Hi Michele...it's not a multi-family building next door, it's a single family home with several families living there. And I've called Property Standards a few times, but never the Health Department. Besides I don't want it to become "me against them". I feel I'm a good neighbor, I'm considerate of others and pay attention to my surrounds, both for my safety and theirs. But I don't think it's my job to police my neighbors garbage abuses, I thought there was a department for that...Property Standards, Streets Sanitation, Health Department...I've seen their cars, I know they're out there....HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

For those of you who don't ususaly go down Austin between Ridge and Barton, you may not have seen the very well done upgrade to the parking lot at Oakton School. Over the summer it was enlarged, with new blacktop, handicap parking, and nearly double the spaces, which has opened up parking on the street. Very nice new fencing was installed, along with a handsome rolling gate. And today, a brand new sidewalk is being installed between the school and the lot, meaning visitors and children will not have to walk through the parking lot to get to the main entrance of the school. This is a huge safety improvement and I'm thrilled to see it.

All in all, this upgrade has made a very nice street look even better.

Edited by author 11-25-2009 12:25 PM
tires and metal waste (we don't have much of that because of the junkers) are picked up by the city for free. Fly dumping is illegal, we cannot get hung up on it and do nothing about resolving the other issues. When you see it - report it.


from the Streets and San site:

We do not accept car parts (for tires, call for a special free pick-up).
Please call the Streets and Sanitation, (847) 866-2940,

I wonder what solutions there are to fly dumping; at this point, our garbage cans are more than sufficient, though we are eagerly awaiting the recycling cart (our bin is almost always overflowing.)

The sad truth is, though, that fly dumping is a problem now. Streets & San has very kindly waived the fee when we called in a police report, but I don't see this as a long-term solution. When tires cost $4 per tire, tires were scattered throughout the neighborhood. What kind of enforcement is going to be effective in addressing this problem?

Keeping in mind that many Multi-Family buildings have their own service - and, Mary, if a yard is attracting rats, you can always call the Health Department.

Hello neighbors...I'm adding my two cents regarding the garbage issue. I'm single and don't have a problem paying "my share" of school taxes and fees for the "common good". I recycle and reuse religiously, but to many people abuse the system. I've talked to other responsible neighbors who've requested a "special pick-up" only to discover someone has added garbage to their pile and expense. I have a multi-family household living next door who tend to keep garbage in their yard (the critters love it)and constantly overflow their can - I feel households like that should be charged extra and required to add a 2nd can - for the "common good!"

http://www.cityofevanston.org/departments/...pdf/solid_waste.pdf

This is last night's presentation on garbage, recycling and yardwaste upheaval.

Michele - I hope you are better.

Thanks to Jeanne and Omar for attending and keeping the watch. Let's have a big turnout on Dec 7 and how about a brunch after? Anyone who has not attended, join us. Contact me.

Thank-you to the folks who made it to court: so sorry I bailed; I will be there on the 7th, though!

Better than Average Lady:

You are going to do us proud on the Mayor's budget committee.

We should all pay the same for a routine pick up. Rich or poor, you pay more for add'l service.

Did anyone else notice that the Chicago Tribune made a special note about Omar in it's big "how we doin'" wrap-around last Sunday? Very nice.

To put in my two cents, although the garbage trucks do pay a tipping fee, I would guess that the major part of the operating expenses are salaries, insurance and truck purchase and maintainance. The truck has to make a stop at each address, regardless of how much trash is at each address. Each bin has to be handled, no matter how much is in each bin. We have a four person household. We barely fill one garbage cart but overfill the recycle bin. However, both still must be picked up.

We have perhaps 15 households in my alley. If there were one big recycle container that everyone dumped into, and so the truck made only one stop, that might save some time and money. And would require perhaps ten extra steps from me.

When it comes to wealth, the more money you have, the more you can pay for others to cart away your trash, such as, when you hire a landscape crew, the crew hauls away your leaves. The fancy appliance outfit hauls away your old fridge. As I ride my bike through alleys, I don't notice more trash or heavier bins in wealthier neighborhoods. More like one very expensive wine bottle as opposed to cases of beer bottles.

Vito is correct for the sewer tax because some of our biggest property tax exempt entities are also the biggest water users and otherwise would have received new sewers at our expense just like they get everything else.

Not so with the garbage, recycling and leaf collection.

Karen, Ryan,

In the Peoples Republic of Evanston the Council passes,endorses or approves many "do-goods".

The problem arises in implementing them, especially where money is concerned. A reason why they should receive a Darwin Finance Award.

BTW one reason they are on the water bill rather than property tax bill is that non-profits also pay.

In terms of garbage, I believe you should pay for what you get. Basic sanitation is paid for by municipal - taxes, fees, etc. Additional services such as additional cans, pickups etc should be charged to those who use the service. It is not complicated, this is how private collection works. The more solid wast you have, the more you pay, I agree this modifies behavior.

I have asked for an updated map from groot showing showing recycling participation, ot not.

Hi Omar. Glad to hear that things are moving forward. It seems that the ploy of blaming bad actions on drug use is not quite working. Of course I'm all for folks getting help as needed but to me it sounded like it was just an excuse...

Vito, if other cities can accomplish a more equitable sharing of the cost of trash collection and disposal, while encouraging trash volume reduction, certainly they have scarce resources as well. And of course, we have the intellect at City Hall to figure out a way to make "fair" also "efficient."

Why endorse a Climate Action Plan then ignore it?

Innovation takes intellectual capital (which we have, right?), effort (we have more City employees per capita than some similar sububrs, right?) and will (we don't lack that, do we?).

Doing the same thing over and over just gives the same results. Raise taxes without considering innovation? It seems silly and wasteful. Why can't the staff spend some time considering innovation or at least looking at those cities who have innovated?