After The Storm: Is This The Trashiest That The Los Angeles River Has Ever Been?

Every year, the Blogger Kids and I participate in the L.A. River Cleanup: La Gran Limpieza, as sponsored by the Friends of the LA River (FOLAR).  The Cleanup takes place over three weekends, focusing on three different parts of the river, in the spring.

I hate to say it, but FOLAR may want to consider adding several more weekends this time around. Following last week's rains, the river is a mess. It's almost nothing but trash.

The Blogger Kid 2.0 and I noticed this while riding our bikes along the LA River bike path on Saturday. Not only is the river filled with garbage, but there's even a ring of garbage along the cement walls — marking, apparently, how high the water got. The water level has subsided, leaving behind all the trash it brought along.

I almost want to go out there right now and pick up trash, but with more rains likely in the coming month, it would be a bit futile. A few more pics:

C'mon, Los Angeles, Fix Your Slovenly Ways

Twice in two days now, I've been driving behind someone who -- at a stop sign or stop light -- tossed their garbage right onto the street.

Yesterday, it was a car full of punk ass teens throwing their empty soda bottles out the window. Today, it was a business man IN A BMW!! who opened up his car door while idling at a stop light, and SET HIS STYROFOAM CONTAINER ON THE STREET next to his car, before driving off!

People, it's 2008. That's just not how we do things. The world is not your trash can. Ideally, you oughta be recycling that bottle. But for starters, how about not slamming your refuse in the streets? Thanks.