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New resident tells council of persistent loitering, dumpster diving and litter near 13th and E Street
Summary
A new Lincoln resident described repeated incidents of dumpster diving, scattered trash and loitering near the Casey's/Runza area at 13th and E Street and asked the council about steps to address public‑safety and cleanliness concerns. Police officers responded on at least one occasion but the resident said enforcement options appeared limited.
A new Lincoln resident raised ongoing concerns about vagrancy, dumpster diving and litter near the 13th and E Street commercial area during public comment.
"There's a really pronounced vagrancy problem. They leave a lot of trash, lots of liquor bottles, old clothes," said Drew Barkas, who said he recently moved to the neighborhood and called non‑emergency police after seeing an individual dig through dumpsters and scatter trash across a parking lot. Barkas said officers arrived, spoke with the individual and left peacefully; he said police told him enforcement was limited because there was no clear victim and because, in theory, the person could put the trash back in the dumpster.
Barkas said he and a neighbor assisted with cleanup and described frequent loitering at the intersection of 13th and E in front of a Casey's and a Runza. He asked whether the council knew of measures being worked on to address that intersection and offered to assist local efforts.
Council staff and members invited Barkas to remain after the meeting to discuss the situation with city staff. No formal council action was recorded in response to the public comment in the transcript.
Barkas also asked about resources to help people experiencing homelessness; police officers on scene discussed contacts with Barkas but the transcript records no specific outcomes or referrals.
For follow up, residents can contact Councilmember offices or the city’s community safety and outreach teams to request targeted attention to problem locations and to learn about community resources.
