It shouldn't require downtown and west Fresno residents calling a news conference to force Fresno City Hall to do something about the large piles of trash discarded by the homeless.

The problem isn't new. Bee reporter George Hostetter wrote about the mess in a neighborhood near Ventura Avenue and E Street last October. The mess remains -- as unhealthy and unsightly as ever.

The city's excuse for failing to clean up is the threat of lawsuits by lawyers for the homeless. The city fears that it will end up paying out millions of dollars, as happened in 2008.

We recognize that the legalities of the situation are complicated, but potential court entanglements shouldn't intimidate Mayor Ashley Swearengin from protecting residents of this neighborhood and others where the homeless foul other people's nests. Nor should the city use its ongoing budget crisis as an excuse for allowing Fresno's reputation and appearance to go down a sinkhole. This is trash pickup and it can be charged to the solid waste enterprise fund.

How should the city go about hauling away the trash and mounting a legal defense for its actions? City officials might invite Dr. Ed Moreno, the Fresno County health officer, to the site. Considering a statement by Debbie Darden, chair of the Golden Westside Planning Committee, that the trash pile contains feces, roaches and rats, odds are that Moreno would declare the rotting heap a public health hazard. The city then could put the trash where its belongs: a landfill.

We agree with a city decision made Wednesday to put trash bins in the neighborhood but must point out that this should have been done long ago.

The mayor is to be commended for her efforts to provide housing for people in unfortunate situations because of the economy, substance abuse or mental illness. But her efforts to maintain Fresno's appearance and to protect residents who take pride in their neighborhoods are failing.

City Council Member Oliver Baines told The Bee's BoNhia Lee that the trash in the alley between E and F streets should be cleared out in about a month. That's the best the city can do to protect public health?

Maybe one of the residents should threaten a lawsuit; it worked for the homeless.