June 10, 2004

Shopping cart giveaway saves city money

By Jeanne C. Lewis
Staff Writer

The city of San Jose’s Abandoned Cart Prevention Program completed its third giveaway of 78 shopping carts at Almaden’s Le Mirador Senior Apartments. It is the first presentation made specifically for seniors, providing them with the durable plastic coated shopping carts that are theirs to enjoy and use.

On hand for the festivities were Vice Mayor Pat Dando, Planning, Building and Code Enforcement [PBCE] Deputy Director Michael Hannon, PBCE Code Enforcement Administrator Jamie L. Matthews, PBCE Code Enforcement Inspector Greg Peacock and over 100 excited seniors and interested citizens.

“You may wonder why the city of San Jose would be interested in shopping carts,” Vice Mayor Pat Dando said to the crowd, looking trim and healthy in a black and red pantsuit. “Before the city passed this policy, we would have the city staff collecting 1,400 carts a month, which had a serious budget impact. And there was the neighborhood blight of the carts and also, the public safety hazard.”

The vice mayor and the code enforcement team devised a winning and cost-effective solution for the problem.

Some cities have developed programs encouraging stores to contract with the city, which administers the recovery of the carts and charges the retailers accordingly which in the end impacts consumer prices. The city of San Jose’s approach was to design a holistic program where the primary accountability for the cart remains with the owner.

Since the program was adopted in February 2001, 21,800 abandoned carts have been removed from the city streets, sidewalks and parks. Of the abandoned carts, 7,684 have been recycled due to the lack of an identifiable owner. Citizen complaints of discarded carts have been reduced by 89 percent. The ordinance and program was developed in partnership with the retail industry of which there are 150 stores participating. Thirteen of the retail stores have installed mechanical devices so carts can no longer leave the site as a result of the program. And over 1,000 foldable “convenience carts” have been sold by the retail partners in the Convenience Cart Program or provided by the city to low-income seniors and individuals.

So innovative and effective is the city of San Jose’s Abandoned Cart Prevention Program, San Francisco, Stockton, Campbell, North Las Vegas, Livermore, Fremont, Tracy, Mesa, Ariz. and others have contacted the city to emulate the success. San Francisco’s program costs approximately $2.9 million annually. The cost of San Jose’s program is not supported by General Funds and is less than $225,000 yearly with the carts being purchased by a Federal Community Development Block Grant.

“These events are always emotional for me,” Jamie L. Mathews, code enforcement administrator, a 20-year veteran with the city, said. “The smiles and hugs remind me why I have dedicated my life to public service. I feel honored to be a part of a program that recognizes the need and dignity of our seniors.”

Le Mirador’s very existence would not exist without the participation of the city and private enterprise working together for a worthwhile goal. Jim Morley, president of California Real Estate Company contacted the city over five years ago regarding the possibility of building a senior complex at the property site of Coleman and Almaden Expressway. Marjorie Styles, community manager of Le Mirador for the past two years, contacted the city regarding a giveaway of the carts for the seniors at the apartments. PBCE under the direction of code enforcement inspector Greg Peacock worked with City Year and the Boy Scouts of America to assemble the shopping carts for Le Miradors’ seniors.

“I’m here to receive a cart,” Laresa Serpa said with a slight Russian accent, proud to be an American citizen for five years. “It is very nice of the city to give them to us.”

“The city really does a lot for us,” Star Baker, another resident of Le Mirador and a past foster mother of 49 commented. “It’s great.”

Perhaps Vice Mayor Dando summed it up best at the event: “Healthy neighborhoods and strong communities are made from people just like you. When you move into a neighborhood you’re out there, you’re open to what needs to be done and to making your neighborhood better and also your quality of life. Thank you for participating in this program.”