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Illegal street dumping in Oakland posing public health threat

Published on Sunday, September 04, 2011
Last updated on 11:40PM, Sunday, September 4, 2011
Photo by CB Smith-Dahl/Oakland Local

Mattresses ... clothes ... wood. 

What do these things have in common?

No, they are not props used in any horror flick. They do, however, happen to be some of the objects and items that are consuming the sidewalks and streets throughout the city of Oakland.

Whether it is homeless people, random individuals or industrial and commercial companies, illegal street dumping continues to be done ironically right by "No Dumping" signs that are made visible near parks, schools, residential homes and businesses, alleyways and on the lawns of vacant or foreclosed houses.

Illegal street dumping may range anywhere from littering to homeless encampment. Still, the risk of being exposed to some potentially hazardous and toxic materials like old oil containers and buckets of paint has many Oakland residents concerned.  

According to Oakland’s Department of Public Works, there were approximately 500 service requests – which are problems and concerns submitted by the public through the Public Works Call Center - and 500 work orders – which are work scheduled, performed and completed by the Oakland Public Works crews - made since July 1 related to illegal street dumping. 

 

The status for most of the 500 service requests and work orders are now closed. The service request status will automatically close if the service request is not performed and completed by Oakland Public Works crews, but are instead performed and completed by other agencies such as: the Oakland Police Department, Community and Economic Development Agency and EBMUD.

About Juan Antonio Martinez
Born and raised in Oakland, Calif., Juan is currently the community editor/assistant managing editor and a part time general assignment, sports and feature writer for OaklandLocal.com. He studied Print/Online Journalism and graduated from San Francisco State University and earned two Associates degrees in Liberal Arts and Language Arts from Laney College in Oakland. Juan previously was a Communications Associate at Full Court Press Communications and interned for Newswire21.org. As a part of the latter's team, he won the 2010 Award for Excellence in Community Reporting from the Society of Professional Journalists in Northern California. Juan also wrote extensively for SF State's Golden Gate Xpress, which won the 2011 Associated Collegiate Press Newspaper Pacemaker Award. He also enjoys writing about sports and community events and spending time with his family. Juan speaks Spanish fluently and is the first person in his family to graduate from college.
livegreen commented at Tue, 30 Aug at 11:04am

Prevention of illegal dumping is one of the many services that Oakland's elected officials are cutting behind the scenes.  They will argue it is because of the economy but that explains the situation, not their lack of response: failure to trim the high costs of government they ran up during the good times.  

The fact is there is little to no consequence for illegal dumping (much like robbery).  Even when a dumping is in full progress, neither police nor Public Works (PW) will send somebody to fine or arrest the contractor.  

Sure there are #'s to call, but after calling NOTHING HAPPENS...There is not even a way to send pictures of dumping in progress.

Oakland PW has suffered one of the most, and the City has little to no response to find solutions that make government work or increase efficiency.  Instead it's business as usual.

Government in name only.

Kellie Peach Nash commented at Wed, 31 Aug at 12:02pm

Why does Illegal dumping happen so often in Oakland? Read on...   http://oaklandwaste.wordpress.com/2011/06/16/illegal-dumping-bulky-goods-pickup-a-symptom-and-example/

sbfoster commented at Fri, 2 Sep at 6:43pm

Underlying issues: (1) not enough competition in the trash/recycling hauling business; (2) too damn expensive to get the service  ($60 + /month) (3) PLUS neighborhood pride is practically nonexistent in many Oakland neighborhoods meaning no one cares enough NOT to dump. 

Audit Oakland CEDA commented at Mon, 5 Sep at 1:22pm

@sbfoster

"...meaning no one cares enough NOT to dump."

I think your statement rather puts the blame for the dumping on the public underserved by services and lacking in the civic auditing that comes from being empowered constituents.  Please don't misunderstand the garbage some inconsiderati put on my street for a lack of civic pride amongst my neighbors.  We neighbors cannot keep up with the strangers who come in and flood our streets with their refuse.

 

In 3 years I have yet to "witness" the dumping taking place.

If someone were to witness dumping, to whom would they report the crime so that it would be properly investigated and the perpetrator(s) punished?  (Don't say OPD.  That would be online and...)