Turns out blight is my own problem
| Saturday, Oct 31 2009 03:20 PM
Last Updated Saturday, Oct 31 2009 03:20 PM
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I recently moved back to Bakersfield from Los Angeles, and immediately upon my return I realized where the focus of attention had been during my absence.
Over the last several years, it appears that the east side of Bakersfield, similar to the east side of Los Angeles, has been neglected and left to its own destructive devices. So whose problem is it?
I am saddened by the sheer level of community disrespect shown by everyone I have encountered. I see a lack of knowledge and apathy from the Bakersfield City Council, my 5th District Kern County supervisor and, most alarmingly, the mayor of Bakersfield.
After finding an east Bakersfield apartment with reasonable rent, I was shocked to see the amount of trash strewn about the community -- and this is only one block away from Kern Medical Center. There are piles of trash in the alleys, potholes in the streets and garbage on the corners. Dilapidated buildings and ghost houses with broken windows have squatters living within. So whose problem is it?
When I first arrived here in Bakersfield I called the city's illegal dumping division with a request that they remove the trash in the alley right behind my apartment. I received no callbacks. Upon further research, I found that it is not a city problem and that I wouldn't be receiving any callbacks from them.
So I called the Kern County switchboard, and after several transfers to the "right department," I finally got the opportunity to speak to a woman in the roads divisions who, after listening to me explain the trash situation, politely told me, "We will try to get a crew out there as soon as possible." A month has gone by and I still don't know whose problem this is.
I encourage Kern County to host a "Keep East Bakersfield Beautiful" day. Bring out trucks and just go block by block and remove the trash. Encourage the owners of the destroyed and abandoned properties to lease them to the community for $1 per month or give them away to allow those of us with a desire to rehab these facilities to better serve the people. Or the city could force these "owners" to secure their properties and keep them up to code, removing trash, covering graffiti and properly fencing the areas in question. But, again, whose problem is it?
Over the last two months I have received canned replies from the offices of Bakersfield Mayor Harvey Hall and Supervisor Michael J. Rubio, touting past accomplishments and "commitment to the community." I guess it was worse than it is now and everyone is committed to keeping things the way they currently are.
Well, I have realized that it's really my problem and I have to put my motion where my mouth is. I have partnered with Faith In Action Kern County and have started working to rid at least a few blocks of my community of this trash.
So, if anyone reading this happens to wander one or two blocks south of Kern Medical Center and notice cleaner streets, don't thank the county -- thank the community, because it's our solution.
Rodney L. Muhammad of Bakersfield is a motivational speaker and author.
