We Are All the Solution

In the densest and poorest neighborhoods of Los Angeles, having garbage littering the street is a reality of daily life. Such a big problem that District 1 Councilman Gil Cedillo allocated $1 million to a cleanup program in neighborhoods like Lincoln Heights, Westlake and Pico-Union.

Hundreds of tons of garbage, from paper and bags to furniture and mattresses, were picked up.

In District 9, which covers parts of South Los Angeles, Councilman Curren Price has implemented his own project. Combining the efforts of employees from several agencies and volunteer groups on the weekends, the project is tackling piles of garbage left on sidewalks and alleys.

The garbage issue certainly deserves the attention of elected officials, and we think that devoting more city resources to address it is necessary. A sizable part of the pileups might be caused by unscrupulous garbage collectors who abandon their loads in public areas at night, without any regard for the law.

However, we think that the most logical solution to the problem of garbage on the streets must start with a change in the attitude and behavior of every resident. The concept could not be simpler: do not leave any garbage on the street. Do not dispose of papers or food trash, or abandon furniture on public streets.

Of course, the city should devote more resources to this issue. But we residents must learn to use them: for example, we can arrange for the city to pick up a big or heavy item that we plan to throw away.

In some cases, this much-needed change will require education and awareness campaigns. Beyond making our barrios look ugly, garbage poses a serious threat to the health and welfare of residents.