Santa Paula workers and community residents filled the City Council chambers on July 12 to speak in support of city-run trash services. The City Council voted to pursue contracting out residential refuse services despite evidence that it could save money for residents. SEIU 721 members will continue to oppose a plan that could lead to lower quality and more costly services.
“Residential refuse does not have a budget problem and the City has options that could really help their revenue problem and improve the City’s future.” – Robert Howard, Lead Street Maintenance Worker
“If you decide to privatize residential refuse services, private industry may or may not be there in an emergency as quickly as your city employees. Private industry will also charge you for every situation.” – Bob Schoonover, SEIU 721 President
“Instead of giving control of our City’s vital services to a private company, it’s time we look at how these service could help shape Santa Paula’s future.” – Tony Perez, Santa Paula School Board Member and Resident
Santa Paula workers and members of the community have advocated for maintaining quality local services and improving Santa Paula’s future by:
- Adopting a local ordinance that would allow them to enforce SB 1117, which would allow the City to fine banks for not maintaining foreclosed homes
- Evaluate all fee structures for the city
- Review trash bin sizes for residential and business services that may save the City funds
- Study the impact of having city refuse workers take over the business refuse (contracting in)
- Work more closely with employees and the community to come up with solutions rather than giving control of services to private companies with their main concern of making a profit rather than a vested interest in the community