"Steve Pope" > wrote in message
...
> Julie Bove > wrote:
>>
>>"Cheri" > wrote in message
...
>>> "Cheryl" > wrote in message
>>> ...
>>>> On 11/26/2012 12:52 PM, Steve Pope wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> We have a few allergic-tree-moving requests in process here in
>>>>> Berkeley.
>>>>> There's merit to it in that many allergies are caused by stuff that
>>>>> blows off plants... in Berkeley you can only plant approved species
>>>>> of trees from a master list kept by the city. The problem being
>>>>> litigated is whether certain trees on that list are still a problem.
>>>>
>>>> That's crazy, but I like it. I'm going to go read up about it.
>>>
>>>
>>> Of course it's crazy, it's Berkeley!
>>
>>I remember the tie dyed sidewalks there.
>
> They just set out a notice telling you precisely how you are
> supposed to arrange your garbage, recycling and composting
> containers on the street in front of your house on garbage day...
> an extremely detailed description. We tried to adhere to it
> but I noticed none of our neighbors did; I think people are
> just overloaded by directives from the city and they can't
> absorb any more.
>
> And yes, Berkeley does periodically, without warning, go through your
> garbage to try to catch you at putting recyclable or compostable
> items in there.
>
> In short, everything you have heard about Berkeley is true.

That's how it was in Alameda but... I was living in military housing at the
time and those people there super picky. Once unbeknownst to me, my husband
set a broken microwave out in the alley. Within minutes (and of course he
had left for work) the powers that be were pounding on my front door,
telling me I had 10 minutes to remove it or we'd lose our housing.

Another time some kids were playing in the alley and tossed something in our
garbage can that should have been recycled. A neighbor saw it and told me
he had corrected it for me. Because yes, they did come by and check and you
never knew when they would.

They also check here but I think more during the summer and it seems to be
pretty random. At times they hand out rewards (store and restaurant gift
cards) for doing right. But they also fine for doing wrong.