Trash

In my little section of Boston there is the constant complaint of trash. I live right off one of the main thoroughfares, so trash is blown on our street rather constantly. It probably doesn't help that the next door neighbor's idea of sweeping the trash is raking it into the gutter. Keep in mind, we don't have much of a gutter since the city at some time in the not too distant past elevated the streets so that they are just about even with the sidewalk.

I've spoken with others about the trash problem. In this day and age of unthinking xenophobia, many blame immigrants. Quite a few also blame teenagers. I usually point out that other parts of the city have public works people sweeping their streets for them. East Boston does not get those kinds of privileges. Obviously having powerful politicians living in our neighborhood hasn't helped. There's a theory that the trash problem will be taken seriously when those luxury condos are built and a few millionaires come into town. Although after an article in the Boston Globe describing the litigiousness of these kinds of folks, I'm not sure it's a good trade.

Yesterday, I was in the car with a friend and we got stuck behind the trash truck. And what did we see, you ask? One of the gentlemen picked up a barrel, threw it headlong into the compactor, spilling half of the contents onto the street. He then emptied what was left and flung the barrel back onto the sidewalk. The truck then moved on.

Somehow, I doubt this happens in Beacon Hill.