It’s official! Mayor Jasiel Correia II announced at a morning news conference today that the purple trash bags are here to stay. Declaring the city is falling an estimated 60 percent behind compliance in regards to the the PAYT program, Correia gave a rundown of the new policy enforcement rules that will be rolled out in what he termed “a four week consecutive plan.”
First, letters addressed to landlords and tenants outlining the compliance regulations will be mailed in April, then enforcement begins on May 9th with a warning week, followed by week two that will result in the issuance of $100 dollar fines. In week three, the fines will double to $200 dollars, and finally those still not in compliance during week four may have their trash carts removed.
Correia addressed a large gathering on the sixth floor to say that because of an impasse in negoations with Teamsters Union Local 215 that represents DCM workers, he was forced to privatize trash collection. Teamster representatives deny there was an impasse, stating to the media that the members wanted to work out a contract with the city to keep union members in their jobs.
One Teamster member who did not give his name told FRC Media News that he expected 30 city workers to lose their jobs, with him being one of them.
Until now, there were no fees for non-compliance with the city’s PAYT program, according to Correia and that his city administrator Cathy Ann Viveiros estimates that since the implementation of the the purple bags the city has suffered over a million dollars in non-compliance revenue.
“That needed to change,” the mayor said today standing beside his Chief of staff Chris Payrano (Pictured with Correia in feature slider) duringthe news conference.
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