Even if the question of public health is debatable, spitting out shells is still littering. Would these litterers like it if some of the shells fell onto a family member’s hair? How about if a toddler without shoes were to walk on freshly spewed shells still wet? Evidently, it isn’t a health concern. Accompanying my piece is a photo I took last Saturday at Burbank’s Olive Park, Field Number Three. It was early in the morning, before most of the games were played that day and, as you can see, the place clearly wasn’t cleaned in who knows how long, certainly not that day.
Is this the type of impression city officials which to leave with its citizens and visitors, that Burbank parks are dirty?
Why not dedicate one maintenance worker to keep all city park bleacher areas clean via sweeping or blowers especially on days the parks are heavily used?
By not cleaning the mess people leave, it encourages more people to be messy. Think of a park toilet that is unkempt. People are more likely to contribute to the filth rather than control their dirty habits.
And parents and grandparents, what kind of habits are you modeling for your children? Imagine if the shells were cigarette butts. Would people be okay with that? Probably not because smoking is considered one of the worst things a person can do in public in today’s times. But having food products spewing from one’s mouth is fine.
Burbank city officials should seriously consider posting signs at all city park bleacher areas, “Please Deposit Sunflower Seed Shells in the Garbage Cans.” Do we need to resurrect the old public service announcement with Iron Eyes Cody with a tear streaming down his face? Maybe it should be Babe Ruth crying.
