East Oakland residents complain to city about illegal dumping

OAKLAND, Calif. (KTVU) -- A group of East Oakland neighbors is fighting back against what they call the constant and growing problem of illegal dumping in their neighborhood.

The group claims the city is not doing enough to stop the problem.

"This is atrocious.  This stinks.  It smells.  You see the hypodermic needles," said Ava Carrie, who owns property  in East Oakland. 

Neighbors call the trash on Hawley Street near 71st Avenue and surrounding areas in East Oakland a constant eyesore and a safety concern.

"Here's a pile of rotting fruit, vegetables. This is going to attract pests, rodents, insects and obviously going to turn into a health hazard," said homeowner Grant Kien.

He bought his first home in East Oakland after moving from San Francisco a year ago. 

Property owners tell KTVU  they've contacted the city about cleaning up the trash.  But  within days of it being picked up, another pile appears.

"Cleaning up is not enough.  There needs to be some kind of a plan," said Liz Rosas who says she sees the trash when she walks her dog.

 Kien came up with a plan to start a petition.

"It's kind of disgusting to look at. It's something I've been seeing everyday," said Kien. 

He's gathering signatures to pressure city leaders to help clean up and enforce existing laws against illegal dumping.

He showed KTVU two mattresses along Bancroft and 98th Avenue.

"I noticed this sitting here and that was at least 3 or 4 days ago. But if we go further down, there are gong to be things that I know have been here for weeks," said Kien.

Neighbors suspect the dumping is done by both people who live in the area and those who come from outside. 

"I know if this had been in a different part of Oakland -- Piedmont, Montclair -- this never would sit this long," said Ava Carrie, who told KTVU she calls the city often to report illegal dumping. 

Neighbors want the city to put in dumpsters and more.

"I'd like to see cameras that can see license plates, drivers driving their vehicles and then have them prosecuted," said Carrie.

Homeowner Kien says so far, he's gathered about 120 signatures; his goal is one thousand. He and other residents hope to present the petition to the city council next month.

Oakland's public works department tells KTVU  most of the time, crews remove trash piles within three days and that the city spends  more than $5 million each year removing debris from illegal dumping.