Question 4: The Bottle Drop on North Lombard and Other Locations

This is largely a state issue, as the governor regulates these sites. I’ve personally reached out to the governor to highlight how problematic some of these bottle drop locations are, especially on North Lombard and the downtown Safeway. After we worked with PBOT on a targeted response, Safeway paused operations, and we saw real improvements in livability. It’s frustrating that the state hasn’t been able to effectively manage this program—it shouldn’t be an all-or-nothing approach. Other places, like certain Plaid Pantry locations, also create challenges for their communities. I even know of a shop owner near my home who was assaulted. We need to do better.