Barber shop owner complains about trash in Upper Darby
UPPER DARBY >> A township barber with a shop on Marshall Road, at Kent Road, talked trash with township council seeking relief from illegal dumping next to his business at a recent meeting and received immediate attention.
Tyson Combs, 38, a master barber with a shop and school at 6805 and 6807 Marshall Road, respectively, says he tries to keep the outside area clean but can’t get township sanitation workers to pick it up once it’s bagged.
“One (trash) truck drove over a bag of trash in the driveway,” Combs said. “Then they drove right over a headboard and it got stuck under the truck. The trash back there has been there for two months,” noting trash trucks come down the alley behind Kent Road, next to his property, and drive right past the piles of trash.
“None of this trash is mine. The trash trucks came through and wouldn’t pick up any of this stuff.
“Nothing seems to stop people from dumping here.”
Chief Administrative Officer Thomas Judge Jr. called the situation “unacceptable” at the meeting.
“The trash people have to pick up trash,” Judge said. “Please call us.”
The next day (Thursday), John Zahner, a Sanitation Department Supervisor, met with Combs to access the situation and promised to have everything cleaned up on Friday.
Combs said speaking to council was a first for him but he wanted to get the trash cleaned up.
“I was only there to talk about trash,” Combs said.
He decided to talk about other topics after hearing other residents speak.
Combs took advantage of the five minute limit at the microphone to tell officials of his new program starting in November to teach young men to be barbers.
He’s also partnered with “Escape the Trap (Take a Risk and Prosper),” a program to engage young teens in more positive activities instead of getting into trouble.
According to Combs, the barber school, Generations Barber School, and Escape the Trap will give kids a sense of what they can do.
“In a lot of communities today the barber shop is the only black owned business,” Combs said. “It gives kids a sense of what they can do. Barber shops are down to earth places and they see a barber makes a nice income in a relaxed environment.”
Combs says he fell by the wayside and was even jailed for robbery when he was much younger.
“It was wrong,” Combs said. “I served my time. I was a troubled youth and I wanted to make a change and I was able to open a business. I want to bring that back and give to the youth something that saved my life.”
Council member Sekela Coles thanked Combs for his efforts.
“I would like to support your program,” Coles said.
Combs can be reached at 215-667-7950.