Trenton’s version of G-Men leading the charge

Machine Gun Kelly apparently shouted, “Don’t shoot me, G-Men,” prior to his surrender.

Trenton offered a non-lethal version of G-Men yesterday as Mayor Reed Gusciora and Tyrone Gee, a sanitation truck driver, have joined forces to end the deluge of mattresses being left uncollected on city streets.

Gee received the mayor’s blessing with a personal desire to collect all mattresses. He and co-worker Max Villanueva have apparently collected more than 100 mattresses over the past several days, many of them listed in a Trentonian article that identified 92 mattresses left on streets and in back alleys throughout Trenton.

Gusciora on Wednesday rescinded a city requirement that mattresses must be wrapped in plastic, a move that included emails being sent to Local 2286 President Ramona Thomas, instructing that solid waste workers collect improperly disposed mattresses.

“It does not say anything about mattresses not being wrapped but those uncovered mattresses would fall in that category,” Thomas said. “Whether we collect them remains an unanswered question although I have a meeting scheduled with the mayor on Friday. I’m sure this issue will be discussed.”

Thomas said she remains concerned about the safety of her union members, especially an issue regarding mattresses infested by bedbugs.

“I don’t think my workers should be placed in jeopardy of taking bedbugs into their homes,” Thomas explained. The union president conceded that bedbugs can be found in carpets, furniture and other items set out for garbage collection.

Gusciora, who campaigned on cleaning up the city, held another collaboration meeting yesterday morning as City Council President Kathy McBride, South Ward Councilman George Muschal, Police Director Pedro Medina and Capt. Stephen Varn met at Pat’s Diner.

“These are sessions held periodically to discuss numerous issues just to make sure we’re on the same page regarding our mission,” Mayor Gusciora explained.

Gusciora said the group discussed garbage, mattress collection, televisions, signage regarding illegal dumping and fines. Discussions included a reward of up to $1,000 for information that leads to the conviction of an illegal dumper.

The mayor said he expects to launch significant fines for dumpers on Sept. 4, including a $2,500 fine for first-time offenders, potential vehicle confiscation and community service for law breakers.

“Change is coming,” Gusciora promised. “Expect the hiring of a full array of inspectors. We have to get a handle on this issue.”