Too Early To Give In To Waste Management

For nearly all of July, Waste Management created a mess and a public health menace by locking out its workers. Pickups were missed for as long as three weeks. Residents had to leave rotting garbage by the curb because a pickup might happen any day.

So what should you do about your garbage bill for the July-August-September quarter? If you have already paid it, Oakland city officials talk about negotiating a credit for you on some future bill.

But should you pay now if you have not already paid? City officials would lead you to the slaughter. For example, in her Aug. 30, 2007 newsletter, councilmember Quan write, "The City advises that [residential]customers pay their bill and receive the credit on their next bill."

How do you know whether you'll get a credit on your next bill, and how much it will be? You're asked to trust City officials.

We call on mayor Dellums, the city attorney and other officials to demand that Waste Management cancel all residents' bill for the July-August-September quarter.

Odor of City trash policy

It doesn't matter whether or not Waste Management missed your pickups. Everyone endured the stink and the public health risk caused by weeks-old garbage rotting all over Oakland.

The principle of triple damages is well-established in law. A penalty is necessary so that Waste Management learns it is costly to break a solemn contract, which is exactly what the corporation did by planning an unnecessary lockout for months in advance and then carrying it out.

You are the Waste Management customer, but the city council signs a contract with a garbage collection service. Maybe that's why both Waste Management and California Waste Solutions contributed thousands of dollars to councilmember Quan's 2006 campaign for a $100 million palace library downtown. What compelling interest did garbage companies have in such a boondoggle, which voters recognized as such and turned down?

When you do not pay a garbage bill, the WM-Oakland contract leads to the City threatening you with a lien on your home. The process is usually routine, but city attorney Russo, although ignoring the triple-damages issue, does see residents' anger. He says, "We're not putting liens on anyone who says they didn't get service [in July]. The burden of proof lies with Waste Management." ("Trash hauler could face customer revolt on bills," San Francisco Chronicle, August 26, 2007)

If you let your bill for the July-August-September quarter sit on your desk, what will Waste Management do? The charges become past due after Sept. 30. WM might demand payment or carry over an amount to the next quarterly statement. You have the option of telling Waste Management that it should cancel the entire July-August-September bill.

Then let's see how the city council and the city attorney handle the situation.