Robert Wheeler sat on a lawn chair in his front yard across from Corbin Park and watched the city’s new garbage truck strut its stuff by picking up cans on either side of the 33,000-pound vehicle.

“So this is the future of alley pickup?” Wheeler asked.

It is. And the concept of dropping alley pickup around Spokane is in the past.

It’s such a nice day that anyone with time on their hands Wednesday morning should consider stopping by Corbin Park at 11 a.m., where the city plans to show off one of its newest vehicles.

A new garbage truck that can pick up cans on either side of the alley in a single pass. It’s sure to be a big event; even Mayor Mary Verner is supposed to be there.

Hmmm. Garbage pickup. Corbin Park. Alleys. Mary Verner.

Where have we seen those concepts all together in the past?

Oh, yeah…