MEMPHIS, Tenn. (localmemphis.com) – InNorthaven, at the very end of McWhirter Avenue is a little dead-end street. Thereare no homes on this street. It resembles a landfill.
Thedead-end streets of Northaven have been magnets for trash for years; couches,appliances, chairs. The big stuff usually ends up right next to the illegaldumping signs.
VanessaHill says it’s happening again.
“Therewere TVs, couches, trash of all kinds,” she said. “Tree limbs, all of thatwas back there.”
Thisis worse. We found household garbage, bits of food, used prophylactics, and othertypes of medical waste.
Allof this within walking distance for the children who live right around thecorner.
KateshaTate says it is happening all the time – people using the neighborhood to getrid of their junk.
“Wesaw one the other day right over here” she said. “The car literallypulled up, and within 20 seconds he was gone, but when he came back through allthe trash was gone off his car.”
Otherson the McWhirter Avenue say they often see pickup trucks loaded with trash bagshead down their street. When they come back, the trucks are empty.
Thefolks we spoke with say they have called Shelby County officials.
“We’vecalled” Vanessa Hill said. “We’ve called. It just seemed like thepast couple of weeks it has gotten real bad. It’s worse than it has everbeen.”
Northavenis a place where life can be a challenge. A working class place. Most of thehomes are in pretty good shape.
Residentsmust pay to have trash removed as Shelby County does not provide that service.
KateshaTate says in spite of calls and complaints, McWhirter has become a one-waystreet when it comes to all of this garbage.
“I’ma stay-at-home mom,” she said. “I’m always here and I’ve never seenanyone go down there to try and pick that stuff up.”
Wehave let officials with Shelby County know about the problem.
