The City of San Diego’s economic woes have apparently begun to trickle down, affecting its entire population. “It’s the small stuff that affects people. And I think that’s where we’re going to start seeing these small issues coming up,” said Alex Varon, spokesman for District 1 San Diego City Councilwoman Sherri Lightner. Recently residents complained citywide that trashcans have begun to disappear and crews have stopped picking up rubbish. So Varon took up one of his first missions, stopping at meetings to ask citizens to report garbage pileups in an effort to solve the trash problem. “I spoke with one person at Parks and Rec. They said that due to budget cuts, they can no longer fund the crews,” Varon said. Although city crews left trashcans inside city parks and at the beaches, Varon said rubbish has piled up along San Diego’s coastline viewpoints and walkways as city crews removed trash containers. City officials said they cannot leave trashcans in place if there are no staff members available to remove contents, Varon said. “The problem was that if you put a trash can there, people will throw garbage in with the expectation that it will be emptied,” Varon said. Currently, Lightner’s office has asked the public to send photos of areas where garbage cans were removed and trash is mounting. Varon said he received two photos and about ten phone calls regarding the mess — mostly at beach access points. Regarding solving the city’s trash mess, Varon said Lightner is currently working on a solution. In one area, a resident bought a trash can and neighbors collectively emptied it, he said. “We’re trying to explore our options. It’s not just in La Jolla, it’s elsewhere,” Varon said. Lightner has teamed up with District 2 Councilman Kevin Faulconer, according to Varon. “We’ll see what we can do. I don’t know [what it would take],” Varon said. “A community group pitches in to pay for trash pick-up, or a volunteer group might come and pick it up or it might fall to residents in the area to pick up the trash.” Regardless, Varon said Lightner continues to call on residents to alert her to areas where rubbish has piled up. “It’s something we’re very concerned about,” Varon said. Rick Wildman, president of Promote La Jolla, La Jolla’s business improvement district, said the missing rubbish bins and piles of garbage are a top priority for the group. “When the city can’t come in, it’s kind of our responsibility. I know people are willing to do things for the community,” Wildman said. “For instance, the fireworks display — George Hauer [owner of George’s restaurant] has paid for that in the past …” Wildman said that the group intends to set up a vehicle for contributions, allowing area merchants to keep the area clean. The trash cuts stem from a Jan. 1 budget cut, according to Stacey LoMedico, director of the city’s Department of Park and Recreation. LoMedico said she planned to tour sites affected by the cuts Wednesday, Jan. 21, including all viewpoints and lookout areas. City officials are working on a fix, she added. Residents interested in volunteering can contact LoMedico, (619) 236-6643. Officials are working on a plan to develop a right-of-way for residents who want to replace missing garbage cans and then empty the trash, LoMedico said. For more information about PLJ, visit www.lajollabythesea.com. For more information about Lightner, visit www.sandiego.gov.