On Wednesday, I received an electronic petition from Supporters of the Tacoma Waterfront to “save” the picturesque garbage cans along the Point Ruston walkway. At issue was the Public Works Department proposal to replace the current cans with more standard garbage cans.
Within less than 24 hours, 100 people had signed the petition. Only positive comments were allowed in the petition’s comment section; dissenting opinions could not be entered without signing the petition to indicate support.
I walk the area often. I, too, have been concerned about the garbage cans; all too frequently they were overflowing with garbage. My priority is for regular garbage collection over retention of picturesque cans and if new (and perhaps larger) garbage containers will serve that purpose, I am all for new cans.
The “supporters” did not indicate whether they had had any discussions with the Public Works Department before initiating a “save the cans” drumbeat. Nor was there any discussion about potential alternatives to removing the picturesque cans, such as capping them and leaving them as points of interest along the walk rather using them as garbage cans.