Thoughts about Mary Lusk

I learned of the death of Mary Lusk, former mayor Newark, from an e-mail from Marc Guthrie, City Council president.

I am among those who knew Mary while she was mayor also had the opportunity to work with her on a few of her projects (at a time when I wasn't employed by a newspaper). I will always remember her with fondness and respect.

Marc summarized his feelings in a way that I - and many others - share. It's fitting just to let Marc say it here - for all of us.

"Few have been stronger advocates for our community than this wonderful woman. Mary has always had a deep concern for Newark and its residents.

"A few weeks ago when I visited Mary at Autumn Health Care, the first thing that she said to me was, 'Tell me, how are things at City Hall?' The well-being of her community, her family and her commitment to her faith were always paramount to Mary Lusk.

"Toward the end of her term as Mayor, Mary made a decision not to seek a second term as a Mayor of a City she loved, because of her love for her family.

"I will miss Mary’s friendship and her good counsel very much."

There is a solution for curbside trash

Trash haulers came up for discussion again in Council Chambers with the Advocate report seeming to demonstrate a new interest by the city in jiggering the trash-collection system.

A complaint from a citizen during Monday's Service Committee meeting concerned trash totes being left at the curb longer than 24 hours, which is the city code's maximum, according to the news report.

This seemed to stir the idea that if the city were divided among four trash haulers - an idea that was beaten back under the Bain administration - that the problem of sidewalk totes and trash would vanish.

If there are certain incompetent haulers contributing to this situation, they should be corrected and maybe prohibited from doing business here.

But no matter how many or how few haulers there are, the problem is either with non-compliant residents or haulers. Eliminating competition among haulers is not going to solve every trash and rotten-alley problem, including - especially - residents who foul their own sidewalks.

Getting compliance with the ordinance on curbside trash and totes is the same as with getting compliance on illegal parking and loose dogs: Nothing short of policing will stop it.