THE LATEST 

First, thank you for all of your signatures, comments, messages and emails! We've received 498 signatures since we started this 55 days ago. Apologies for the delay in writing this critical update. I've had my hands full with starting a new executive role in the middle of a launch while also wrapping up client work and managing some other obligations, but rest assured, I am fully committed to seeing this through, for all of our sakes, because enough is enough...  

Needless to say our petition and my collation of the multitude of complaints that have been shared here have been heard by LA County, the DPW (Department of Public Works) and UWS (Universal Waste Systems).

Following my conversations with their Director Mark Pestrella, Deputy Director Shari Afshari and Assistant Director Miki Esposito between April 9 and April 27 it was made clear that while they understood a large segment of the community is very unhappy with UWS' service, unless they are in violation of their contract there is very little they can do. And even then they must give UWS the opportunity to "cure" (remedy) before termination. 

While many of us have been complaining to the County, UWS and our Altadena Town Council reps, somehow (don't ask me how) this has not been documented thoroughly enough for DPW to have felt it was actionable. 

If you can believe this, UWS and DPW said that until the petition and the documentation I shared, they had no idea the issues were this significant and that to their knowledge, all complaints received had been resolved.

The bottom line is that for anything meaningful to happen they need to have this documented through their channels, so now we have more work to do... 

WHAT YOU NEED TO DO – NOW  

Please email all of your complaints (past and present), concerns and misgivings to the dedicated email addresses that have now been set up to document this. Even if you have already emailed or called in the past, this is separate and important.

Send your emails to: 
Public Works - Trash@dpw.lacounty.gov 
Copy UWS / Michelle Newsome - michelle@uwscompany.com
Copy Beautiful Altadena - beautifulaltadenaog@gmail.com

I cannot understate how critical this is. They need to hear from every one of us, regardless of whether or not you signed the petition, loud and clear. If they don't actually hear from every single one of us, loud and clear, this is going to get blown off again and nothing will change. WE ALL MUST EMAIL.

It's also incredibly important you make it clear you aren't interested in a one time fix – you want a new trash hauler option. It was evident in this process that what UWS and DPW are planning to do is to say they got 500 complaints and 500 complaints were resolved so that they can move on. We ALL need to be clear that is not the remedy we are seeking here if we want to see any change or force the County to revisit their contract.

WHAT'S NEXT 

Later this month DPW is planning a "Roundtable" conversation with 10 "Altadena Stakeholders" (of which I am one) along with UWS representatives. I do not know who the others are at this time or what they hope to achieve with this but that's what they're doing next. When the date for that is finalized and I have more information, I'll share another update. 

On May 27, the ongoing issues with UWS will be the topic of conversation for the next ACONA (Altadena Coalition of Neighborhood Associations) meeting. Beautiful Altadena (I) will be presenting and reps from LA County, DPW, UWS and the Altadena Town Council will all be present. In case you missed it, Elliot Gold has retired from ACONA and Nic Arnzen (Altadena Town Council, Tract 4602) has taken the reins. We'll share more details about that meeting when they're available. You can also find them on the ACONA website here: http://www.aconaonline.org/index.html

The County (Supervisor Kathryn Barger and her Field Deputy, Sussy Nemer), remain aware of all of this and while it is not under their direct purview (this is DPW) they are keeping close watch.

BEAR CARTS 

Bear activity continues to be seen further and further south. Still need bear carts? This is what was shared by DPW: "With regards to Bear Carts, the sign ups continue to be open and anyone who wants bear carts can sign up to get them. People can sign up through our bear cart program webpage:

https://pw.lacounty.gov/epd/swims/Residents/BearResistantCartProgram.aspx

We have a bear cart for each different type (black, green, blue).  We recommend that all residents get black and green since food waste should go in the green cart now. Bear carts are currently only available in 96 gallon size, however if you have a smaller size you can get a 96 gallon bear cart for no additional charge.... 

...

That's the latest for now. PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE send those direct emails with all of your complaints, concerns and desires for a new trash hauler and share this with your friends and neighbors. They need to be absolutely inundated and the message has to be clear for us to get any resolution. Let's keep up the fight and not back down! 

Thank you for your support ensuring Altadena is heard loud and clear! 

~shawna @ Beautiful Altadena (Official Group) 

*Image: Unmanned UWS trucks parked on Mendocino and Lake taken on May 11 by Beautiful Altadena