One year ago, Congress defunded public media. Now that we're 100% community funded, please become a sustaining member or increase your existing membership today.
This is an archival story that predates current editorial management.
This archival content was written, edited, and published prior to LAist's acquisition by its current owner, Southern California Public Radio ("SCPR"). Content, such as language choice and subject matter, in archival articles therefore may not align with SCPR's current editorial standards. To learn more about those standards and why we make this distinction, please click here.
Garcetti Vows To Add 5,000 Trash Cans To Our Dirty, Dirty Streets
Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced during his annual State of the City address last night that he'd like to add 5,000 more garbage cans to the streets of L.A.This might not be the big news—like Uber and Lyft being allowed at LAX—but it is very practical. Garcetti promised to put 5,000 new trash cans on the streets of L.A., saying that the streets are currently "lined with broken TVs and abandoned couches," the L.A. Times reports.
A recent report indicated that there are only 700 trash cans in the nearly 500 square miles of Los Angeles, resulting in overflowing bins and garbage on the streets. We also learned that only 35 percent of L.A.'s street are cleaned on a regular basis, which might drive you crazy if you get a lot of those pricy street cleaning tickets. When it comes to those abandoned couches and other pieces of furniture, Los Angeles is shelling out $12 million every year to clean the curbs and alleys, and City Hall has thus far been ineffective at enforcing the laws against illegal dumping.
Garcetti's Clean Streets L.A. Initiative was approved last month by City Council, KPCC reports, and will be run by the Public Works Department. Teams would locate problem areas, then form "strike teams" that would clean them up. Streets would also be indexed on a scale of 1 to 3, with 3 ("very dirty") containing over 15 pieces of litter per 100 feet of curb. Assessments will also involve checking for graffiti, checking to ensure that trash receptacles are in good repair and not overflowing and ensuring that trees are in good shape.
Related:
Uber And Lyft Will Finally Be Able To Pick You Up From LAX
Movie Shoots And Street Closures Will Show Up On Waze And Google Maps
One year ago, Congress voted to defund public media, eliminating a critical $1.7 million from our budget every year going forward. But they couldn’t silence us, and we’re not going anywhere. LAist is now 100% community funded and that means we’re taking our future into our own hands and turning to you to keep local reporting strong.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
You come to LAist because you want independent reporting and trustworthy local information. Our nonprofit newsroom doesn’t answer to shareholders looking to turn a profit. Instead, we answer to you and our communities. We are free to follow facts wherever they lead and to hold power to account without fear or favor. Our only loyalty is to our readers and listeners and our mission: to inform, engage, and strengthen Southern California’s communities.
If this story helped you, please become a monthly member today to help sustain this mission. It just takes 1 minute to donate below.
Senior Vice President News, Editor in Chief
