No good deed goes unpunished

I could explain this, but instead I'll just post a copy of the letter I sent to the Santa Monica department of public works today:

To whom it may concern:

I wasn't sure who to contact about this, but I felt compelled to write today after a very upsetting incident which occurred at the Santa Monica recycling center at 2401 Delaware Avenue.  Please let me know if there's someone else to whom I should address my concerns.

First of all, I have been a Santa Monica resident for over ten years.  I have never felt compelled to complain about any city services in all the time I have lived here... until now.  I had an old, malfunctioning TV as well as a dead DVD player that I wanted to dispose of properly.  I had read that such items should not be thrown in the trash as they can cause toxic pollution, and so I went on the Santa Monica city website and learned that Santa Monica residents can drop off such items at 2401 Delaware between the hours of 6 am and 2 pm.  With much effort, I managed to lug this heavy TV into my car, and drove over at 11 am.  When I got there, I was first ignored, and then told by the man at the gate that they were "closed."  I told him I thought they were open until 2, but he said not today, and that it was only open for the recycling trucks.  I asked when I should come back.  He told me 6:00 am.  I asked until when, and he said he couldn't tell me -- "We were only open an hour and a half today.  Come between 6 and 6:30"    I was  surprised and somewhat doubtful that the city of Santa Monica would only allow its residents to drop off electronic recycling for a half an hour early in the morning, and bothered that he apparently was unable to tell me what hours they would be open, so I decided to call and double check.  When I called, I explained what I was looking to do, and the man proceeded to grill me as to whether I lived in Santa Monica.  I told him I did.  Suspiciously, he asked "Are you a resident?"  I told him I was.  He then told me that if I was NOT a resident, I would be charged for the disposal, which he wasn't able to do right now. I assured him once again that I was a resident and that I have a driver's license to prove it.  He then asked if I was a business.  I told him no, I am just a resident who wants to properly dispose of a TV.  He said I could come by and drop it off.  I told him I had been turned away because they were "closed."  He confirmed that they were closed, but said that since I was a resident, it would be okay.  I said all right, I'll come back.

When I returned, the same man was at the gate.  I told him the man I spoke to on the phone said that it was all right for me to drop off my TV because I was a resident.  He would not allow me to drive in, but said I could park my car on the street (which was, technically, illegal in that  area), and walk in and go up to the window.  I followed his instructions.  The man at the window scrutinized my ID, then asked me "Well, where is it?"  I explained that it was in my car which the man at the gate wouldn't let me drive on.  He said "tell him I said it was okay."  I did so, and pulled my car onto the lot.  Barely around the corner were some bins filled with electronic junk.  I wasn't clear why this was so heavily guarded, but at least I was where I needed to be and could get rid of my items.  I first tossed the DVD player, and when the man emerged from behind the window he walked up to my car.  I told him, as I was walking back , that the TV was in the trunk, just to explain what I was doing.  He approached the trunk with me and then told me, "It's amazing what people take for granted."  I asked what he was talking about.  He said "I know you didn't put this in your car yourself."  Offended, I told him I most certainly did, how did he think it got there?  He said "most people, their husbands put it in and then they just expect us to break our backs taking them out."  I was offended and told him I didn't have a husband, I put it in the car myself and I was more than happy to take it out myself.  He grunted and took it out for me.  Appalled at how I was being treated here, I told him, "You know, I could have dumped this thing in the trash, I was just trying to do the right thing!"  He barely looked at me and pointed to the exit and said "go out that way."

First of all, from the get-go, these guys acted like they were doing me a huge favor or like I had asked for some sort of special treatment.  All I wanted to do was properly dispose of my TV.  I would have even come back at 6 am if they had confirmed that that was required.  I didn't beg and plead to bring it today; I simply tried to ascertain what hours a resident could bring electronics to be recycled.  I was trying to be a responsible citizen!  I would think that a city that has a whole department dedicated to sustainability would encourage this sort of thing, and yet I felt like I was doing something "wrong" the whole time.  

And the way this man spoke to me was inexcusable.  First of all, assumptions were made based on my gender and small size that I could not have lifted the TV and expected him to do so.  I did move the TV into my car; I would have moved it myself and didn't appreciate being spoken to so derisively.  Second, what if I had been elderly, or otherwise unable to lift it?  Would it have been unreasonable to expect such a facility to provide assistance?  Heck, the grocery store offers to help me bring my bags to the car!  If they are going to be in the business of disposing of peoples' electronic items, many of which are large and bulky, common sense dictates that they should have available manpower or equipment to do so.  But I personally did not ask for or need this; I was instead subject to insult and derision when all I was trying to do was throw away my TV.  It just wasn't right.

I'm not asking for any sort of make-good; it's done now, the TV is gone, and I can resume my life, but I really think that city employees should be trained as to how to properly deal with the public.  They should work the hours they say they're going to work, and provide polite customer service and assistance.  I don't think that's too much to ask for the tax-paying, law-abiding citizens of Santa Monica.  I would appreciate hearing your thoughts.

Yes, that was my morning.  You know, I'm a nice person.  I don't get people.  I just don't.