Bloomington - Mayor Winstead Misleads Citizens
On March 21, 2015, Bloomington Mayor Gene Winstead spoke to a neighborhood watch citizens group. The video is prominently posted on the city's Government Managed Trash Collection website page and on YouTube.
In his presentation, Mayor Winstead makes a number of claims that are not only refuted by his own city employees, but in one case was contradicted by a citizen survey he authorized and his own comments made at a later city council meeting.
False Statement #1: On March 21, 2015, Mayor Winstead states, "Safety is a concern going forward... If we are going to go forward with a program, it has to be done with improved safety."
Evidence: In a July 11, 2014 report to the City Council, Bloomington Public Works Director Karl Keel stated, "Staff is not aware of a single (accident) incident involving a garbage truck in recent history." In addition Garbage Haulers for Citizen Choice (GHCC) has reviewed over 10 years worth of Bloomington Police Department records that support Mr. Keel's report, and in addition show that during this same time period, Bloomington city vehicles were involved in over 100 accidents where city employees were at fault.
Conclusion: Garbage trucks have never posed a safety problem in the City of Bloomington and no program can improve a perfect safety record. Mayor Winstead was well aware of these facts prior to his speech on March 21, 2015.
False Statement #2: On March 21, 2015, Mayor Winstead states, "We need to work to improve recycling. One of the goals too really has to be waste reduction."
Evidence: In a July 11, 2014 report to the City Council, Bloomington Public Works Director Karl Keel stated, "Organized collection will have very little impact on environmental issues" and "The recycling data collected by Hennepin County does not suggest that organized collection results in increased recycling rates."
Conclusion: Mayor Winstead was well aware of the fact that Government Managed Waste Collection does NOT result in increased recycling rates when he made his speech on March 21, 2015.
False Statement #3: On March 21, 2015, Mayor Winstead states, "The road impacts are tremendous. They can be demonstrated, we can show it."
Evidence: In a July 11, 2014 report to the City Council, Bloomington Public Works Director Karl Keel stated, "Such a reduction (in garbage trucks through government managed trash collection) would not likely have a noticeable impact on actual safety or result in the need for less roadway maintenance." Public Works Directors in cities such as Arden Hills and Roseville have made similar public statements.
Conclusion: Mayor Winstead was well aware that his own city staff stated that Government Managed Waste Collection would not reduce road maintenance when he made his speech on March 21, 2015.
False and Contradictory Statement #4: On March 21, 2015, Mayor Winstead states, "The existing system that we have now is not working in the City of Bloomington and we have to do something to rectify it."
Evidence Statement was False: Mayor Winstead was on the city council when they approved the funding and questions for the 2012 city survey. He was also on the council when they received the results. His comments on May 11, 2015 demonstrate that he was well aware of the survey results.
The survey showed that 89% of residents rated Garbage Collection as Excellent or Good. It also showed 88% rated Recycling and 85% rated Yard Waste Pick-up as Excellent or Good. Only 16 residents rated Garbage Collection, 12 residents Recycling , and 17 residents Yard Waste Pick-up, as Poor.
Garbage Collection services rated higher than the Police Department at 79% or the Fire Department at 74%.
Evidence Statement was Contradictory: At the May 11, 2015 City Council meeting, Mayor Winstead admitted that the citizen survey showed high satisfaction with haulers and the existing trash collection system.
Conclusion: Mayor Winstead was well aware of the high marks citizens gave garbage collection, recycling, and solid waste collection before he claimed on March 21, 2015 that the "existing system... is not working."
On March 21, 2015, Bloomington Mayor Gene Winstead spoke to a neighborhood watch citizens group. The video is prominently posted on the city's Government Managed Trash Collection website page and on YouTube.
In his presentation, Mayor Winstead makes a number of claims that are not only refuted by his own city employees, but in one case was contradicted by a citizen survey he authorized and his own comments made at a later city council meeting.
False Statement #1: On March 21, 2015, Mayor Winstead states, "Safety is a concern going forward... If we are going to go forward with a program, it has to be done with improved safety."
Evidence: In a July 11, 2014 report to the City Council, Bloomington Public Works Director Karl Keel stated, "Staff is not aware of a single (accident) incident involving a garbage truck in recent history." In addition Garbage Haulers for Citizen Choice (GHCC) has reviewed over 10 years worth of Bloomington Police Department records that support Mr. Keel's report, and in addition show that during this same time period, Bloomington city vehicles were involved in over 100 accidents where city employees were at fault.
Conclusion: Garbage trucks have never posed a safety problem in the City of Bloomington and no program can improve a perfect safety record. Mayor Winstead was well aware of these facts prior to his speech on March 21, 2015.
False Statement #2: On March 21, 2015, Mayor Winstead states, "We need to work to improve recycling. One of the goals too really has to be waste reduction."
Evidence: In a July 11, 2014 report to the City Council, Bloomington Public Works Director Karl Keel stated, "Organized collection will have very little impact on environmental issues" and "The recycling data collected by Hennepin County does not suggest that organized collection results in increased recycling rates."
Conclusion: Mayor Winstead was well aware of the fact that Government Managed Waste Collection does NOT result in increased recycling rates when he made his speech on March 21, 2015.
False Statement #3: On March 21, 2015, Mayor Winstead states, "The road impacts are tremendous. They can be demonstrated, we can show it."
Evidence: In a July 11, 2014 report to the City Council, Bloomington Public Works Director Karl Keel stated, "Such a reduction (in garbage trucks through government managed trash collection) would not likely have a noticeable impact on actual safety or result in the need for less roadway maintenance." Public Works Directors in cities such as Arden Hills and Roseville have made similar public statements.
Conclusion: Mayor Winstead was well aware that his own city staff stated that Government Managed Waste Collection would not reduce road maintenance when he made his speech on March 21, 2015.
False and Contradictory Statement #4: On March 21, 2015, Mayor Winstead states, "The existing system that we have now is not working in the City of Bloomington and we have to do something to rectify it."
Evidence Statement was False: Mayor Winstead was on the city council when they approved the funding and questions for the 2012 city survey. He was also on the council when they received the results. His comments on May 11, 2015 demonstrate that he was well aware of the survey results.
The survey showed that 89% of residents rated Garbage Collection as Excellent or Good. It also showed 88% rated Recycling and 85% rated Yard Waste Pick-up as Excellent or Good. Only 16 residents rated Garbage Collection, 12 residents Recycling , and 17 residents Yard Waste Pick-up, as Poor.
Garbage Collection services rated higher than the Police Department at 79% or the Fire Department at 74%.
Evidence Statement was Contradictory: At the May 11, 2015 City Council meeting, Mayor Winstead admitted that the citizen survey showed high satisfaction with haulers and the existing trash collection system.
Conclusion: Mayor Winstead was well aware of the high marks citizens gave garbage collection, recycling, and solid waste collection before he claimed on March 21, 2015 that the "existing system... is not working."