I walked over to take some photos of the sand pile that was dumped by a company known as MAC (acronym? full name?  who knows!).  It gave me a chance to see what PennDOT and their subcontractors from the recent jobs on Chateau Street in Manchester and the West End Circle left behind for the residents of Manchester who come near this property.  Of which there more than a few children as this is, sadly, a playground. 

Take a look:

Is it just me or do you see the humor in the juxtaposition of this sign with a bucket of asphalt?

This is the leftover asphalt no one bothered to clean up. 

Here's a close up on the bucket from above.  Looks like wholesome goodness, no?

This is the sand which was dumped on the property today by a company that has the acronym MAC.  It is probably the least dangerous thing in the entire field.  Well, assuming it wasn't dug up from some toxic playground.

This is funny.  No one offered me $500 when I tried to report illegal dumping.  Either time.  Hey.  I should get $500 for that last time in 2006. 

This is why I don't let up on PennDOT.  This is the "screen" provided by the weeds and grass that the state doesn't mow.  It is perfect cover for the dumpers.  The only reason I saw the dumping was because I was standing up on my deck.  I repeat my mantra:  If PennDOT kept the property maintained, like a responsible property owner should do, the dumping would be minimal. 

Here's an assortment of goodies, some left by the road crews and some by unknown entities.  This is what will someday remain of our civilization. 

Classy.  If they would put a Port-a-John on the bike path, it would serve humanity.  But in the middle of this field for weeks after the road work ends ??? Eewww. 

The irony just continues.  This is a hole in the road along Faulsey Way.  This is where PennDOT employees parked their personal vehicles and, occasionally, the big machines they used to rip up Chateau Street.  Now there's a hole in the road.  About 150 yards from the pile of leftover asphalt.  A hole that my City tax dollars will eventually repair.  Ha!

Click on my photos link under PennDOT to see the rest of the shots.  Will anything be done?  Does anyone care?  Should I crouch in the field at 9:15 AM tomorrow, digital camera in hand? 

Yes, someone cares. I care.  It is disgraceful that PennDOT is such a bad neighbor to this community.  Just cut the grass.  Come look at the sand pile and make MAC (whoever that is) clean it up.  Then keep the grass cut. 

Sheesh.  I may have to call the hokey-pokey crew or whatever that new post-modern Redd Up group is called.  But I pay my state taxes.  Use those dollars.  God knows, there are plenty of places Pgh can use the ones I give to them. 

My dear lord.  This morning, Ledcat and I saw a giant dump truck dump a load of sand into the PennDOT owned field behind our house (you'll recall that field).  It dumped and scurried.  We saw the truck. 

Now, PennDOT has had some subcontractors using the property so I decided to call them first to determine if this was a legal delivery of sand rather than an illegal dumping.  I was on the phone for 25 minutes and was transferred more than 7 times before someone took my message.  I called the construction department, the maintenance department, the media department and so forth.  That kind lady finally called me back and told me I should call 911, but did not have any way to verify if the dumping was allowed or illegal. 

So I'm supposed to waste precious local 911 resources b/c no one from PennDOT could talk to me or verify the dumping/non-dumping issue.  What?

Then I tried to call 311.  I was on hold for 17 minutes and 22 seconds.  At first, 4 people were in queu ahead of me, then 6, then 2, then 3, etc.  Then I was dumped into a voicemail (even though I kept pressing the option for a person), a voicemail that was full and unable to take messages. 

Then I called Councilwoman Payne's office.  At least a live person answered the phone.  I've now invested over 60 minutes of my time trying to report a possible crime and no one wants to talk with me.  Payne's staffer at least tried to be helpful, but I think she believes I'm complaining about the overgrowth on the property so I hope that message doesn't dilute the real reason I called.

Sheesh.  Why is this so difficult?  PennDOT should contact the company in question and give them XX amount of time to clean up the dumped materials or press charges.  Simple as that.  It should take four phone calls -- me to PennDOT (maybe a transfer or two at best), PennDOT to the company, the company to the department that cleans up their messes and PennDOT back to me to confirm the impending clean up.

Ha.  Paging Diana Nelson Jones for a follow up story.