scattered randomly and people move from one place to the other. I would like to address another issue ( related in my view ): the problem of decibel pollution. Can our city police department ( or DMV ) regulate how much noise comes out of tail pipes ( especially some motorcycles and some hot rod types favored by high testosterone drivers) ? There is the visual ( and health related ) garbage problem, thanks for addressing that Marty, but let’s also address the issue of folks who like to drive like a bat out of hell and disturb the peace of already noisy neighborhoods.
Hi Marty,
Thank you for your good ideas and for thinking about the unsheltered and garbage crisis. So appreciate your service as my representative. All the best to you.
Wendy
Hey Marty, Could not have said it any clearer! But how to get City/County to actually put trash cans out for the public to use? That is the question. Are you actively lobbying for them? Hope so!
Robin Bloomgarden
For over four years I provided rough shelters for up to three people. Water, trash cans, porta potties, storage, and shelter was provided. The individuals could not mange to put trash in the cans, clean the porta potties, or put belongings in storage out of the rain. Smoke detectors were disabled by them. They were evicted last year due to refusal to comply with fire restrictions. Some people need to be in regulated institutions.