First published in the Oct. 20 print issue of the Outlook Valley Sun.
I am writing in response to a Letter to the Editor from Pamela Woncik: “Three Trash-Hauling Services Are Too Many.”
I can’t think of a worse idea than getting rid of all but one trash service company in La Cañada. Doing this would hand the winning company a monopoly.
Competition is vital to the marketplace. It ensures better prices and service. Thanks to the multiple trash choices, residents have the option to switch if they feel the prices they are paying are too high, or they are not getting proper service. You can’t do that when there is only one company contracted to run in the area.
When my family moved to La Cañada, I was delighted to have my choice of trash services, and comparison shopped between all of them. What’s worse than living somewhere that you have no choice over your utilities because of monopolies? You have no recourse when they jack up the prices or deliver poor service.
Competition in the marketplace is essential. It would do more harm than good to eliminate that competition. We should celebrate the trash options our great city has provided for its residents.
Larry Brown
La Cañada Flintridge
