Taking Action: Homestead's Proactive Approach to Illegal Dumping

One of Nzeribe (Zerry) Ihekwaba’s first acts as a new city manager was to create an Illegal Dumping Task Force to take a more aggressive approach to this problem. The Homestead Police Department and its Code Enforcement officers have been collaborating on a citywide operation targeting illegal dumping and littering.

Multiple CCTV cameras have been installed in key areas across the city to monitor such activities. There have been 65 code compliance cases, 15 surveillance details, 411 monitored, and twelve arrests, according to Camila Varcarcel, spokesperson for Homestead. During a recent meeting, Ihekwaba said that he has personally inspected the effort that law enforcement is making on illegal dumping, and gone on rides with officers. He is encouraging efforts to repair potholes, street lights, and traffic signals. He is also leading a rollout for a new code compliance department.

He said the increased effort to fight illegal dumping has led to some interesting discoveries. Officers have found tires, large furniture items, and trash from outside of Homestead. In some instances, officers found packages with the addresses of the dumpers. They used this information to track down those dumping illegally. The City of Homestead has found that dumping violators have disposed of landscaping, and general items such as mattresses and old furniture.

Code enforcement and police have determined the areas where illegal dumping is taking place to be mostly concentrated on the western side of the city. They often dump in the middle of the night and try to avoid CCTV cameras and extra police details. Many of the dumpers are from outside Homestead. Some are landscaping companies that want a place to dump landscaping debris. Those who live in Homestead can take bulk trash to 548 Southeast Sixth Avenue. Residents receive bulk trash pickup every two weeks, according to Camila Varcarcel, spokesperson for Homestead.

During the recent meeting, the council discussed a presentation on a large bus bench project designed to improve Krome Avenue. There will be funding for 20 bus or trolley bus benches and shelters. This project is due to part of a $7.6 million Federal Transit Administration Grant to update bus shelters, sidewalks, and pedestrian access improvements in Downtown Homestead, according to Varcarcel. There will be new signs, sidewalks, trees and landscaping. There will also be new lighting for the benches.

Additionally, the city has announced the launch of its new website domain, www.homesteadfl.gov. This update is considered important in the city’s digital evolution, and it replaces the previous domain with a more intuitive web address that increases cybersecurity and encourages residents to be more comfortable when dealing with government entities online. The city will unveil a new city logo to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. It will be revealed on July Fourth and will be in use for two years.