Dear Sir or Madam,

Thank you for contacting the Department of Public Works regarding this matter. However, additional information is needed before your request can be processed.Where on the intersection of Mandela Parkway and 14th street are the needless located at? Is it inside Mandela Parkway? is it on the street or sidewalk? Hazardous waste is reported to the Fire Department and this information will help the fire crew locate the needles you are reporting. Your assistance in this matter is greatly appreciated.

Thank you.

Wow. If no one has actually looked for these, then they're still there. Which means they've been an unsanitary, gross hazard for children and anyone else who is walking along and possibly not paying close attention for about 4 days now. I noticed the pile of 15 - 30 used needles at about 5:00 pm on Friday, September 26, next to the sidewalk in a dirt patch. They were located on the North East Corner of Mandela Parkway and 14th Street. Hopefully they've been removed. I really can't believe that the City couldn't look around for these - there are only 4 corners to an intersection, after all, and this an obvious, large, pile of needles, plus what looks like a bio hazard sharps case. What a disappointment.

I am going to add something to my comment above - if the Fire Department is supposed to handle hazardous material - there is a FIRE STATION literally across the street from where these needles are - so this should make it pretty quick to get cleared up. Please address this before someone is possibly injured.

City of Oakland Public Works Department referred this issue to FIRE (GRIFFIN, LEROY) service request # 542821.Please contact that department to follow-up, see “Other Helpful Links” at:
http://www2.oaklandnet.com/Government/o/PWA/Connect/ReportaProblem/index.htm#Links.

Here are some important City of Oakland contact points:

Abandoned Autos: (510) 777-8622 (abandoned vehicles on the public street after 3 days)

Animal Control (510) 535-5602 (live animals); (510) 535-4888 (dead animals)

Code Enforcement: (510) 238-3381 (blighted private properties, deteriorated buildings, inoperable vehicles on private property)

Drug Hotline: (510) 238-3784 (tips); (510) 777-3211 (in progress)

Parking Citations (800) 500-6484 (parking citation assistance center, pay or appeal a citation); (510) 238-3099 (enforcement)

Prostitution Hotline: (510) 238-2373 (tips); (510) 777-3211 (in progress)

Thank you.

Been gone a long time.