Why Won’t He Pay Trash Fee? He Says He Doesn’t Have Any

As far as 87-year-old Francis Craft is concerned, the city’s mandatory trash collection fee is a bunch of garbage.

Craft has not paid a trash bill since August, 1990, because, he said, he does not accumulate much waste at his home on Caballo Avenue. And the little refuse he does produce, he takes to his 29-year-old daughter’s home in La Verne.

But Glendora city officials say a 1989 city law requires that all residents pay $10.01 per month for trash collection, whether or not trash is picked up at their homes. The charges are included in bimonthly water bills.

Craft has until Feb. 19 to pay the delinquent bills or face up to $100 in fines. According to city records, he owes $154.71 in overdue trash bills and $61.77 in penalties.

Craft has been complaining about the refuse fee since it first appeared on his water bill, said Larry Shroeder, Glendora’s finance director. Craft paid the first few charges, but he has refused to pay any more, Shroeder said. He does pay his water bill.

After futile efforts to persuade Craft to pay the overdue charges, the city turned the case over to the Los Angeles County district attorney’s office.

Three charges involving municipal code infractions were filed against Craft last year, Deputy Dist. Atty. Bill Woods said. He said an arrest warrant was issued after Craft failed to appear for his arraignment in Citrus Municipal Court in West Covina.

In September, Glendora police officers escorted Craft to trial, Woods said. He was found guilty, but the judge delayed sentencing while the city put together a list of charitable agencies that might help Craft pay the bills.

But when the trial resumed Dec. 17, Craft still hadn’t paid. The judge suspended the fine and continued the sentencing until next month.

“We’re kind of in a legal limbo,” Woods said this week. “We don’t have a lot of options here.”

Woods said that if Craft does not pay the back fees, all the judge can do is fine him $27 for each of the three infractions for which he was convicted, or find him in contempt of court and jail him. Woods said he doubts the judge will jail Craft.

If Craft continues to refuse to pay, the city could go back to court to seek a misdemeanor complaint that carries a penalty of up to a year in jail and a $1,000 fine upon conviction, Woods said.

The prosecutor said a similar case was filed against a Glendale resident in the early 1950s and the state Supreme Court ruled in the city’s favor.

“It’s not his inability to pay, it’s just his unwillingness to pay,” Shroeder said. “Our contention is that everyone produces trash, and the city has the right to (charge fees) for the health and safety of the community.”

Craft, however, maintains that it is illegal for the city to charge him for trash he does not produce. He said he cannot afford the extra expense because he lives alone on $568 a month in Social Security benefits. Craft wouldn’t say how he spends his money.

“I’m not about to pay a bill I don’t owe,” the retired forklift mechanic said. “I’ve never had trash since I’ve been here. I may have a few chicken bones that I take to my daughter’s home.”

A La Verne city official said he learned that Craft was hauling his garbage to the city after reading about it in a local newspaper.

“The article indicated that it was a small amount, which is not alarming,” said Jeff Allred, assistant city manager. “I don’t think there’s any law against that.”

He said Craft’s routine is not a significant problem because residents typically entertain out-of-town visitors who may bring trash and discard it at their homes.

Allred said the city would not charge any residential customer more than the $10.50 per month for trash collection fees.

Craft said that in addition to forcing him to pay the trash fee, Glendora is also trying to force him to accept welfare benefits that he does not want.

“Why should I go get it?” he asked, referring to what he might be offered by welfare or by resource centers. “(The city wants) the money, I don’t. They should go get it. I’ve never lived on welfare and never will.”