So a neighbor (or more) have been asking for a response

[salin]

from the time I bought a home in a "transitional" neighborhood (that is, there is economic development going on within four blocks - spreading another eightblocks.. an up and coming area over the next ten years... but still rather iffy) - last summer until now I have had an irritating problem.

Someone (or more) leave the refuse that doesn't get picked up by the city trash collection on a small corner of the back of my lot. It is behind a detached garage - so I didn't always see it for a while after it occured (until I got wise and started to trek back there regularly).

It goes on the land next to the alley (where trash is picked up) - so I put up a privacy fence to block off much of my yard. But per regs - there is still a strip of land of a couple of feet along the main alley, and a side alley. And within a month - more refuse suddenly appears on the small strip of land. Because the land is mine - even though the fence isn't on it to give room for trucks (such as trash collection) - I risk huge fines if the refuse sits too long.

Since I moved I have been working about 60-70 hour weeks, and often go away for the mini weekend that I have. Hard to take a lot of time to deal with this pain.

So two weeks ago (about 3 weeks after I had the fence put up) - it starts again. Several bags and boxes - and a slew of exposed phone books (wtf?). Within days other crap starts appearing - including a couple of car batteries, panes of broken glass, and a huge metal frame for what looks like a futon couch.

I have put in several reports to the city per illegal dumping, but it was only this last one which got a sympathetic response (probably after looking up and seeing multiple earlier responses.) If I could document... (including, they suggested, going through bags to look for an envelope.. geez what pain - to go throught these *ssh*les garbage...) that would be a great help - and due to the ongoing problem, I am now eligible to pick up two city NonDumping signs.

I have, frankly, felt like a victim in this scenario. I have spent hundreds of dollars hauling off other peoples' trash (to avoid thousands in fines from the health dept per dumped - sitting refuse). My trash always gets picked up (that is - it isn't that the city doesn't pick up all trash) - but this person or people just dump - out right.

So today I feel better.. I will get the signs - and I splurged (something a year plus of long hours allows me to afford) and got a digital video camera... Instead of being enraged when I walk to the back of the land in the evening when I get home (and feeling rather helpless)... I will record the newly dumped trash (a daily log, if yoiu will).. with a date stamp.

While I doubt that the taping will solve the problem, I have hope that the combination of the city signs, and the knowledge that someone is taping daily - will discourage and take care of the problem.

At the least - it makes me finally feel more in control of the situation - even on my very limited time schedule.

Grrr. Just had to b*tch. Thanks.

[radwriter0555]

1. Okay, I MIGHT have a solution for you. Depends on how your property

is set up and how creative you are.

Can you figure out ANY way to install a dummy camera, complete with an important looking cable, and massive signs saying "This area under 24 Hour Video Surveillance", etc.? Along with the "no dumping" signs of course.

Dummy cameras are a great deterent. Let me know what you think; It's a modest investment compared to the hassles and dump fees.

[salin]

3. hadn't thought of that...great idea

esp to compliment my current action. Several folks have suggested a camera - but nothing in the house can "see" the area because of the garage. But that doesn't mean a "dummy" wouldnt work. And I know just the person (who does auctions and sees discarded "technology" all the time who could find the stuff needed for this. Great idea.

[radwriter0555]

7. Excellent, and make a big deal about installing it too. Now, another

idea, depending on where you live, is barrier planting, as in putting in plants that are a nuisance as in, with thorns, brambles, etc.

If you're in a warm climate, ground cover bouganvilla is great for this, in colder climates, berry bushes, with all their thorns. Of course it depends on how the the whole thing is set up. But people don't mess with thorny bushes.

Good luck. It will work out fine.

[radwriter0555]

8. BTW, there are plenty of way cheap dummies out there... check

this out http://www.preventsecurity.com/category.asp?c=28





These are under $7.00 each.

[progmom]

2. well that just sucks

x(

but good for you - doing something about it!

[salin]

4. Sadly that for months

due to my lack of time - I really didn't have a proactive response. They stopped dumping over the winter (guess the cold was too much for these folks) - but last fall and this spring.... arghh!

Feels great to have a real response.

The City folks also said I should call each time more is dumped (that is not just each over all incident - but daily if that is the case) - as it will get more attention quickly. I wish they had given me that advice when I called in with the complaint earlier in the year.

[NJCher]

5. I have that problem

My pool, which is built into a mountain, is actually above my house and it has a long row of privacy trees along it. I can't even see the street from my house nor can I see the pool because it is up the mountain. This is a dead end street.

I have landscaper jerks who love to dump off their client's leaves there because it costs them money to take them into the city composting station.

So I know your anger and frustration. I may rig up one of those "digital cams" myself.


Cher

[salin]

6. I had considered planting

a bunch of prickly shrubs as a deterent - but then I would be stuck dealing with the darn bushes. The fake camera deal sounds like a good way to go - and for me along with the visual of my daily taping of new refuse. There were a buch of kids out when I did it tonight with the new cam (from several families) - they were a bit a twitter while watching me - I waved - and kept taping (didn't want to interrupt the audio). Those families/neighbors, at least, in day one will know about the video taping.