This scattergram map shows illegal trash pick ups by the City in downtown and business areas of Sacramento from July - June, 2007. Note the absence of red dots in the lower right quadrant - the Power Inn Area. |
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CITY SOLID WASTE MANAGERS PRAISE ALLIANCE MEMBERS FOR EASING THEIR ILLEGAL DUMPING BURDEN
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In a recent meeting with the City’s General Manager of Solid Waste Edison Hicks, Program Manager Dawn Carlson told him of The Alliance efforts to remove trash and litter. Hicks had little knowledge about Alliance beautification and litter removal programs, and admitted he had been baffled why there are so few calls to his office in recent years about illegal dumping in the Power Inn Area. He wanted a first-hand look.
So on Friday, April 17, Hicks and Integrated Waster Supervisor William Skinner met with Carlson and Abel and Omar of the clean up crew, to discuss what items the crew collects, and the Adopt-A-Road program. Carlson said they are impressed with how much The Alliance effort saves the City in time and money. “According to the map they showed me, from July, ‘07 to June, ’08 they received only 16 calls for illegal dumping in the Power Inn Area, compared to at least 50 calls in other business districts the same size,” she said.
The crew told the group about hot illegal dumping spots and how often they pick up illegally dumped refuse. Since The Alliance initiated a four-days-a-week clean-up program at a cost of over $80,000 a year, the major refuse the City is asked to pick up are large or dangerous items such as abandoned cars, motor homes and green or hazardous waste (oil, etc).
Hicks and Skinner mentioned the “Solid Waste and Recycling Facility Fee” that the City had once considered to alleviate costs for clean-up and Code Enforcement, but said that the Solid Waste Dept. hasn’t been able to justify it since there have been so few calls for trash clean up in this area.
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St. Patrick's Day "Bridge to Bridge" ride crossing the Watt Ave. bridge on a lunchtime bike ride |
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A MILLION MILES BEGINS WITH 5 MILES
In 2008, Sacramento region hit a milestone of one million miles for bike trips logged during “May is Bike Month” and this year the goal is to meet the challenge once again.
To get riders geared up for another Million Mile May, Power Inn Alliance has teamed with CalSTRS for lunchtime bike rides. Twenty-seven riders have already joined two “Bridge to Bridge” rides on March 17 and April 23. The easy five-mile rides took 50 minutes to complete, riding from Guy West Bridge to the Watt Ave. Bridge along the American River Parkway.
“It’s such a fun ride,” said CalSTRS employee Teresa Gonzales. “ People who haven’t ridden in 20 years are getting back on their bikes and pledging miles.”
Lunch rides are open to all riders of all speeds. Bring a bike and meet the team at 11:30 at the west side parking lot, May 7, 13, and 28. And on May 21, the team will ride to the Capitol for BikeFest, a citywide bike celebration.
As a Transportation Management Association, The Alliance is asking for pledges to bike ride to reach Million Mile May. Register www.mayisbikemonth.com. Beginning May 1, log all cycling miles for prizes and to achieve personal goals. If biking to work is difficult, replace one trip a week with biking instead of driving for errands or recreation. Every mile counts.
For more information, contact Dawn at dawn@powerinn.org.
Click here for May is Bike Month |
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