South Gate Ca Contracts

South Gate business owners, angered by hefty hikes in their trash bills, are pressuring the city to kill an agreement that gives one hauler a rubbish monopoly. Commercial trash rates were restructured on Aug. 1, when the agreement between the city and Torrance-based Western Waste Industries took effect, making the company the sole rubbish collector in the city. Before that, commercial garbage had been handled by 11 haulers.

South Gate business owners, angered by hefty hikes in their trash bills, are pressuring the city to kill an agreement that gives one hauler a rubbish monopoly. Commercial trash rates were restructured on Aug. 1, when the agreement between the city and Torrance-based Western Waste Industries took effect, making the company the sole rubbish collector in the city. Before that, commercial garbage had been handled by 11 haulers.

South Gate police officers returned to work Wednesday, ending a two-day sickout over a contract dispute with the city. Crime-fighting during the 48-hour "blue flu" was handled by top police administrators, about four officers with less than a year's experience and unarmed community service employees in the department. "We were fortunate there were no emergencies," said Police Chief Ron George, who canceled his vacation and patrolled the streets of the city of nearly 80,000.

South Gate police officers returned to work Wednesday, ending a two-day sickout over a contract dispute with the city. Crime-fighting during the 48-hour "blue flu" was handled by top police administrators, about four officers with less than a year's experience and unarmed community service employees in the department. "We were fortunate there were no emergencies," said Police Chief Ron George, who canceled his vacation and patrolled the streets of the city of nearly 80,000.