San Leandro Street and all of these short side streets in the 40s have been getting a lot worse lately.

Some people in the neighborhood don't want to pay for garbage collection and the garbage company doesn't want to pick up garbage for free. Illegal dumping begets more illegal dumping... when stuff looks crappy, people treat it like crap.

At some point, it's going to be cheaper for the city to put out an "amnesty" giant construction dumpster which will create it's own problems (rats, health risks and liability etc...) or they will more likely do what cities always do, which is come in and bulldoze all of the areas marked 'blight' on their planning maps to push the encampments further into the edges of town.

The City of Oakland Public Works Department has referred this issue to OPD ANIMAL SERVICES,. 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 public street after 3 days)
* Animal Control: 510-535-5602 (live animals) or 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) or 510-777-3211 (in progress)
* Parking Citations: 800-500-6484 (parking citation assistance center, pay or appeal a citation) or 510-238-3099 (enforcement)
* Prostitution Hotline: 510-238-2373 (tips) or 510-777-3211 (in progress)

Thank you.