Bag the New Leaf Pickup Policy
Statement of Alderman Scott Spiker
Yesterday, the leadership of the Department of Public Works overreacted.
In testimony before the Public Works Committee, they announced a new policy that would require residents to bag their leaves instead of raking them into the street. Setting aside the burden that this would place on our constituents and on our already overworked DPW staff, with zero advance notice to the Common Council and the communities we serve, the leadership simply announced this seismic shift in how we do business.
I oppose this change and will work with my colleagues to undo it. It would disproportionately affect seniors for whom raking leaves from city trees already presents a challenge. It would tax residents by requiring them to purchase brown paper bags to adhere to the new city policy. It would sow discord amongst neighbors who will now have to bag up the leaves that blow over from surrounding properties repeatedly. It will prevent the efficient collection of leaves by staff, as they will have to manually pick up all of these bags sitting out near the curb, blocking the terrace area and inhibiting parking.
And why will residents have to do all of this? So that DPW leadership can make up for the mistakes of the past. A late fall leaf drop combined with an early snowstorm and cold weather led to a pileup of leaves that were not collected in the spring before heavy April rainfall. Flooding occurred, though it was initially claimed not to be due to catch basins clogged by leaves as opposed to trash and other debris.
But instead of saying that this was a once-in-a-blue-moon unlucky break or looking at what led to the failures in leaf pickup, the department leadership overreacted by instituting a huge policy shift that will affect residents each and every year. This is intemperate and ill-considered. I mean to reverse it.
Our residents cannot be taxed and burdened by missteps that the city made. They deserve better.
NOTE: This press release was submitted to Urban Milwaukee and was not written by an Urban Milwaukee writer. While it is believed to be reliable, Urban Milwaukee does not guarantee its accuracy or completeness.
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