Ask Paul: Parking Along Moorpark, Illegal Dumping and More

Thanks for your continued questions -- we’re working hard to get to as many as we can as quickly as we can in the space we're allotted. I appreciate your continued active engagement in the issues that affect our great city! 

Dear Paul, I have a couple questions: on Moorpark St, between Radford and Colfax - a multi unit residential area - what are the parking/zoning regulations? It seems commercial vehicles are parked for days making it is very difficult for residents and their friends or medical staff to access their units. 

Secondly, I admire the job the trash pick up in LA does but I am curious about the number of abandoned Christmas trees, grocery carts, piles of bagged garbage, furniture seen on all our streets. Is there anyway to put that burden on the property owners who seem to ignore the accumulating trash? --Jack Sammons

Dear Jack, 

As to your first question, there are various restrictions in place for Moorpark Street, between Radford and Colfax avenues. Parking along the north side of Moorpark Street along this stretch (and beyond) is prohibited at all times. There are no posted parking restrictions along the southern side of Moorpark Street, except for a few small pockets near driveways where parking is prohibited at all times. 

However, per the city’s municipal code, where there are no other parking sign restrictions, vehicles are not allowed to park for more than 72 hours in one spot. After 72 hours, vehicles are liable to be cited or towed. My office has also communicated with LAPD’s Parking Enforcement Division, asking them to prioritize this area and patrol it more frequently. That said, you are welcome to report complaints by calling our office at (818) 755-7676 or the city’s phone number set up specifically for this purpose at 1-800-ABANDON.

Regarding your second question, I certainly understand and share your annoyance at illegal dumping, especially when certain areas seem to be magnets for loads of furniture, tires, mattresses and other junk in the public right of way.

My office has worked hard to tackle this issue in a multifaceted way.  First, we have helped spread the word that city crews will pick up bulky items for free; these pick-ups can be scheduled simply by calling 3-1-1.  Properly scheduled pick-ups ensure that items are not left out on the sidewalk for weeks at a time.

Second, I have allocated $250,000 in discretionary funds to the Bureau of Street Services for special weekend work to be done exclusively in the Second Council District.  Among other items, these funds have paid for weekly sweeps since October by a bulky item crew from the city.  Last weekend, this crew picked up dozens of Christmas trees that had been carelessly tossed to the curb, cleaning up an unsightly mess and a fire hazard.  

Third, for corners or lots that have seen repeated dumping, we have worked with the Office of Community Beautification to set up automatic cameras to discourage and deter potential dumpers.  It is often difficult to catch illegal dumping in the act, but I will continue to make cleaning up our city streets a top priority.  Finally, my office has worked with neighborhood councils throughout the district to create our "CLEAN Teams" (CLEAN stands for Community Leaders Empowered to Assist Neighborhoods), which are composed of community volunteers who receive training on the laws related to illegal dumping and other quality of life issues, and then work closely with City officials to target and remedy the specific problems in their own neighborhoods.

Of course, whenever you encounter problems like these, feel free to contact my office directly at 818-755-7676, or take advantage of our useful iPhone orAndroid app.

Thanks so much!

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