Welcome to Spring….

Today is the official end of the hibernation period for Long Beach. Intrepid residents have begun slipping onto porches and decks to enjoy their morning coffee. Neighbors stop to catch up on the news they missed through the winter months. Bikers and joggers have returned to the boardwalk.

In Spring we walk slower, to savor the fresh air that we missed during the months inside our sealed up home. We observe what we didn’t notice when the days darkened early and our heads were bent down against the cold.

So along with the daffodils and forsythia and budding branches, the litter, the weeds and the neglect are back in full view on West Beech Street.

But the purpose of this post is not to beat the drum about litter but to arm the residents with information about what the City Code of Ordinances says about it; who’s responsible for what and who to call when there’s a problem. Taxes in Long Beach are high enough so it’s more important than ever to make sure that we are getting what we pay for.

 

Our taxes are to be used, in part, to insure that the Code of the City of Long Beach is enforced, so don’t hesitate for a moment to call the departments listed below to voice your complaint or concern.

It's a win-win: your community will get cleaner and the city will receive much needed revenue from enforcement fines.

Sanitation Code Sec. 23

The sidewalks and curbs, or boardwalk adjacent to and abutting upon each and every commercial, mercantile, business or other establishment in the city shall be kept clean and clear of any trash, refuse or other debris by the owner, operator or licensee of each such establishment. Each owner, operator or licensee of a commercial, mercantile, business or other establishment shall sweep such sidewalk and curb, or boardwalk, and also the gutter and street area adjacent to the curb to a distance of at least eighteen (18) inches from the curb, before 10:00 a.m. each day that such business or establishment is open or operated. All sweepings and other debris shall be collected and removed to private containers* by such owner, operator or licensee.

*not swept into the sewers

 

Yes, this means that every store owner and property owner is required to sweep not only the sidewalk but the gutter, 18 inches into the street, every morning before 10am.

So, if you are walking down Beech Street at 10:30 am to get a cup of coffee and see discarded cigarette butts, bottles, or any litter or trash call the office of the Sanitation Commissioner, Greg Scott at 432-3132 and give him the address, the time and the condition of the offense. Or, take a photo and e-mail it to GScott@longbeachny.org.

In commercial areas, it shall be unlawful to place any garbage, refuse or ashes upon the sidewalk or street for collection, or to permit such material or containers to remain upon the street prior to 5:00 p.m. or after 10:00 p.m.

This one kind of confuses me. But I know that it means that you can’t leave a garbage bag on the sidewalk on Friday night for sanitation pick-up on Monday morning. Garbage must be put out in reasonable advance of the sanitation pick-up and the empty cans taken off the street immediately after the sanitation dept. emptied the cans. Sidewalks are narrow enough without having to navigate around empty garbage cans left out needlessly.

Any owner or occupant of lands fronting or abutting on any street, highway, traveled road, public land, alley or square, who shall omit to make, maintain or repair the sidewalk, curb and curbstone adjoining, fronting or abutting his land as provided and required by Section 256 and/or Section 256A of the City Charter of the City of Long Beach, shall be guilty of a violation punishable for each such violation as provided in section 1-8 of this Code. Each day such violation continues shall constitute a separate violation.

Don’t wait until you trip, call the Sanitation Dept. to report cracks in the sidewalk or unsafe sidewalk conditions. And that means controlling those nasty weeds that sprout through the concrete.

Corrugated boxes, cardboard, cardboard cartons, pasteboard or similar paper materials are to be broken down and tied securely with twine. Wire or plastic binding should not be used. All bundles should be not larger than thirty-five (35) pounds in weight or four (4) feet in length. The residential community will not be required to separate corrugated materials from their solid waste stream. This provision applies to all commercial, industrial and institutional entities within the jurisdiction of the City of Long Beach.

This one is pretty self-explanatory. There should not be a big load of empty boxes on the sidewalk ever. The boxes should be ALL flattened and tied with twine.

The overflowing trash receptacles and litter, beer bottles and other garbage that accumulates in the city-owned parking lots is the responsibility of Street Maintenance, not the Sanitation Dept. The Supervisor of Street Maintenance is Vincent Deale. His phone number is 431-7174.

Or again, take a photo and e-mail to VDeale@LongBeachny.org with date and address.

Lastly, for a broken window, or other unsafe condition of a building, contact the Building Dept. Commissioner, Scott Kemins at 431-1005 or SKemins@LongBeachny.org with address.

Remember, your taxes entitle you to a safe and clean community. Get your money’s worth. If you see something, say something. Don’t let negligent property owners ruin your Spring stoll.