(“I’ve been in touch with Councilmember Zapf’s office, and before that Councilmember Falconer’s office, trying to get some help. I thought, as editor of the Peninsula Beacon, you might be interested in this letter.” – Ruth Hargrove) Dear Councilmember Zapf and Mr. McGuirk: I appreciated Mr. McGuirk’s response to my email of last week, and am still awaiting a response as to my concerns about how to combat the huge litter problem on Sunset Cliffs as we await the invasion of the summer hordes.
The photo of cigarette butts is yesterday’s take from 15 minutes of cleaning up a 50 foot stretch along the cliffs.
I don’t need to tell you that the inevitable destination of these non-biogradable filters is the ocean.
Again, I reiterate my plea that the city install cigarette butt receptacles along the cliffs. When I raised the issue with then-Councilman Faulconer, the response I got was that smoking is illegal on the cliffs and that therefore we could have no receptacles.
Until the city is able to enforce the law with expensive humans stationed along the cliffs, I suggest we put receptacles up telling folks that the area is a No Smoking area and that they should put their butts out.
On a related note, one of the large cement garbage bins has been removed from its place on the cliffs. I don’t know why, but we need it.
And while we are at it with my wish list: how about a recycle bin or two on the cliffs?
Finally: glass is banned at the beach, but the real damage to the sea life and the ocean are plastic and cans. If and when we get our park rangers, then perhaps we could ask them to enforce a ban on those items as well. As you know, I’m an expert on trash.
Thank you and I Iook forward to doing what I can to help resolve this huge problem. Ruth Hargrove
Ocean Beach