Why is garbage being moved from alleys to street fronts

By Letter to the Editor on March 12, 2021.

Editor:
Neighbourhood by neighbourhood, the City is forcing all residents to front street waste pickup. Even in neighbourhoods that have had 50 years of problem-free alley pickup. Even where narrow streets are not designed for large trucks and are already choked by two-way traffic.
Changing for the sake of change? Such a radical change to a decades-old city service should only happen if residents demanded it, or if a comprehensive cost-benefits study made it a no-brainer. Not the case here. No cost-benefit study. No citizen support. No real justification at all!
But wait – the City says money will be saved. They point to a generic KPMG study that alludes to other municipalities, but did not examine Lethbridge specifics. Great! How much money will be saved? Where? And is it worth the costs residents are suffering in having front pick-up?
Because there are costs to residents. Citizens have identified problems such as inadequate yard access to get the bins to the front, physical incapacity (for many seniors or handicapped individuals), street side parking conflicts and large trucks choking up ultra-narrow streets or delaying traffic on major thoroughfares.
Plus, the bins sure look ugly.
How loud must we shout to be heard? Lethbridge residents have strongly opposed this change through vocal complaints, numerous letters to the editor, a presentation to Council by the London Road Neighborhood Association and a town hall meeting prompted by the first affected group (11th St S) – where City officials completely dismissed all concerns without providing any reasons or benefits for the change. All of our voices have fallen on deaf ears.
Recently the LTC requested a rollout schedule from the City so that residents about to lose their alley collection could prepare.
Our request was rejected. Does the City prefer to keep residents in the dark? Or is this a divide and conquer strategy to choke off large public backlash?
Please do not remain silent. The citizens of Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan faced a similar City-led change to their waste collection, but they stood up for themselves and were able to get their Council to reverse the decision. It’s not too late here.
Gwen Chadsey
Lethbridge Transparency Council