Gagan Nanda,  Daily Californian, November 22, 2000

Residents Gather, Voice Qualms Regarding Yard

Berkeley residents chipped in their share of community service by attending a neighborhood tour yesterday afternoon in an area of West Berkeley famous for its pollution.

The tour sponsored by the Public Works Department, covered the entire premises of the city's corporation yard, where all city vehicles are fueled, maintained, and stored.

Public Works official examines drums of waste oil stored at Corporation Yard

Concerns arose from the Berkeley residents who attended the event that authorities have been practicing bad hazardous waste management and storage at the yard, leading to bad air quality, noise pollution and traffic congestion.

One local resident said he wanted extra assurances from the city that the yard would be cleaned and is not so hazardous.

"We need the (city's) toxic waste management to come in December and give a statement of approval," said L A Wood. "The Public Works Department has to look professional, and the yard cannot remain the last place in town to be swept."

Called a "rock and gravel yard" the yard," the yard's maintenance has been neglected over the past months, resulting in piles of waste and improper storage of dangerous chemicals, nearby residents said. Since the yard is not properly cared for, it contributes to the unhealthy air pollution levels in the industrial and residential neighborhood -- incurring the wrath of those residents who have to face the yard daily.

"I have to live with so much noise and dust," said Toni Horodysky, who lives on near the site. "They fill their trucks with gravel for two hours and leave the tailgates open. The drivers are so bad, they run over stop signs.

Residents talk to Public Works officials

Other concerns raised by the residents included excessive graffiti on nearby walls, unwanted weeds on fences and loud, blaring messages on the public intercom system.

Patrick Keilch, deputy director of the Public Works Corporation stressed that the yard was the lowest priority level for corporate funding, and that this hindered progress of otherwise sound plans to improve its quality.

"We envision installing a beautiful fence around the yard but outside funding is very limited," he said. "We have sent our trucks several times to (the landfill on) Second Street, but they simply do not let us dump the waste there."