Talking trash

It's Friday. Can't wait for tonight: pizza and a movie! Looking forward to a quiet evening at home.

"You won't believe the truckload of crap that was dumped on Wood Street last night." John has stopped home for lunch and is trying to describe the scene as he drove to work that morning. "It is the largest pile I've ever seen. I've got to call the city." I drive him back to the office and see exactly what he's talking about...house fixtures, wood slabs, tires, mattresses, paint cans and pails, random trash...yuck. This area is not well-traveled or well-lit, leaving it open to random illegal dumping but this is the worst we've seen.

When I go to fetch John later that evening, he jumps into the driver's seat an hands me a pen and paper. "We've got an assignment...need your help while it's still light."

We head toward Wood Street and he tells to me that he's spoken to several city officials who have explained the complex nature of the situation. There is no easy fix, but...there is a way we can help and that's by documenting the non-working street lamps.

We are on a mission!

For the next 30 minutes we drive the length of Wood Street from Emeryville to 12th Street...taking down street light or telephone pole #s. The frequent start and stops indicate the problem is bigger than we imagined. In the end we count 'em...there are TWENTY SEVEN (27) lights that are not working!

Before pizza night started, John had documented our findings in a very professional and detailed two page map to send to the city--see below.

We don't know if or when the lights will be fixed or other improvements made, but what we did hear loud and clear is that it takes people to voice there concerns in order to get action. I'm willing to bet there aren't so many lights out on streets in Piedmont or Rockridge.

Change doesn't typically happen on its own. We need to participate. Voice our concerns. Create community. It won't get better unless we all make it personal.

There will be updates on this subject in future blog posts. Coming soon: John is asked to participate on the neighborhood dumping committee!