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'It needs to be addressed': Omaha neighborhood riddled with trash part of a bigger problem in the metro

'It needs to be addressed': Omaha neighborhood riddled with trash part of a bigger problem in the metro
ANTHONY, THANK YOU. WELL, TRASH IS PILING UP IN A NORTH OMAHA NEIGHBORHOOD AND RESIDENTS SAY THEY’RE TIRED OF FEELING FORGOTTEN OVER THE PAST FEW YEARS. THEY TELL KETV INVESTIGATES THE PROBLEM HAS ONLY GOTTEN WORSE, BUT THAT MAY FINALLY BE CHANGING. NOW THAT REPORTER JESSICA PEREZ IS INVOLVED, SHE SHOWS US HOW THE PARKS AND REC DEPARTMENT AND OMAHA POLICE PLAN TO ADDRESS THE ISSUE. VINCENT GUERRERO IS RETIRED, YET HE FINDS HIMSELF WORKING EVERY OTHER DAY, PICKED UP THIS PICKING UP TRASH THAT’S BLOWN INTO HIS YARD. HIS WIFE, JOANNE, SAYS IT FLIES FROM OVERFLOWING TRASH CANS NEARBY CITY STREETS AND EVEN THE HIGHWAY. AND WE’RE NOT TALKING JUST PLASTIC BAGS. IT’S TRASH. THEY SAY ONE BIG SOURCE IS AN ALLEY RUNNING BEHIND THEIR HOUSE FROM FORD TO ELLISON. IT’S USED AS AN ILLEGAL DUMPING SITE FOR BOXES, BOTTLES AND EVEN OLD SOFAS. THE GUERREROS SAY THEY’VE CALLED THE CITY MANY TIMES. NEVER GET A STRAIGHT ANSWER ABOUT CLEANING IT UP. IT NEEDS TO BE ADDRESSED. IT’S LIKE NORTH OMAHA. YOU KNOW, WE HAVE OUR REPUTATION, BUT IT’S LIKE NORTH OMAHA HAS BEEN BASICALLY FORGOTTEN ABOUT. AND IT REALLY WHO CARES IS WHAT THE THE IMPRESSION IS. OMAHA PARKS AND RECREATION IS RESPONSIBLE FOR LITTER COMPLAINT. NO ONE WAS AVAILABLE FOR AN ON CAMERA INTERVIEW, BUT THE DEPARTMENT SAYS IT DOESN’T HAVE AN ACTIVE COMPLAINT FOR THE ALLEY. BUT TELLS KTB INVESTIGATES IT NOW PLANS TO SEND AN INSPECTOR TO THE AREA, MAYBE START ENFORCING SOME OF THE LITTER LAWS. ALL THE DEPARTMENT CAN DO IS GIVE OUT NOTICES TO PROPERTY OWNERS TO CLEAN. ENFORCEMENT IS UP TO POLICE. OMAHA POLICE SAYS THEY DID NOT KNOW THAT THIS ALLEYWAY WAS A PROBLEM AND THEY PLAN TO P
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'It needs to be addressed': Omaha neighborhood riddled with trash part of a bigger problem in the metro
Driving around Omaha, you can see trash along the highways, city streets and even in neighborhoods. The trash from all these places is ending up in some people's neighborhoods, like one on North 27th Street. Residents Vincent and Joann Guerrero said the trash gets blown into their yard by the wind from all these places. Another place is the alley behind their house, which is used for illegal dumping. The alley runs from Fort to Ellison streets. "It's disgusting," Joann said. It also flies away from people's overflowing trash cans or gets dragged into people's yards by stray cats.Vincent finds himself picking up trash on his lawn every other day. He said he's called the mayor's hotline and the weeds and litter number for the city many times and said he never gets a straight answer about clean up. "Other than they're aware of the problem, and they'll try to get to it, but they're not too enthusiastic about it," Vincent said. The couple said they want to see the problem addressed. "It's like north Omaha, we have our reputation, but it's like, 'North Omaha has been basically forgotten about, and really who cares?' is what the impression is," Joann said.Omaha Parks and Recreation is responsible for litter complaints. The department said the harsh reality is that clean-up is often left to homeowners when trash gets blown into their yards.OPR also said it has many complaints for the north Omaha area, but the alleyway didn't have an active complaint. After speaking with staff on the phone, the department opened a complaint and said they planned to send an inspector. However, staff said all they can do is give property owners notices to clean. The enforcement piece is up to the police. The Omaha Police Department said it did not know the alley was an illegal dumping site, but OPD plans to patrol the area more. Penalties for illegal dumping can be a fine of up to $1,000 or six months in jail, depending on the offense. OPD said it has not cited anyone for illegally dumping so far this year, but the department issued 12 citations in 2022. If you'd like to file a litter complaint, OPR said the easiest way to do so is by calling the mayor's hotline. You can also call the Weeds and Litter Hotline at (402) 444-5910. Staff said it's also helpful if you take photos or video of the area in question. You can also call (402) 444-5555 to report illegal dumping.Get the latest headlines from KETV NewsWatch 7

Driving around Omaha, you can see trash along the highways, city streets and even in neighborhoods. The trash from all these places is ending up in some people's neighborhoods, like one on North 27th Street.

Residents Vincent and Joann Guerrero said the trash gets blown into their yard by the wind from all these places. Another place is the alley behind their house, which is used for illegal dumping. The alley runs from Fort to Ellison streets.

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"It's disgusting," Joann said.

It also flies away from people's overflowing trash cans or gets dragged into people's yards by stray cats.

Vincent finds himself picking up trash on his lawn every other day. He said he's called the mayor's hotline and the weeds and litter number for the city many times and said he never gets a straight answer about clean up.

"Other than they're aware of the problem, and they'll try to get to it, but they're not too enthusiastic about it," Vincent said.

The couple said they want to see the problem addressed.

"It's like north Omaha, we have our reputation, but it's like, 'North Omaha has been basically forgotten about, and really who cares?' is what the impression is," Joann said.

Omaha Parks and Recreation is responsible for litter complaints. The department said the harsh reality is that clean-up is often left to homeowners when trash gets blown into their yards.

OPR also said it has many complaints for the north Omaha area, but the alleyway didn't have an active complaint.

After speaking with staff on the phone, the department opened a complaint and said they planned to send an inspector. However, staff said all they can do is give property owners notices to clean.

The enforcement piece is up to the police.

The Omaha Police Department said it did not know the alley was an illegal dumping site, but OPD plans to patrol the area more.

Penalties for illegal dumping can be a fine of up to $1,000 or six months in jail, depending on the offense.

OPD said it has not cited anyone for illegally dumping so far this year, but the department issued 12 citations in 2022.

If you'd like to file a litter complaint, OPR said the easiest way to do so is by calling the mayor's hotline. You can also call the Weeds and Litter Hotline at (402) 444-5910.

Staff said it's also helpful if you take photos or video of the area in question.

You can also call (402) 444-5555 to report illegal dumping.

Get the latest headlines from KETV NewsWatch 7