A number of residents say they're unhappy about trash strewn about in the city of Compton, and they complained the city wasn't doing anything about it. City officials didn't talk to Eyewitness News before, but they did Thursday. They say the problem is illegal dumping, and it's a dirty fight.
In Wednesday night's story Eyewitness News showed you one resident's complaint about her city.
"Trash, a lot of trash, especially in the alleyways," said "Sonia."
After several calls and no response from the mayor's office, Eyewitness News went to Compton City Hall, but at the time no one would talk and no access was allowed.
Eyewitness News went back Thursday to the same alley just north of Compton Boulevard and found old mattresses abandoned in one spot, construction debris in another.
Thursday, /*Compton City Manager Charles Evans*/ did talk to Eyewitness News and said the problem is people who come to Compton to dump their trash.
"Dumping fees are very high at our dump sites throughout Southern California," said Evans. "This has caused people to decide not to go to dump sites and dump wherever they feel comfortable. Over the past few years, we've had an increase in dumping in alleys in our community."
Evans says the city cleans up these areas every week, but it's hard to keep up. Illegal dumpers show up in the middle of the night. Next year the city is setting up a network of surveillance cameras to catch violators in the act.
"In order to make sure that people understand that when they come to Compton, they'll have to dump somewhere else or they will be filmed and their picture will be taken and turned over to the sheriff's department," said Evans.
Compton city officials want the public to report illegal dumping so they can catch offenders.
Anyone with information is asked to call the city's department of public works at (310) 605-5691.
Thanks to the Compton residents who told Eyewitness News about this.
