It is the job of the government to provide adequate sanitation facilities for its people. The city is full of litter. The majority of this litter would be thrown away properly if trash receptacles were present. We need a public works system that works. Install trash cans at all commercial zones and pedestrian thoroughfares.
Car tabs are a common way for cities to provide safe road infrastructure. Our roads are cited as being the worst in the country. With a car tab tax we could generate a sustainable fund to fix roads and improve infrastructure.
Oakland has one of the most impressive park systems in the country. Problem is, they're in intense disrepair. The city should pass a bond to refurbish all city parks and codify into law park equality. For too long Oakland has supported some parks at the cost of others: some neighborhoods at the cost of others. We can do better.
The amount of litter and junk on the side of the roads (especially areas like 880 and Emeryville underpasses) is shocking and disturbing. When people visit Oakland by plane this is the first impression they get of our city. Oakland needs a strong beautification program in which non-violent criminals (ie. marijuana offenses, repeat traffic citations, etc) can reduce their jail sentences by picking up trash, pulling weeds, and repainting walls covered in ugly graffiti. Wouldn't it restore these down-and-out people with a sense of purpose ? Wouldn't it instill a feeling of pride in one's neighborhood? Would it not build stronger communities? For the amount of criminals in this city and crowded jail cells we could have the cleanest city in the country!
I see new commercial, residential and mixed use developments going up all over downtown, but I don't see very many new public trash enclosures being installed in the downtown area. I don't know what the City currently requires developers to do, but it seems like additional trash cans should be required, just like street trees, new sidewalks and bike racks. The existing trash cans are getting overwhelmed, and worse yet, littering increases and pollutes our waterways. New developments bring new workers and residents, so more trash capacity just makes sense.