Early Wednesday morning, a truck rolled slowly along rue Pearmain at Deep East Oakland while unloading thousands of gallons from an unknown mud on the whole road, safety images of a business.
“This street is a dumping ground for the city of Oakland,” said the owner of the local company John Lewis. “Of course, the city of Oakland will do nothing with it. They will not solve the problem.”
It was John Lewis’ security cameras that attracted a truck that poured thousands of sludge gallons in the whole Pearmain street just before 2:00 a.m.
He had a high -end architectural glass company in the city for over 50 years. He said he was fed up with all waste and discharges on his street, but it was a new hollow.
“I don’t know if it’s toxic, I don’t know if it’s benign. I have no idea what it is,” said Lewis.
He called the member of the Council who represents the district, Ken Houston.
“I have been here with my business since 1991. And that is simply aggravated,” Lewis told Houston.
“I was at the office 151 days. It is a spill of this old administration. We have a new administration, and we are not going to tolerate this absurdity,” replied Houston.
The member of the Houston Council said that in addition to aggressive proceedings, there must also be more cleaning.
“You have graffiti, vandalism. Ah, let me continue and throw it here. No one cares. It is the mentality,” said Houston.
He worked as an entrepreneur and said he thought he was knowing exactly what had happened on Pearmain.
“Someone has done a job, such as suspension work, concrete work, cement work. And they have washed it and they said, just let me throw it in the street instead of having it properly. It is a crime against this community. If you live there with your new baby, how would you feel? If you were a business owner, how would you feel?
Lewis said he was supporting Houston’s plan, but also wonders if something will change due to the lack of response from the city for years. He jokes, there are advantages to that.
“The best part of having a business in Oakland is that they leave you quiet,” said Lewis.
If the responsible person is captured and condemned, he could incur heavy fines, as well as the cost of cleaning and perhaps even of the prison.