{"id":85871,"date":"2025-12-08T06:54:08","date_gmt":"2025-12-08T06:54:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/85871\/"},"modified":"2025-12-08T06:54:08","modified_gmt":"2025-12-08T06:54:08","slug":"los-angeles-man-quits-job-to-clean-city-streets","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/85871\/","title":{"rendered":"Los Angeles man quits job to clean city streets"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

LOS ANGELES – A Los Angeles<\/a> resident who quit his full-time job to clean city streets says the city is falling short \u2013 often leaving behind the very trash bags he collects and reports for pickup.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Juan Naula, known to his 56,000 Instagram followers as @cleanlawithme<\/a> has become one of the city\u2019s most visible volunteer trash collectors, documenting his daily efforts to remove piles of debris from sidewalks and alleyways.<\/p>\n

“I wish we had a million people doing this because the city doesn\u2019t want to do it,” Naula said. “Why do we have to chase them? Why?”<\/p>\n

Naula, who describes the city\u2019s dirtiness as “an 11 out of 10,” says he routinely encounters human waste, rats and even knives while cleaning.<\/p>\n

Residents Turn to Volunteer After City Doesn\u2019t Respond <\/p>\n

According to Naula, some residents now reach out to him directly when their own cleanup requests to the city go unanswered.<\/p>\n

“I tried calling the city three times. They don\u2019t come and clean,” one woman said in a cellphone video shared on social media.<\/p>\n

Naula says he responds, bags the trash, and contacts 311 again\u2014only to see the bags sit for days, often torn open and scattered again by people on the street.<\/p>\n

“It really frustrates me because I do the job, and then I have to chase [city workers] to come pick up the trash,” he said.<\/p>\n

City\u2019s Shine LA Program Not Meant to Replace Services <\/p>\n

Earlier this year, Mayor Karen Bass launched Shine LA, a beautification initiative intended to encourage community cleanup events ahead of major global sporting events coming to Los Angeles, including the World Cup, Super Bowl and Olympics. Volunteers meet monthly to plant trees, paint utility boxes and remove litter, but the program is not designed to replace core city sanitation services.<\/p>\n

“They are the city. They should have people riding around doing [311] reports: \u2018Go clean here, go clean there,\u2019” Naula said. “Whoever is in charge, they have to train their people. Why do their people come and not pick up trash?”<\/p>\n

Mayor\u2019s Office Responds <\/p>\n

In a statement to FOX 11, a spokesperson for Mayor Bass praised Naula\u2019s efforts:<\/p>\n

“Residents like Juan represent the very best of Los Angeles\u2014people who step up to care for their neighborhoods and our city. We thank Juan for taking initiative and helping create a City we can all be proud of. The Mayor\u2019s Office will be reaching out to him.”<\/p>\n

“Additionally, we will be reviewing 311 requests to ensure City services are being delivered. Mayor Bass is laser-focused on cleaning City streets and making L.A. neighborhoods safer for all, and she is working with departments to bring back essential street cleaning services and improve response times.”<\/p>\n

Aiming for a World Record <\/p>\n

Naula says he has collected more than 100,000 pounds of trash this year and hopes to set a world record for the most trash picked up in a single month.\u00a0<\/p>\n

City crews are scheduled to collect his latest pile of bagged trash in Mid-City on Monday. Naula is now seeking sponsors to support his growing cleanup efforts.<\/p>\n

Los Angeles<\/a>Instastories<\/a>Environment<\/a>