KHOU 11 News is 'Watching Out For You'

HOUSTON – KHOU 11 News is beginning a new series called "Watching Out For You," and our first assignment took us to Cargill Street just off Gellhorn Drive in east Houston.

"This is sad," said resident Carl Wynne. "I'm really hurt."

Wynne has called the Pleasantville neighborhood his home for more than 50 years and is disgusted by the trash littering his street.

"We are taxpayers," Wynne said, "and the city of Houston do not have any business treating us that way."

The pile of tree and other waste isn't only an eyesore, but it's blocking a fire hydrant and attracting snakes and rats, too.

"I've spent probably over $100 buying pesticides to make barriers around my house to prevent (rodents and insects) from coming in," said neighbor Leona Johnson.

It all started in September 2014 after an elderly neighbor passed away and left her house to a young granddaughter.

The young woman had very little money and did her best to get the property cleaned up. She had enough cash to get the overgrown trees cut down but couldn't afford to have them hauled off.

"She thought she was doing a good thing," said Leona Johnson. "She called the city and they told her they would pick it up. So, she took care of her responsibility."

But no one took any responsibility after that.

From a home video, we know the city trucks showed up on a heavy trash day but didn't complete the project—and no one returned to finished the job.

So, the residents on Cargill Street contacted KHOU 11 News and we took their problem to Houston's Solid Waste Management Department.

"If it's creating a public nuisance or if there are other extenuating circumstances, we will review the situation and see if we can help out." said Gary Readore, the waste department's chief of staff. "We have hearts and we do review cases."

As a general rule, the city will only pick up eight cubic yards of waste, which is the equivalent of two pickup truck beds full of trash.

Readore admitted that the calls to 311 never got anywhere because the pile was too big and no one ever took the time to hear the unique circumstance.

"It's a big city," Readore said. "Calls get transferred around and maybe somebody dropped the ball."

So, 24 hours after KHOU 11 News got involved, the city picked the ball up and started the job.

"This is a blessing," said Wynne, as he watched a crew scooping up the trash. "This make me cry. Boy this is something."

Finally, Wynne feels at home again.