by David Moore on 2015-05-15
As a resident of Colton, I'm disappointed but not terribly surprised at the misinformation campaign being waged by our trash hauler in a desperate attempt to keep its city contract.
In a recent City News story, "Council, Republic Butt Heads in Contract Negotiations," the company's general manager warned of lost jobs and property taxes if the city were to bid out its services.
Not only is that factually incorrect, it's logically flawed on so many levels.
Let's start with those jobs. The GM, Andre Griggs, states in the article that because Republic Services employs union workers, they're not likely to get hired by a new trash hauler if the contract were put out to bid.
How is that, Mr. Griggs? The truth is, any new company is very likely to have interest in the institutional knowledge and relationship that current employees possess.
Besides, isn't the goal here to get the best deal for the community?
Which leads to property taxes, which Mr. Griggs claims we'll lose if the transfer station - which Republic is under contract to operate - also goes away.
Neither is going to happen. Republic still has a contract to haul waste in Loma Linda, and will continue to bring that waste to the Colton transfer station. And if, somehow, Republic were to stop operating the station, someone else would.
These are the facts.
Republic needs to stop with the threats.