Mailbag: Talking trash competition

Re: “Too many trash haulers,” Mailbag, July 21. I was surprised to see a letter to the editor in the July 21 Valley Sun by Charles Gelhaar, soliciting residents to complain about too many trash trucks. Mr. Gelhaar chairs the Public Works & Traffic Commission. I quote: “If you agree with me, [then] please contact our City Council members ...”

Such a one-sided request is a poor way to sample public opinion because it asks only for a one-sided response. Our decisions should be balanced, and if residents are asked their opinion by a city commissioner, then it should be done in a balanced way.

I disagree with the opinion.

Of course it would be nice to have fewer trucks. We could just ban all trucks from La Cañada Flintridge. That would certainly make it easier to ride bicycles, as was suggested in Mr. Gelhaar’s letter.

I am a regular bicycle rider and bicycle commuter and have not had problems with trash trucks, which in my experience are driven in a professional manner. Recent bad experiences have involved cars driven by individuals texting and talking on cellphones.

What about single-sourcing our trash service?

Single-source contracts invite corruption and arrogance. If, as indicated in Mr. Gelhaar’s letter, we are the only city in the United States (I doubt this!) allowing multiple waste-hauling trucks, then we are the only sensible city remaining. Let’s set a good example for others.

I have previously lived in three communities with single-provider service. In all three, I encountered problems exacerbated by the monopolistic nature of the trash service. I have lived in one community where I have had consistently good and prompt service. That city is La Cañada Flintridge.

We already have sanctioned monopolies for power and for cable services. I have encountered problems with both providers. Let’s not add to our frustrations by shutting out competition in our trash service.

In order to maintain a healthy competition, it is logically necessary to have the trucks of more than one company on our streets. That is the price of avoiding a service monopoly, and is part of our free enterprise society.

Peter Wannier

Owner and General Manager

The Flintridge Bookstore & Coffeehouse

--

Corruption is inevitable

I strongly disagree with Mr. Gelhaar’s argument that there are too many trash haulers and that La Cañada needs to go to an “exclusive franchise” agreement with only one company. I don’t want to read in a future news article that its been discovered that some City Hall official has awarded the franchise to his wife’s cousin. There’s too much potential for shenanigans. We live in La Cañada. Not Bell Gardens.

Trent Sanders

La Cañada