Attention Salt Lake City and Utah Highway Department: I have found an answer to help those homeless souls who stand near intersection off-ramps with their signs that read "Will work for food."
After taking the 1300 Street off-ramp from I-15 northbound the other day, I came to a stop at the light and noticed a person wearing a sign that read "homeless vet willing to work for food." This man was standing on a corner, surrounded by empty bottles, cans, soft drink cups, napkins, cigarette packages, papers, etc. The thought came to me: The only thing this person needs is a bright orange garbage bag and he can be working. We can make his dream come true.The city and highway department can join together to make this project work by driving to habitated intersections and supplying a number of bright orange trash bags to the homeless who are advertising for work. He or she is already on the job site - no transportation required and they are diligent in remaining on the job site for hours.
The Off-ramp Landscape Refuse Collectors could pick up debris, place it in the bright orange garbage bags and wait for the city and highway representatives to return in a few hours and pay them for their labors. Hopefully this will bring about a trend, once word gets out to those seeking work, to find the dirtiest off-ramps and solicit work until they see those bright orange trash bags coming in a city or highway department truck.
Soon all off-ramps will be clean, and we can concentrate on neglected areas of the city.
David Kendall
Salt Lake City