Bill Jaques: Modesto has become a dumping ground, and far worse
Re “Let’s stop treating streets like landfills” (Page 3A, June 30): Regarding Jeff Jardine’s article on “dumping” in Modesto and in the surrounding countryside, per usual he’s spot on. To take this issue one step further, we allow homeowners and gardeners to blow lawn clippings and pruned debris into the streets rather than pick them up and place them in the green can for composting. Not only does this happen in residential areas, but commercial businesses, too.
On any Friday morning, drive by the intersection of Oakdale Road and Wylie Drive; the gardener there blows a huge amount of lawn and plant clippings into the street.
On a larger scale, Modesto has become a city with no pride, somewhat due to there being no consequences for bad behavior. If any business owner intent on relocating here were to drive into Modesto from any direction, it would not take long before those intentions to be directed elsewhere. Panhandlers at most major intersections, trash along the roads, graffiti aplenty on fences and buildings, lawn clippings in the streets, and, of course, our abundant homeless population pushing carts throughout our city. It reminds me of a John Steinbeck novel, “Skid Row.”
Bill Jaques, Modesto
This story was originally published July 6, 2016 at 1:31 PM with the headline "Bill Jaques: Modesto has become a dumping ground, and far worse."