I Just Called CSCRC! Let's See If It Works!

I just emailed the California Shopping Cart Retrieval Corporation. There is an unsightly Long's Drugs green plastic shopping cart dumped and abandoned in front of my house. Let's see how long it takes for the pick-up to happen. The CSCRC doesn't just pick up any cart. It needs to be one of their retailers. I checked...Long's Drugs is listed..fingers crossed!

No Robertson Strip Club!

Get your sign HERE! You can print it out from the website: NoRobertsonStripClub.com
It's a shame there is a strip club so close to a high school. I was exiting the 10 freeway the other day and noticed a temporary sign located on an old meat market exterior. The sign said, "SKIN". I was disgusted. I was really upset because the neighborhood of South Robertson has made great strides the last 5 years cleaning up the area. The businesses are have cleaned up their exteriors, which means great pride has been taken to improve the look of SORO.
Print out the sign and place it in your window. You can also donate to the cause HERE and receive a sign for your yard.

B.Y.O.B.-A Day Without a (Disposable) Bag

Good information from 888CleanLA.com. On Thursday, December 20th, 2007, at participating retail locations, they will be giving away free reusable tote bag. You will receive education on how you can take part in saving the environment by reducing the usage of plastic bags. Retailers have not been listed yet. Check the link above for more information.

If you like this reusable shopping tote, you can find it at Quirky Turkey. This design is located on the back of the bag with the front having another image. Fun Stuff!

LADWP Will Give You Free Trees!

The LADWP will give you free shade trees under their "Trees for a Green LA" program. There are three steps to getting your free trees.

1. Complete an online workshop (link is on their website HERE)
2. Submit your completed tree order and site plan
3. LA DWP will deliver the trees to your home, you plant them yourself

There is also a non-residential tree program for apartment dwellers and Home Owners Associations. Click HERE for more info.

I had no idea this was in action. They probably put it in your bill every month. If I was a homeowner, I would definitely take advantage of this. For apartment renters and Home Owner's Associations, you have to have a licensed contractor involved....not so easy....

Recycle Your Christmas Tree!

It's that time of year! We all know what a nuisance those Christmas trees are when we're done with them. Here's some information on what you can do:

• Recycle your tree by cutting and placing it in your green yard trimmings container
• If you don't have one of these containers, you can drop it off at one of the locations listed HERE
  
• Remember to remove all decorations-lights,tinsel,ornaments,etc.
• Drop off dates are only for one weekend this year, January 5th and January 6th 2007, from 9 am to 4pm.
  
• Residents that drop off their trees to the drop off locations will receive seedlings and energy efficient florescent light bulbs, while supplies last, courtesy of the LA Department of Water and Power.
• Fire stations will not be giving out seedlings or florescent light bulbs.
• Call 311 for more information from December 1, 2007-January 31, 2008

*Please inform your neighbors. If you see them dumping them on the front sidewalks or dumpsters, give them the information. You can also print out a PDF version of the list on the link listed above.

Cart Bike, Anyone?

Ok. This is not for everyone, but if you've got the moxie and the cart has no name.....
Found this on Idealist. Credit to Zieak.
Wonder how it corners?

How to Make Your Own Shopping Cart Locker

Pretty clever stuff from the website Instructables if you have the know how!

The "EMP Shopping Cart Locker", here's their disclaimer:

"Disclaimer: This is not an easy project. It will require knowledge of circuits, soldering, social engineering, and a tiny bit of PIC microcontroller stuff. High power is involved, and if you mess up, you might get burned, caught on fire, or arrested-- most likely all three. Always use an appropriate amperage fuse to prevent a short from becoming a much bigger problem. This project is also fairly expensive. The parts will cost about 65 bucks. Batteries with some kick will run 20-30 bucks, and a single PCB is about 60 bucks. They get a lot cheaper if you buy multiples for your friends."

The "Shopping Cart Locker THE EASY WAY (Improved Range)" is a no frills method and can work in a store and outside/anywhere! Or, why not use the "James Bond Style Cart Locker" These methods and the one above require the carts to already have the stopping device on the wheels.
Or, you can try the "Portable Shopping Cart Locking Force Field of Doom". Here you can make a force field around you to protect yourself from carts.

I don't think you should put the law in your own hands, but it's definitely entertaining to read!

I Asked and Got No Response!

Well, as I was backing out of my driveway a little while ago, an older woman was pushing one of those annoying steel with yellow plastic accented Elat Market shopping carts in the alley. I had to back up and she was hell bent on pushing it directly towards my car. I was sticking out into the alley and it's very dangerous to be backing out.
I stopped and she pushed her cart right next to my window. I rolled it down, and right as she was passing the narrow space between my car and a parked one, I asked her where she was planning on dumping it when she was done. I had to do it...it's always the same people!
Well, either she didn't speak English or she pretended not to hear me. She kept pushing that noisy nuisance-katchinkkatchinkkatchiink....aargh!

Numbers to Call to Pick-Up Abandoned Shopping Carts

Los Angeles residents, try these numbers to aid in the removal of abandoned shopping carts in your neighborhood.

310-452-9088 and report the location of the abandoned shopping carts and they will be picked up.

OR

311 and report it.

OR

California Shopping Cart Retrieval: 818-563-3070 the link is also in the right column.
*Note: They only respond to certain companies. Check who they work with on the website.

OR

L.A. Street Services will pick up unmarked or broken carts. Call 800-996-2489, with the exact locations.

Los Angeles Municipal Code Sec.41.45 Unauthorized Removal, Use, or Possession of Shopping Carts

I may have finally found the local municipal code for Los Angeles. It's not as easy as other cities.
This may have been revised as it was written in 1965.

"SEC. 41.45. UNAUTHORIZED REMOVAL, USE OR POSSESSION OF SHOPPING CARTS.

(Amended by Ord. No. 129,180, Eff. 1/30/65.)

(a) Removal. No person shall remove any shopping cart, shopping basket or other similar device from the premises or parking area of any business establishment if such shopping cart, basket or device has permanently affixed to it a sign identifying it as belonging to such business establishment and a notification to the effect that such cart, basket or device is not to be removed from the owner’s premises.

The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to removal by the owner or his agent or an employee of the business, nor to removal by a customer of the business possessing the written consent of its owner manager or authorized agent.

(b) Abandonment. No person shall abandon or leave any such shopping cart, shopping basket or other similar device which has been removed from the owner’s premises upon any public street, alley, sidewalk, parkway or other public place, nor upon any private property except that of the owner of such cart, basket or device.

(c) Possession. No person shall have in his possession any shopping cart, shopping basket or other similar device which has been removed from the owners premises and which has permanently affixed to it a sign identifying it as belonging to a business establishment and notification to the effect that such cart, basket or device is not to be removed from the owners premises.

The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to possession by the owner or his agent or an employee of the business nor to possession by a customer of the business possessing the written consent of its owner, manager or authorized agent.

(d) Use. No person shall use any shopping cart, shopping basket or other similar device for any purpose other than that originally intended by such business without the owner’s written consent.

(e) Alteration. No person shall alter, convert or tamper with any shopping cart, shopping basket or other similar device or remove any part thereof without the owner’s written consent.

(f) Notice. Each business establishment owning such shopping cart, shopping basket or other similar device shall place at each of its exits a sign notifying its customers and the general public of the aforesaid prohibitions. Such notification shall be placed in such a position and be of sufficient size and legibility so as to insure that persons leaving such places of business shall be fully informed of the prohibitory provisions contained in this section.

(g) Fine. Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Code to the contrary the violation of any of the provisions or the failure to comply with any of the mandatory requirements of this section shall be punishable only by a fine of not more than $50.00."

Contact These People For Abandoned Shopping Carts in Your Neighborhood

After "Googling" to find some links for my blog, I came across a wonderful resource I want to share with you. It's called the California Shopping Cart Retrieval Corporation. The CSCRC has contracts with many grocers and retailers in California. Click HERE for the listing of companies they work with. If you find a cart from one of these retailers in your neighborhood, EMAIL them or CALL them. I find it pretty ironic they are located in Burbank!

City of Glendale Shopping Cart Abandonment Strategy

The City of Glendale has been very progressive in their methods to cease the abandonment of shopping carts. It has been tricky due to the California State Law. See the last posting for more info.
In essence, the City of Glendale on January 1, 2006, rolled out their municipal code making store owners responsible for containing/controlling their carts. These stores that own carts have to implement these three things:

• Install/implement an effective shopping cart containment system/devices
• Post signs to inform customers removal of shopping carts is a crime
• Must maintain a cart retrieval system at all times

The content goes on to say people who use shopping carts as a means to carry their groceries home must find an alternative from local shops that carry personal carts. Also some pointers on what words to use in an internet search engine to locate carts online.

This is great information located HERE

Here's to the City of Burbank!

The City of Burbank is motioning for an "Abandoned Shopping Cart Ordinance". This meeting took place in the Burbank, CA on March 20, 2007. The highlights of this proposal are:

• In August 2005, after a the Council staff's presentation, a motion was made for staff to return in the near future with a City of Glendale-style, containment “Abandoned Shopping Cart Ordinance”
• there was only four Council Members present at this meeting and the motion resulted in a split vote and consequently did not pass.
• Continued Council deliberations that evening resulted in direction for staff to wait for the effective date of the Glendale ordinance and later return with a progress report on the status of that ordinance.
• The Council asked to obtain and return with information from public outreach efforts and to understand the Public's opinion on this subject.
• In preparation for reporting back to Council, staff has been in continual contact with City of Glendale officials concerning their ordinance which became effective January 1, 2006.
• All California cities are limited in their efforts to expeditiously abate the issues of blight, liability, and potential health hazards associated with abandoned shopping carts because of the imposition of the protective California State Shopping Cart Law.
• California cities have to either work within the restraints of this law, which usurps an extraordinary amount of personnel resource time, or as the City of Glendale accomplished, adopt and enact an ordinance which restricts shopping carts to the premises of the cart owners.
• The California State Shopping Cart Law became effective in 1997. Since that time the number of abandoned shopping carts has increased significantly in Burbank.
• In 1997, Chapter 19 of the California Business and Professions Code was amended such that, with non-emergency or non-hazardous circumstances, there are restrictions on local governments for enacting legislation which would expedite the removal of abandoned shopping carts from the public right-of-way. This law is known as the California State Shopping Cart and Laundry Cart Law. Consequently, because of the preemptions of this law local governments are limited in how to legislatively address issues associated with abandoned shopping carts.
• Provisions of the California Shopping Cart Law allow abandoned shopping carts, which are not impeding emergency services, to remain at the abandoned location for three working days (72-hours) prior to abatement efforts by a city. Further, this law also requires that after the 72-hour period has lapsed and an abandoned shopping cart has been impounded, the local jurisdiction must notify the owner of the cart of the impound within a 24-hour period.
• If the owner of the cart responds within three working days to pick up a cart that has been impounded, no impound fee, storage fee, fine, or other charges may be rendered by the impounding authority. Fees may only be levied beginning on the fourth working day after the official notice of impound has been delivered.
• State law does not preclude the removal of a cart from a business premises to be considered a theft. However, rarely will a cart owner, if ever, press charges against their clients for the removal of carts from their premises.

• Additional requirements of state law mandate that for the removal of a shopping cart from premises to be considered illegal, the cart must be equipped with a proper sign. This sign must be permanently affixed to the cart and will:
  

  • Identify the owner of the cart
    
  • Notify the public of the procedure to be utilized for authorized removal of the cart from the premises (authorization must be in writing)
  • Notify the public that the unauthorized removal of the cart from the premises or parking area of the retail establishment, or the unauthorized possession of the cart, is a violation of state law
  • List a valid telephone number or address for returning the cart removed from the premises or parking area to the owner or retailer
• Burbank is joined by many other California cities, such as Glendale, Long Beach, San Jose, Berkeley, Oroville, Colton, and Milpitas who, short of seeking an amendment to the state law, are currently researching or utilizing ways to effectively address this issue. Glendale, in particular has recently enacted an effective shopping cart containment ordinance which is reported to have reduced abandoned shopping carts in their city by 95%.
• The Glendale ordinance involves amending the Zone Text of the Glendale Municipal Code to define shopping cart usage as a land use. As a land use, this provides municipalities more options in dealing with abandoned shopping cart issues because they can now work on resolving the problems associated with abandoned shopping carts beyond the restrictions of the State Shopping Cart Law.
  
• The Glendale ordinance requires businesses which provide clients carts, to implement containment or control methods for keeping the carts from leaving the business premises.
• Some communities, including Burbank, have stressed public education in an attempt to try to minimize the negative effects of abandoned carts. Education is an attempt to work within the State law and functions by teaching a community how to be a “watchdog” service for working within the parameters the California Shopping Cart and Laundry Cart Law.
  

Read the full text HERE

Murder Suspect in NY Used Shopping Cart to Dump Body Parts!

Click the link below to read this disturbing article from the website Newsday.com

NYPD: Murder suspect used shopping cart to dump body parts

Lucky for him there was a spare shopping cart laying around...

It's Illegal in Tompkins County, NY!

Here's something I found on this website:
Tompkins County Solid Waste

Abandoned shopping carts

It is illegal to remove shopping carts from any business, and ultimately, the business providing these items is responsible for them. To help permanently resolve the problem of abandoned shopping carts, please call the businesses and provide feedback on how their shopping carts are impacting your neighborhood. There are many technological solutions for retrieval that have worked in other communities, and they are more likely to implement them if they perceive it as a serious problem. For short term resolution you can call the City of Ithaca Police at 272-3245. If none of these methods solve the problem, contact Paul Cowles at 273-6632.

268-3 of the Code of the City of Ithaca:
"It shall be unlawful for any person or his/her agent or employee to take, remove or possess any shopping cart beyond the premises of the identified owner of the shopping cart without the express permission of the identified owner."

Concerned Beverly Hills Adjacent Citizens

This is from my other blog-"More Problems Than Carter Has Pills". More ranting on shopping cart theft and dumping. Please leave comments if you want to share. Thanks!

Saturday, December 8, 2007

Concerned Beverly Hills Adjacent Citizens

I'm annoyed. Really annoyed. Where I live, which is Los Angeles, CA in a little area known by locals as "Beverly Hills Adjacent". Literally, Beverly Hills is across the street. We have a little problem here. It's called shopping cart stealing and dumping. I'm getting really tired of this and I'm sure others in my hood are too.

I've driven around my neighborhood and noticed them. Dumped strategically in front of apartment buildings. The best is when they're dumped in front of "McMansions". These are those obnoxious newly re-constructed homes here in the slums of Beverly Hills. I think it's quite funny when I see this...I will post a picture soon.

It seems the majority of the shopping carts dumped in my area are from one market in particular-Elat Market-on Pico Blvd/Robertson. Sitting at home in my living room, especially on Mondays, I will hear the distant rumbling of those annoying shopping cart wheels...kachikachikachikachikachikachunk. Then I'll spy the offender merrily pushing the cart along like it's o.k. to steal property. What does this say about a person's character? I may get the guts to ask.

Most the time when I see this occurring, I'll peek out front, sigh, and maybe yell, "Shopping cart thief!". I don't think they hear me though. Sometimes they get even more bold. They'll roll along until they get to my house. They stick their paws into my mailbox and my neighbors to steal anything from coupons to magazines. It's really appalling.

What do we do as concerned citizens? Any suggestions?
Here's some links to some articles I found online about this behavior and also a new niche career for those shopping cart collectors:

Metroactive
Northwest Florida Daily News
Frank Simpson

Posted by Fun Employed at 4:46 PM 0 comments

Unzipped in L.A.?

Now that I got your attention, I want to introduce myself. I am a concerned resident in Los Angeles, CA. More specifically, I live in West Los Angeles, near an area called "Beverly Hills Adjacent". I have been living in this neighborhood since 1999 and living in Los Angeles since 1996.

I like my neighborhood. It's quiet most of the time and very close to areas of my interest. My only gripe and reason for this blog is the neighborhood doesn't feel like an organized group of concerned citizens. I don't expect everyone to hang out with each other or have potlucks and block parties. I just want the residents here to take more pride in their neighborhood.

I am completely unzipped by shopping carts taken from one particular market, Elat Market, and dumped in my neighborhood by patrons of this market. They push the carts all the way home from the market and dump the cart in front of apartment buildings, my house, and in the alleys. It seems one market is really responsible for the mess. I have been annoyed by this for quite some time and now I feel it's time for some action. It's really feeling the the slums of Beverly Hills.

I have surfed and "Googled" "shopping cart theft" and have found some articles I think you will find interesting. Are you a concerned neighbor? If you live in another state or county, do you have the same problem? I was riding my bike along the Ballona Creek/L.A. River path the other day and saw carts in the river. Along with carts in the river were those nasty plastic bags from the supermarket. I'm tired of living in filth. I want more people to be concerned. If you are, feel free to add a comment. I'd like to hear from you. -Jessica