”
The traffic lights at Leavesley and Forest need some attention.
One waits for quite a long time to turn onto Forest or come off of
Forest onto Leavesley.
”
A long wait at traffic signal
“The traffic lights at Leavesley and Forest need some attention. One waits for quite a long time to turn onto Forest or come off of Forest onto Leavesley.”
Dear Waiting,
Red Phone wants to remind readers that any traffic related issue along Highway 152 from Leavesley, down Monterey Street to First Street through town are the responsibility of Caltrans, not the city. Nevertheless, Red Phone contacted Don Dey, city traffic engineer, who said he forwarded the complaint onto Caltrans and asked them to investigate.
“But I do know that Leavesley Road traffic signals are set to coordinate in an orderly fashion, which means they give priority to traffic on Leavesley,” he said. So good reader, while Caltrans is investigating, just remember that when traveling on side streets onto Leavesley or other larger arterial streets, you’ll probably wait longer.
“You want larger streets with more traffic to have longer green lights,” Dey said.
Intersection needs a crosswalk
“Hi Red Phone, do you know if it’s been resolved on whether the city is going to paint a crosswalk at the intersection of Luchessa and Greenfield? Many kids cross the street at that intersection to go to Las Animas school. Does someone have to get hit before the crosswalk goes in? It’s an important place for a sidewalk since many enter the school at the back gate to avoid all of the traffic at the front of the school.”
Dear Paint it Please,
The answer is three are no plans to paint a new crosswalk. Red Phone contacted Don Dey, city traffic engineer, who said the city has been in discussion with the school district.
“What we have identified is that the safe route to school is at the intersection of Luchessa and Cimino and at that intersection there are crosswalks and a crossing guard,” Dey said. “It’s one more block and it brings pedestrians to the front of the school. The principal of the school will be advising the children that that’s the direction to go.”
So good caller, walk safely to the nearest crosswalk, and have a great day.
Taking recyclables is against the law
“In regards to the people digging through your blue bins to get recyclables out, there’s a Supreme Court ruling and if I understand it right, it says there is no law that you can’t go in there. You can’t litter, but supposedly there’s a Supreme Court ruling that says you can dig through the recyclables. You might want to check it out. You’re doing a good job. Thanks.”
Dear It’s OK,
It’s not OK. There is a city ordinance that prohibits anyone except South Valley Disposal and Recycling, who city residents pay, to collect the contents of curbside trash and recycling bins.
Specifically, Gilroy Municipal Code Sec. 12.57 states that once recyclable materials are placed at the curbside or other designated collection location in a designated recycling container, the materials “shall be and become the property of the authorized recycling agent.”
Red Phone could not find a Supreme Court ruling that allows people to scavenge.
However the police and court system now have a tool to prosecute the thieves. On Aug. 29, the California State Assembly passed a bill that cracks down on recycling raiders who steal from curbside bins. The legislation, AB 1778, places requirements on recyclers who currently engage in large, cash transactions for aluminum cans, plastic and glass bottles and newspaper. The bill passed by a 43-25 vote with bipartisan support.
The bill requires recyclers to pay by check and obtain identifying information of those who bring in more than $100 worth of CRV recyclables and more than $50 worth of newspapers. Two thousand, two hundred aluminum cans have a cash value of $100; 840 pounds of newspaper has a value of $50.
AB 1778 was vigorously opposed by certain recycling companies that fought recordkeeping requirements. Representatives from San Francisco recycler Norcal Waste and the California Newspaper Publishers Association joined to support the bill. If signed by the Governor, the law will go into effect on Jan. 1, 2009.
