More Laws Going Un-Enforced - Donation Boxes

[Lori Allen _]

While I applaud councilperson Cynthia A. Marx for bringing the issue of under-maintained clothing donation boxes to light and spearheading legislation to combat the same, the legislation is going un-enforced, like most ordinances in Lakewood.

LCO 721.02 (d) (3) states that: "every donation box shall be maintained in a neat and clean condition and in good repair at all times."

LCO 721.02 (d) (5) states that: "Every donation box shall clearly bear the name, address and phone number of the donation box owner, as well as a notice, in bold-faced text that must be clearly legible to a donor of property, reading as follows:
“Placing donated items outside this box is prohibited and is punishable as littering (L.C.O. 521.08)”."

LCO 721.02 (d) (6) states that: "No more than one donation box shall be permitted on any single parcel of property."

Furthermore, LCO 721.02 also mandates that a permit is required to place and operate clothing donation boxes.

At a Madison Ave. filling station, at least three subsections of LCO 721.02 are being violated. First, more than one donation box is on the same parcel of land. Second, there is graffiti all over both boxes. Finally, the green clothing donation box does not have any visible address or phone number for the owner. The only label is called "Go Green".

Madison UPM Lot 2.jpg (40.68 KiB) Viewed 969 times

UPM Green Box.jpg (14.33 KiB) Viewed 969 times

Yes, City Hall is well aware of these violations. They have done nothing.

City Hall is even more aware of the graffiti on a Planet Aid Donation box in the Madison Convenience parking lot. They have been aware since July 19th, 2016. They have done nothing. As of yesterday, the same graffiti is still on that box that has been there since July 19th, 2016.

Planet Aid 15019 Madison-640x360.jpg (31.99 KiB) Viewed 969 times

There are many, many more violations of this code elsewhere in Lakewood. Creating new laws is fine, but sooner or later, everyone knows what they can get away with.

Again, I am sick and tired of laws going un-enforced in Lakewood.