Resident Fed Up With Cigarette Butts: Dublin Letter To Editor

Dear Editor:

My family and neighbors have been walking on Wildwood Road in Dublin and are disturbed by the steady accumulation of hundreds, if not thousands, of cigarette butts. Surely these are consequences of luxury apartments’ “no smoking” policies.

As a direct result, smokers have moved across the street, littering on public property, causing environmental, wildfire and other ecological hazards. Children, pets and wildlife roam this path near Alamo Creek every day.

We have sent letters to both apartments outlining why we believe it is their duty to provide safe cigarette disposal options and clean up of the surrounding areas. Their ‘no smoking’ policies clearly are just a transfer of problems downstream… literally.

I am interested to see what Dublin’s position is on such “no smoking” policies, that no doubt have had dire unintended consequences: reduced property values, damages and numerous environmental and fire safety hazards. As the underbrush has dried up, it is only a matter of time before a raging wildfire sweeps through this valley due to a tenant flicking an ember.

Perhaps it is time to draft new municipal codes that hold large real estate trusts accountable for the safe collection and disposal of this hazardous waste.

Kindest regards,

Jeff Whiteside, Dublin resident

Photos courtesy Jeff Whiteside