PHILADELPHIA - People have been illegally dumping garbage across Philadelphia for ages. Now, residents in Fern Rock have graduated from frustrated to angry as they look for answers as to why there’s so much garbage on their street corners.
Sheleia Branch took a video of garbage dumped behind her house on North Hutchinson Street in March and after following the city’s instructions, she says the issue still hasn’t been resolved.
Branch says she has called 311 multiple times, but she’s only gotten as far as getting a confirmation number."They give you a confirmation number and tell you, ‘If it’s not done within five days, call back.’ That’s a joke," she said. "Sometimes, they tell us they can’t find the street." Branch’s neighbor, Lisa Baumann, says she was stupefied this week after a paving crew came through, picked up the garbage, and put it right back out on the curb. RELATED: Philadelphia residents frustrated with illegal dumping, city's response to problemBaumann says her frustration is so high that she’s been getting way too bold in confronting the same dumpers, who she says she sees frequently."It’s dangerous because here you have two women going after people telling them, ‘No, you can’t dump here,’ or ‘No, you can’t do that on your car here.’ We not only want it to make the area look better, but we want it for our safety, too. MORE HEADLINESPolice: 2 sought in carjacking of SEPTA cashier in North Philadelphia3 rescued after getting caught in rip current at Stone Harbor beachDelaware Senate OKs bill limiting firearm magazine capacityThe two women went beyond the garbage and pointed out a sewer grate that’s gone missing, which allows for anyone to fall right into the hole.