Pandemic delays cleanup of road near train tracks
QI recently drove on Monterey Road from Bernal Avenue toward Cottle Road and was appalled by the burned-out cars and mountains of trash next to the railroad tracks. I understand homeless encampments, but this looks like a war zone with the burned-out cars littering the landscape.
Is there something different going on here?
— Dan Martin, Hollister
AThis road is a cesspool. Cars may have been torched by homeless campers or vandals. San Jose and Union Pacific agreed on a plan to keep UP’s property clear of encampments, with UP picking up trash once a month, starting in North San Jose and stretching to the Morgan Hill border.
But then the pandemic clobbered the world, and cleaning up trash like this was put on hold. It’s in need of a massive cleanup, which may come later this year.
QThere are high weeds (4 feet or more) growing along our feeder street (Royalwood Way) and also along Queenswood
Way on both sides of the Los Alamitos Creek Trail. The city of San Jose and the Santa Clara Valley Water District share responsibility for the trail.
When we first moved here, each year they trimmed the bushes, cleared the weeds and mulched sides of the trail. That has not happened for many years, sadly.
Now, every night we hear firecrackers. As you can imagine, it’s pretty scary. Can you get someone out here?
— Roberta Howe, San Jose
AA plea has gone in, but street cleanups are often on hold because of COVID-19. As for the fireworks, which could start a fire, you can report them at sanjoseca.gov/ fireworks, by calling a 24hour hotline at 408-5355600, or calling 311 to report that people are setting off fireworks in your area.
QI just bought a new car and want to keep my current Yosemite plates. My old car will probably be donated. The dealer told me I can do that at the DMV, but won’t it be hard to get an appointment?
— Jane Haley
AIt might be. Currently, replacement of regular plates and transfer of special plates cannot be done online. I called the DMV to check on this, and they will contact you to resolve this issue.
QI loved the article about the photo radar ticket your wife got in Campbell years ago and that you framed and gave to her as a gift-wrapped Christmas present. I occasionally share what you write with my wife, and this was one of those classic stories.
And her reaction, with eyes rolling, was “Oh God.”
Most memorable.
— Alan Joelstein
AYou describe it well as a Roadshow classic.
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