Frustrated by illegal dumping that's been hitting Milwaukee in recent years, the nonprofit Rooted & Rising added cleanups to its mission of helping people in and around Washington Park."We want to be seen as an organization that is committed to this neighborhood," said Rooted & Rising CEO Bill Schmitt Tuesday. It's why what they saw on the surveillance cameras outside their own buildings in May was so infuriating. A box truck backing up and unloading its entire contents of junk onto their lot."It is infuriating, and so when we saw the footage I wasn't surprised because it happens too frequently in neighborhoods like this," Schmitt said. Rooted and Rising, to add insult to injury, had to pay to clean all of it up. It appeared to be the contents of a home or apartment, including clothes, toys and furniture. It's a familiar predicament many in the community can relate to. "So that's a burden, an undue burden on those residents, and it's just annoying to come out of your house to find out that someone has unloaded an entire house load of material there," said Rooted & Rising's Director of Community Outreach Adrian Spencer. But they took action, turning over the video to the city of Milwaukee's Department of Neighborhood Services, which led to the prosecution of a Brookfield company called S Men LLC, and a $1,956 fine. "Why are you focusing on the neighborhoods of color, to be specific and you feel so comfortable that you can come and unload here in broad daylight no less?" Spencer said. "So we want to understand what's causing that dynamic." The nonprofit did qualify for a $1,000 reward offered by the city of Milwaukee for evidence of illegal dumping, which includes photos or videos of vehicles involved and the dumpers. "A lot of stuff is captured on video and on footage these days," Schmitt said. "And hopefully that message is starting to get around to some of these contractors and folks who are thinking they can get away with it." Anyone who sees illegal dumping in Milwaukee can report it online at the Department of Neighborhood Services website, or by calling 414-286-CITY.
MILWAUKEE —
Frustrated by illegal dumping that's been hitting Milwaukee in recent years, the nonprofit Rooted & Rising added cleanups to its mission of helping people in and around Washington Park.
"We want to be seen as an organization that is committed to this neighborhood," said Rooted & Rising CEO Bill Schmitt Tuesday.
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It's why what they saw on the surveillance cameras outside their own buildings in May was so infuriating. A box truck backing up and unloading its entire contents of junk onto their lot.
"It is infuriating, and so when we saw the footage I wasn't surprised because it happens too frequently in neighborhoods like this," Schmitt said.
Rooted and Rising, to add insult to injury, had to pay to clean all of it up. It appeared to be the contents of a home or apartment, including clothes, toys and furniture. It's a familiar predicament many in the community can relate to.
"So that's a burden, an undue burden on those residents, and it's just annoying to come out of your house to find out that someone has unloaded an entire house load of material there," said Rooted & Rising's Director of Community Outreach Adrian Spencer.
But they took action, turning over the video to the city of Milwaukee's Department of Neighborhood Services, which led to the prosecution of a Brookfield company called S Men LLC, and a $1,956 fine.
"Why are you focusing on the neighborhoods of color, to be specific and you feel so comfortable that you can come and unload here in broad daylight no less?" Spencer said. "So we want to understand what's causing that dynamic."
The nonprofit did qualify for a $1,000 reward offered by the city of Milwaukee for evidence of illegal dumping, which includes photos or videos of vehicles involved and the dumpers.
"A lot of stuff is captured on video and on footage these days," Schmitt said. "And hopefully that message is starting to get around to some of these contractors and folks who are thinking they can get away with it."
Anyone who sees illegal dumping in Milwaukee can report it online at the Department of Neighborhood Services website, or by calling 414-286-CITY.
