Cleveland residents report they are too often dealing with lingering piles of debris caused by evictions and foreclosures.
Desiree Torres told News 5 she's concerned about the safety of her family because of the large amount of trash and debris just sitting in front of her next-door neighbor's W. 20th St. home.
"I think it's disgusting and it's been here for a couple of weeks already," said Torres. "I'm concerned about rodents and bugs. I'm a very clean person, and I saw a rodent trying to get into my home."
It's the same story at a home on Storer Avenue on Cleveland's west side.
Neighbors have been complaining about trash strewn all around the exterior of a vacant home but said the homeowner and the city have done nothing about the potential health hazard, following an eviction last week.
Cleveland west clean-up team leader David Reuse told News 5 he's dealt with dozens of cases in the past two years involving trash and debris just sitting out for weeks following an eviction or foreclosure.
Reuse says his team is too often left to clean-up the mess. He believes city departments should be doing more to hold landlords and homeowners accountable for getting rid of the debris.
"The city needs to do something to stop this stuff," said Reuse. "I dealt with one last summer that was out for three months. I'm constantly coming out and cleaning up things like this with court community service. The landlord doesn't care, the city doesn't care."
Cleveland Housing Court Judge Ron O'Leary told News 5 residents are encouraged to call their court if an eviction aftermath isn't cleaned up after a few days.
O'Leary said it is up to city waste collection to issue citations to landlords who aren't getting the job done.
"Yes it's up to the city departments to take the action to get it here to court," said O'Leary. "If it doesn't get cleaned up quickly, then contact public works."
The City of Cleveland quickly responded to our story, explaining trash collection crews can't pick-up debris unless the trash meets specific set out guidelines.
The city recommends landlords rent a dumpster from public works to help deal with debris following an eviction or foreclosure, and told News 5 dumpster rental is cheaper than paying for a ticket and a fine.
Meanwhile, Reuse believes the city needs to do more when it comes to enforcement and holding landlords accountable.
"So the neighbors have to live in a neighborhood like this, and look at garbage laying around, because the process is so slow to get anything done," said Reuse.
