INC NEWS - Herald Sun editorial

[kjj1 at duke.edu]

Richard: I was disappointed in the Herald-Sun editorial too. I don't know 
all the reasons why folks leave their carts at the curb, but one, I think, 
is that many people simply don't know they're required to bring them in. 
This is why our Recommended Property Manager Criteria in Old West Durham 
include a willingness to include pulling trash carts in from the curbs in 
rental agreements--because people can't be expected to comply with 
ordinances they don't know about. Maybe the Herald-Sun could do a story on 
the existence of the ordinance requiring carts to be retrieved from the 
curbs?

Kelly J.


--On Tuesday, August 30, 2005 6:41 PM -0400 Richard Mullinax 
<rcmj at nc.rr.com> wrote:

> Old North Durham took it on the chin today in the Herald Sun editorial as
> having residents who 'complained' about cans left at curb for days. If
> this issue has a negative impact on your neighborhood., please contact
> the paper to let them know. Old North Durham cannot be alone in this,
> because this issue far from started in Old North Durham.
>
> I have been trying at PAC II meetings for several months, and at every
> small meeting I am in, to end the use of the word complaint. When I see a
> cart at curb and call the city to make a report of what I saw, I am not
> filing a complaint. What I saw I reported on and that makes me a
> reporter, and a much closer partner to the solution than a complainer
> could ever be. Please work to end the use of 'complaint' in your
> neighborhood.
>
> I also sent word to Ginny about carts that never leave the curb. The
> Editorial suggested that they are left for days. In reality many of the
> carts I counted have been curbside for years. My count was done on
> Wednesday and the City did one on Monday. Our collection day is Friday.
> Both counts were over 200 for about 1200 units. It was enough for me to
> be a proactive partner with Solid Waste.
>
> The City is working on the data and is trying to come up with a list of
> why people do this. The goal it to set up the best method of prevention.
> I am so thankful for the Solid Waste Department partnership on this
> issue. In particular the agreement we share that education seems to be
> the tool with the most effect.
>
> A large portion of the Editorial was dedicated to people being overtaxed.
> Fees are just another way of saying taxes, while fines imply that the
> person earned the right to pay them separate of any tax burden. Working
> to clarify these would have been a great help. The City staff hope is
> that a system with clear fines available will result in not one single
> charge. The fines being a last resort after repeated contacts have proved
> futile. Thanks also to Ginny for clearly stating once on Monday that
> fines may need to be considered for 'chronic offenders'.
>
> After several years of working with different partners on this issue, I
> was discouraged by the Editorial tone. I look forward to future reports,
> from Ginny, about changes in the current methods we as neighborhoods and
> City deal with carts being left as hazard and eyesore at curbside.
>
> I am also thankful to Bob Ashley for being available to talk about this
> with me. He and I both look forward to people giving feedback on this
> issue. Please let the paper know how you feel. For me there are several
> other issues more important, but this one should not be overlooked or
> trivialized.
>
> Richard Mullinax
> 921 N Mangum St
> 680-3883
>
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