For the second time in three weeks, Solid Waste illegal dumping inspectors along with Independence Avenue C I D Avenue angels and East Patrol Community Interaction officer Greg Smith have come back to clean out an alley in the 500 block of Lawndale that is a popular living area for transients and vagrants.

Three weeks ago today a clean up effort was initiated in the same spot along the sidewalk where vagrants had taken up residence. That sidewalk was left clean and free of debris.

Today’s site is in the alley easement directly to the North that had been re-populated by a group of five individuals, three of which were on hand this morning for the event. In addition to trash, approximately a dozen used syringes were recovered from the encampment.

All occupants of the camp were given a three day notice ahead of the clean up and were offered services and resources to help get them off the streets.

When asked where she would go, a woman named Sharamia smiled and said “I don’t know, we’ll know when we get there.” On her own since the age of fourteen,  Sharamia has been on the streets since she was nineteen. She will celebrate her 26th birthday on October 12th.

Solid Waste Department trucks will remove the trash and items not taken by the five residents. Independence Avenue CID Avenue Angels were instrumental in getting things back in ship shape.

“We’ve gotten a slew of complaints from residents and business owners about this camp specifically,” said East Patrol CIO Greg Smith. “I’m sure we’ll be back again.”