50% Budget Cut Idea: Street Cleaning
05
November
11/5/2009:
Today’s Photo of the Day turned into more of an idea: Do we really need such regular street cleaning in Hoboken?
Can save more than 50% per year!
Most streets in Hoboken get cleaned once per week. Others (like Washington) get cleaned five times per week. After snapping this photo of how ineffective the street cleaners were with even a few leaves on the ground – it made me wonder why we needed this service as often as taxpayers are paying for it!
Despite the slobs that live in and frequent Hoboken, our city isn’t that worn down – and think even as a temporary budget cut (say a year or two) – we can all deal with cleaning twice per month on regular streets, and twice a week on Washington (say Tuesdays and Fridays).
One benefit might be is – that if our city does happen to become more noticeably filled with trash, perhaps we as a community might start caring more about it? (and act less inconsiderate?)
November 6th 2009 - 00:51:04 |
Come on man, every 3 months I read some variation of that and I have yet to hear of some loony guy running around Washington Street slapping yuppies. It’s just talk, don’t get all bent out of shape about it.
In response to blahblahblah who said:
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November 6th 2009 - 08:01:13 |
But Easy, I hope you see my point, we complain about the most trivial of things. Step back take a look at your own life (in general, not yours per say) and see how good we have it compared to those street sweepers. We need to move forward, stop complaining about so much and just appreciate life, cause it goes by quick.
In response to Easy-E who said:
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November 6th 2009 - 09:03:31 |
I think we’re all forgetting about the cost of having all new signs installed to mark the changes in cleanup times. Although I’m pretty sure that if someone in office was friends with someone who can profit from a batch of new signs, we might see some changes.
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November 6th 2009 - 09:18:33 |
tween, as long as the days don’t change I wouldn’t think changing the signage matters, especially if it’s only a temporary furlough.
In response to tween_spirit who said:
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November 6th 2009 - 09:20:01 |
My zany idea about litter clean up.
1. Install more trash cans.
2. Redefine the job. Take away the brooms and give them ticket pads. Have them hand out tickets to folks that litter.
3. Reduce staff as need after seeing how many ticket givers are needed.
4. The punishment for littering should be a fine and mandatory community service, going around and picking up trash.
Picking up the trash is treating a symptom of the problem it isn’t even a cure. You have to fight the real problem, the litterers. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure.
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November 6th 2009 - 09:25:13 |
People may complain about the most trivial of things but where are the budget reductions? We’re yet to see any real cuts of substance since Zimmer became Mayor. Do you have any other ideas?
In response to blahblahblah who said:
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November 6th 2009 - 09:52:31 |
How about these ideas:
- Have the Parking Authority work only 2 days a week. They work five days now and I believe 2 nights until 8 or 9PM. When you need your permit renewed it is Tuesday and Thursday…that’s it.
- All recycling 1 night a week. No more of this confusing 2 day a week. Let them pick up Cardboard and Cans/Bottles onto 1 truck and seperate back at home base.
- Determine the 100-150 non-Hoboken students attending the public schools costing us $25,000 a year on average and let them go to JC or UC where they actually live.
- Consolidate to either 1 or 2 firestations instead of the 4-5 we have now. A square mile needs 4-5 Firehouses which are staffed 24/7? Also make sure the 13th Street House is closed so we do not need to see these guys hanging out outside female watching all day on the tax payers dime.
- Charge a premium to developers for whatever land is left in our square mile. No PILOTS, no abatements, nothing!
- Get rid of Joel Mestre. Do we really need a crook just like Bernard Kerik in charge of Homeland Security for our tiny town at 125K a year plus bennies?
- Sell advertising on Dawn Zimmers forehead
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November 6th 2009 - 09:58:11 |
Whewwhewwhew for Mayor!
In response to whewwhewwhew who said:
- Have the Parking Authority work only 2 days a week. They work five days now and I believe 2 nights until 8 or 9PM. When you need your permit renewed it is Tuesday and Thursday…that’s it.
- All recycling 1 night a week. No more of this confusing 2 day a week. Let them pick up Cardboard and Cans/Bottles onto 1 truck and seperate back at home base.
- Determine the 100-150 non-Hoboken students attending the public schools costing us $25,000 a year on average and let them go to JC or UC where they actually live.
- Consolidate to either 1 or 2 firestations instead of the 4-5 we have now. A square mile needs 4-5 Firehouses which are staffed 24/7? Also make sure the 13th Street House is closed so we do not need to see these guys hanging out outside female watching all day on the tax payers dime.
- Charge a premium to developers for whatever land is left in our square mile. No PILOTS, no abatements, nothing!
- Get rid of Joel Mestre. Do we really need a crook just like Bernard Kerik in charge of Homeland Security for our tiny town at 125K a year plus bennies?
- Sell advertising on Dawn Zimmers forehead
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November 6th 2009 - 10:36:21 |
The biggest problem with the street cleaning this part of year is leaves. We want trees in this town and that leaves alot of leaves on the streets. The truck can’t pick up the leaves as normal trash. The city should purchase a leave vac truck and when the street is scheduled, go and pick up the leaves with the vac we can then create mulch with the leaves in the parkswe should also purchase leave blowers for the parks rather then ee’s using racks to move them to the vac. This would make our streets look better.
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November 6th 2009 - 11:07:31 |
Whew – you make some very good points, but why would JC & UC parents send their children to our schools when those towns have much better facilities than we do?
In response to whewwhewwhew who said:
- Have the Parking Authority work only 2 days a week. They work five days now and I believe 2 nights until 8 or 9PM. When you need your permit renewed it is Tuesday and Thursday…that’s it.
- All recycling 1 night a week. No more of this confusing 2 day a week. Let them pick up Cardboard and Cans/Bottles onto 1 truck and seperate back at home base.
- Determine the 100-150 non-Hoboken students attending the public schools costing us $25,000 a year on average and let them go to JC or UC where they actually live.
- Consolidate to either 1 or 2 firestations instead of the 4-5 we have now. A square mile needs 4-5 Firehouses which are staffed 24/7? Also make sure the 13th Street House is closed so we do not need to see these guys hanging out outside female watching all day on the tax payers dime.
- Charge a premium to developers for whatever land is left in our square mile. No PILOTS, no abatements, nothing!
- Get rid of Joel Mestre. Do we really need a crook just like Bernard Kerik in charge of Homeland Security for our tiny town at 125K a year plus bennies?
- Sell advertising on Dawn Zimmers forehead
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November 6th 2009 - 11:11:57 |
All these “trivial things” are why the budget is as bloated as it is. I guarantee you we overpay the city workers we need more than we spend on all the trivialities you complain about. Shoot, 7 of the top 10 paid public safety workers in the state work in Hoboken and I bet if we cut their pay to what their peers in surrounding towns make we could save a few hundred grand or so right there (not to mention all the other supervisors in town). And I’d also bet we pay folks to do jobs that just don’t need to exist at all more than the stuff you complain about. It isn’t about who’s life is better, it is about wtf are we spending money on this stuff for? If the city can find a way to do things better for less $, then just do it already. And if these guys (among others) don’t need to be on the payroll, then get rid of them. And if they are needed, give them the tools they need to actually do a good job. IMHO, giving them a trash can, broom and lobby pan means we are setting them to do their jobs in the least efficient manner possible.
In response to blahblahblah who said:
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November 6th 2009 - 11:14:16 |
Street Cleaning has nothing to do with cleaning the streets. Please do not be naive, it has everything to do with drumming up another opportunity to ticket people.
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November 6th 2009 - 15:58:13 |
MATT, pal my thoughts werent related to money or budget. Everything can be perfect in this town, budget, clean streets, etc and someone will complain about something…its disgusting….those can man have little if any impact on the budget…if you want, perhaps we get together,,that 150 plus page document ihave for past three years, will show whats being paid and what is making the budget out of whack…you and I for council,…lets do it…we def will make a change…im brighter then you think…hahahah
In response to matt_72 who said:
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