Oakland leaders say majority of illegal trash dumpers don't live there
OAKLAND, Calif. (KTVU) - Illegal dumping is a major issue in the city of Oakland. Friday night, hundreds of people attended St. Louis Bertrand Church on the city's East side to hear leaders from the faith based group, Oakland Community Organizations, tell city leaders about their displeasure with this ever-growing problem.
"The Illegal dumping has become a health issue and honestly we're sick and tired of this," says Oakland Community Organizations leader Angel Patino. "You have extra junk in your house throw it and go down there. As if those areas were a big garbage can," says one community member. Area's like the vacant lot near 98th Avenue where piles and piles of trash and waste sit alongside homes where people live.
"Its an environmental and health issue that we need to fix. There's detrimental cost to our health to our seniors to our children," says Marina Cruz of Oakland Community Organizations.
"Oaklanders have every right to be really angry about the level of dumping. Illegal dumping that is happening in this city," says Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf.
Back in August, KTVU did a story on illegal dumping. At that time a large amount of bags, boxes and household furniture had been illegally dumped on High Street near Interstate 880 and on Spencer Street near 77th Avenue.
Friday when we went by those same places it had been cleaned up. Something city leaders hope they can keep a handle on but know the odds are against them.
"In the last five years we've seen illegal dumping double in the city of Oakland and while we're meeting our service goals the problem has just ballooned," says Schaaf. "60 percent of those that do illegal dumping don't live in our city so we've got to be able to capture not just the ones that live in Oakland but particularly those that live outside of Oakland and put together a strong case and take it to the DA," says Oakland City Councilmember Larry Reid.
He says the city has purchased numerous cameras that can read license plate. Also the city is leasing extra trucks to clean up the areas where illegal dumping takes place. Lastly OCO suggested people who are caught violating the illegal dumping ordinance not only pay a fine but do community service. That's an idea Reid says he will discuss with the city attorney.