Opinion: Stop The Garbage Rate Hike

Pacificans have until Monday, May 23, to send in their protests against the Recology garbage rate hike. The forms have to be in the city clerk’s hands by the close of the public hearing on that evening. Please copy and share these forms with friends and neighbors. The form is in the gallery to the right. 

This is the first time that locals have been given the legal process of written protest against a garbage rate hike. A complete lack of long-term oversight and a backroom process in signing the new contract with Recology have resulted in Pacifica’s paying the highest rates for garbage collection in San Mateo County. (Source: San Bruno City Council agenda report rate survey 5-10-11)

Other cities have this strange habit of caring about their citizens, negotiating contracts that better hold costs, such as solid waste collection, in check, but in the wackydoodle world of Pacifica, anything goes! Compare the proposed new Recology rates for Pacifica, San Bruno, and Millbrae:

“Citizens are sitting ducks for every trick and scam governments can think up. We are going bankrupt – food and gas are difficult to pay for and you add more fees (and) taxes? No.”  (San Bruno resident Wm. Walker’s protest quoted in the San Mateo County Times, 5-10-11)

Mr. Walker really should come through the looking glass into Pacifica and see how much commercial accounts will pay here versus San Bruno:

And check out proposed debris box price differences between the same two cities; local contractors would do well to look elsewhere:

Of course, we’re told that the lack of commercial activity in Pacifica is why residential rates are so high. Who then are our rate-oppressed business people subsidizing?  Get your protest forms in the gallery to the right, folks. This is just beginning.