News Poll
 
Where do you plan to spend most of your money on holiday shopping this year?
In San Benito County
Outside the county
On the Internet
From TV
Past Polls
   Top News
 
   Opinion
 

 Hollister leaders and a strategy called hope
Nov 5, 2009
 
 Editorial: Transit leaders should scale back Dial-A-Ride, raise prices
Nov 3, 2009
 
  More Opinion...
   

NEWS > RED PHONE


Trash Talk Episode Three: The homeless strike back
Apr 11, 2008
 By The Crimson Crusader

Previously on Red Phone ... Torches were lit and pitchforks were sharpened as angry townfolk called in, fuming over "roaming rummagers" digging through their recycling and carting it off to the recycling plant in exchange for hard currency.

And with Hollister Code Enforcement Officer Mike Chambless explaining that Hollister Disposal has no intention of prosecuting the Dumpster divers, bereaved recyclers were left to cry alone with no hope of protecting their adored aluminum and preferred polymers.

This week, resident John Wolgamott, a homeless man, called in to defend his and his family's rights to go through the trash.

"We're not thieves," said Wolgamott, a homeless Hollister resident. "This is how we make our income. It's how we eat. This stuff is being thrown away anyway, so what difference does it make if we take it or the waste company takes it?"

Wolgamott assured local trash tossers he and his "clan" may make a big splash when they cannonball into a pool of debris but that they always mop up afterward.

"We always try to respect the Dumpster and never make a mess," he said. "We carry brooms and cleaning supplies wherever we go."


The Crimson Crusader
Got a question or a comment? Send us an email.

Submit your Red Phone question here or go below to comment on this Red Phone story.

Subject:
Message:
Your comment will be posted anonymously, however, please fill out the fields below in case we need to contact you for verification purposes. Please be advised, information included in the "message" field may be published online or in the newspaper.
Contact Name:
Phone Number:
Email Address:
This Is CAPTCHA Image
Write the characters in the image above:

POST A COMMENT

If you are under 13 years of age you may read this message board, but you may not participate. Here are the full legal terms you agree to by using this comment form.

blog comments powered by Disqus

Add to Google Add to My Yahoo!  Email This Article  Print
 News: Red Phone
Red phone: Slow down, Andretti
May 16, 2008
 
Crusader's latest endeavor: Make city's dangerous intersection safer
May 9, 2008
 
Red phone: Undervalued, overtaxed?
May 1, 2008
 
Red phone: Nothing but the 'hole' truth
Apr 18, 2008
 
 News: City and Government
City audit finds $507K left over from deposits
Nov 4, 2009
 
Contentious hillside rules head back to the board
Nov 2, 2009
 
County lays out plan to address permitting issues
Oct 30, 2009
 
Downtown building next in line for facade funds
Oct 29, 2009
 
 News: Crime, Fire & Courts
Two men assaulted by group at 7-Eleven
Nov 6, 2009
 
Teacher accused of lewd acts has hearing set for Monday
Nov 6, 2009
 
Police investigate stabbing at Hawkins Street party
Nov 6, 2009
 
Police: Gavilan abduction story was a hoax
Nov 5, 2009
 
More Red Phone... More City and Government... More Crime, Fire & Courts...


 Obituaries

 Elaine Marie Liggett
8/14/1944 - 10/30/2009

 Bill J Key
1/29/1930 - 10/19/2009

 Hildur A. Wright
11/1/1908 - 10/30/2009

 Dolores R. Cortez
12/20/1947 - 10/25/2009

 Michael Robert King
2/14/1957 - 10/24/2009

 Luis Yanez Serrano
8/25/1913 - 7/13/2009

 Russell H. Garrett
9/22/1930 - 10/12/2009

 Russell H. Garrett
6/22/1930 - 10/12/2009

 John Anthony deSouza
1/16/1948 - 10/16/2009

 Photos
News
     
Sports
     
Special Events
     
Full Pages
     
 Videos
San Benito Score: Football, golf, tennis and cross country
Nov 6, 2009
 
San Benito Score: Baler football, golf and volleyball
Oct 30, 2009
 
San Benito Score: A Baler kicker arrives
Oct 23, 2009
 
News and You: What's the future of I.T. in the county?
Oct 21, 2009
 
 Special Reports
 Most Wanted
 
More Obituaries... More Photos... More Videos...
Advertise | Contact Us | Subscriber Center | RSS Feed
Copyright © 2009 | MainStreet Media Group | All rights reserved.