Gateway Joins Fight on City Waste Proposal

Gateway to L.A. has joined with numerous business organizations and major employers to oppose the city’s extension of its proposed Multifamily Waste Program to commercial buildings in Los Angeles.

In a letter to the City Council, Gateway indicated that such a move would result in higher costs for property owners and eliminate group discounts on multiple properties that customers currently enjoy. Gateway and other business groups encouraged the city to make sure that any trash hauler franchise proposal includes the requirement that trash hauling services remain available seven days a week; allow the negotiation of contracts that are tailored to the needs of businesses, both large and small; and recycling requirements flexible enough to accommodate properties that may not have space for on-site blue bin separation.

Because the new franchise fee would essentially serve as a hidden tax on business while receiving the same, or perhaps lesser, services for higher costs, Gateway called on the City Attorney to opine on whether this hidden tax violates the recently voter-approved Proposition 26, which requires that all new fees should be approved by a two-thirds vote.