This article originally published in my weekly column for the Valley News Group of papers (San Fernando Valley, California).
The Los Angeles City Board of Public Works continues to recommend to the Mayor and City Council that that the City be divided up into 11 waste-hauling districts and that one company be exclusively licensed to pick up trash in each district. The City would set the rates the licensees could charge. Supporters of the proposal argue that this system would enable the City to keep better track of environmental and safety violations that may occur with respect to each hauler.
Opponents of the recommendation argue that the new proposed franchise system will create an expensive bureaucracy. Opponents further argue that the proposal, if implemented, will favor the big haulers and discriminate against the small haulers, because the latter will be unable to implement all of the environmental/safety safeguards at the prices set by the City.
Whether you favor or oppose the Board of Public Works’ proposal, now is the time to weigh in with your opinion by contacting your City Councilmember to let your view be known. Also, the United Chambers of Commerce’s Government Affairs Committee is scheduled to discuss the Board of Public Works’
recommendation at its February 27, 2012 meeting in Sherman Oaks. Call Marian Jocz, United Chambers’ Executive Director, at (818) 981-4491, for meeting details.