Hannah LaShawn testifies on containerization challenges for homeowners

Hi, my name is Hannah LaShawn.

I am a homeowner in the Bronx.

I own a three-family where I also reside.

I'm here today to talk about containerization, specifically two aspects that, if properly addressed by sanitation, could go a long way in supporting homeowners.

First has to do with theft of cans.

You can't put something loose on the curb in New York City and think it's not going to get stolen.

They're going to get stolen.

Mine have been stolen multiple times.

And while I do resent having to spend time and money replacing the cans, the real insult to injury comes when, after a theft recently, I was unable to replace the can in time for my next collection day.

I was then given a ticket when I put the black bag on the curb.

I went to the oath hearing.

I explained the theft.

They credited my testimony and found that theft was not a defense.

So I had to pay to replace the can.

I had to pay for the ticket, and I had to spend time on both.

I'm asking this committee in sanitation to work with Oath and create an official defense of theft of can would be a defense to that violation.

I'm also asking for the ability to report the theft to sanitation so that they will not ticket me while I'm in the process of trying to replace it.

The second item that I want to talk about has to do with these momentary short-term influxes of spikes in volume.

Normally, I'm in a small building, two cans is sufficient.

But if you've got a party, a holiday party, or you have tenants moving in and out, there might be this spike in trash.

I cannot accommodate enough cans for that.

The sanitation does not allow for exceptions.

For containerization, their suggestion is that I store extra cans on my property to use during these momentary spikes.

That's unreasonable.

I'm already storing two black cans, two recycling, and a compost bin.

I'm asking that this committee work with sanitation to take a policy that used to be in place for bulk collection, where you could book a bulk collection online in advance.

I'm asking that we now use that to book a large volume pickup in advance.

If I've booked it and I put my black bags on the curb, I would not be ticketed because it is with sanitation's knowledge and guidance.

So this doesn't address everything with containerization, but these would help us.

Thank you so much.

Next, can I have Claire?