Dear Editor:

Has there been a garbage strike that I am unaware of?

Every morning I walk from my house on Burns Avenue to get breakfast at Norm's; it's my daily routine. I've noticed so many candy wrappers, hot dog sticks, cigarette butts, beef jerky wrappers, and other unmentionable trash all over the street. 

I've been doing it for over 20 years. Now back then I could walk a little faster than I can now. I used to take the long route going up to Rives Avenue then back down to Norm's. These days I take the shorter route that takes me along Paramount Boulevard. It's a little easier on my legs.

It seems by the time I get to Norm's I have some sort of garbage stuck on my sneaker and I have to bend down and take it off and find a garbage can. Then, of course, I have to go wash my hands which I don't like doing because it makes them very dry. Also Norm's has no lotion.

Its also hard to find a garbage can on Paramount Boulevard. Maybe that's part of the problem, but I can't help but think people just don't know to throw trash away instead of just dumping it on the street.

I've been talking with some people over at the Barbara J. Riley Senior Center about this and they said I should let everyone know about it through the Patriot. i just don't know what to do. Maybe we can get some teenagers on bicycles to patrol the area and keep it a little more tidy.

Fred Dormil
Downey