After Weeks of Calls and E-Mails to City Hall, a Response (Sort of)

EAST ATLANTA — The squeaky wheel may get the grease, as the proverbial saying goes, but when it comes to grease spills, it takes weeks of persistent phone calls to Atlanta City Hall.

Such was the case of Rob Downs, a May Avenue homeowner who logged multiple telephone calls and e-mails to city officials in the Department of Public Works since February 20.

Downs called public works offiials following an incident in which a city garbage truck broke down in May Avenue's 1300 block and spilled sand and a greasy susbstance.

Despite initial promises from a customer service rep that he woud hear back from the DPW, he hasn't and the mess is still there.

"It's been six weeks," Downs told East Atlanta Patch. "I still have not recveived any direct contact from public woks — that’s poor customer service."

Fed up, he sent another e-mail to DPW on April 4 and this time carbon copied Natalyn Archibong, the Atlanta City Councilwoman whose district includes East Atlanta:

Who is going to clean-up this mess?  It has now been over six weeks since I contacted Public Works to clean up the mess left by the broken down garbage truck on our street.

Feb. 19th: The garbage truck broke down and left behind oily residue extending over a block of our street, as well as a large pile of sand.
Feb. 20th: Public Works was contacted and I was told I would receive a response within 48 hours.
Mar. 11th: STILL no response.  I followed-up with Public Works.
Mar. 27th: STILL no response.  Another follow-up with Public Works and Mr. Aaron.  Mr. Aaron leaves a voicemail late that night indicating that someone would be out the next day to clean up the mess.
Mar. 29th: STILL no action taken.  Follow-up yet again with Public Works.
Apr. 4th:  STILL no action taken.  Following-up YET AGAIN with Public Works.

Who is going to take ownership of getting this mess cleaned up?

The street needs to be pressure washed.  We need to be notified on what date and at what time this is going to occur so we can insure cars are off the street.

This is all highly disappointing, especially considering that Public Works has been including requests in the East Atlanta Community Association emails that Public Works is interested in hearing from us about any matters that need resolving.  And her I am attempting still to do so after six weeks.

PLEASE respond and let me know when this mess is going to be cleaned up.  I will be bringing this matter up at the next EACA [East Atlanta Community Association] meeting, so your quick resolution to this would be greatly appreciated.

The lack of a response seems to conflict with the DPW's goal of late to be more responsive to customers.

Indeed, the agency has made an effort to reach out to customers via neighborhood association e-newsletters in which it pledged a committment to "serving the residents and visitors of Atlanta in a timely and efficient manner."

Late Friday, a spokeswoman from Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed told Patch the mess is to be cleaned up over the next few days.

"I have spoken with DPW Deputy Commissioner Dexter White and he has told me that the sand and transmission fluid will be cleaned up by Monday," spokeswoman Reese McCrainie wrote in an e-mail.