Dear Editor,
I read that a garbage strike is looming. This is concerning on several fronts. It must not be made to happen.
As is well known, it is a constant uphill battle between weary citizens and increasingly aggressive and proliferating pests. These include rodents as big as motorbikes (make that stout pups); roaches looking to make motels of residences (that would be yours); flies that race ahead of the jetstream to make themselves nuisances, while helping themselves to the rich available fare (furnished by uncaring unclean citizens); and assorted unknown pestilences that prey upon flesh and food (think Mosaic Egypt). To restate the obvious, all of this unnerves citizens, just as they were about to breathe a sigh of relief and get comfortable.
I hear it is a money problem. Seems to be a perpetual one, and there is empathy. But that does not immunize against torments, diseases, and every manner of fear. While immediate surroundings might be clean and clear of garbage (through private efforts), there are such dangers as embodied in the airborne, waterborne, and land borne. Then there are such realities as food handlers, caregivers, commuters, and shared space, among other considerations. These neighbours might have been exposed because of their either neglected or underserved community during an actual strike. They could be stealth carriers, as these things usually are.
Whatever the woes of City Hall, citizens will be the ones feeling the pain and doing the crying. Central government runs the high risk of bearing the brunt of the blame and anger; it is looked to for solutions and relief. Thus, it is imperative that central government move quickly through preemptive action, early intervention, and hands-on involvement to avoid any reversal of what was realized on the ground in the last year and change. Reversal would be a step in the wrong direction, and injure.
Editor, collection has adhered to a schedule and been consistent; the streets manifest a level of acceptability, and the drains flow in places. Less garbage accumulates in these public places, as more official removal occurs and on a timely basis.
In the circumstances, I submit that central government cannot leave this to City Hall, which might be delegating by escalating, through playing dead. It has exhibited signs of being brain dead (parking meters); financially dead (garbage payments); and morally dead (multiple unsound practices). Therefore, central government, because of its vested interest in maintaining certain minimum standards, has no choice but to continue what was started on its watch. Garbage collection is one such thing. This is more than image and PR and feeling good. Central government cannot afford to be a Sitting Bull on this one; it has to get moving. It is about taking action, taking charge, and taking matters where they have to be taken, regardless of who and what is involved. I repeat: taking matters wherever they lead to rescue citizens.
These same citizens do not wish to hear about problems. I don’t. They want answers and solutions. I do, too.
Editor, here is the first and last word on this potential strike: It must not happen. Not now! Not later! If it does then, from my perspective, central government would have been derelict in responding to its responsibilities and fulfilling its obligations. Failure is the word that applies. Think of this: for many people, City Hall serves no purpose, and really does not exist.
Now, if good sense and constructive preventative action falls short, and the strike becomes reality, then all of City Hall brass should be out on the streets day after day removing the garbage stockpiled. By this, I mean real garbage, not chewing gum wrappers and plastic containers. It could be the first time in a long time, that they did something meaningful and earned their keep. Let it not come to this dirty, smelly, ugly pass.
Yours faithfully,
GHK Lall
