A few weeks ago, as their process for installing sidewalk trees typically begins, Hudson DPW spray painted a pair of large white boxes on the sidewalk along North 5th Street, north of State, in preparation of digging two tree holes. This likely happened because the homeowner had requested of the Conservation Advisory Council to have a pair of trees installed in front of their house, this being the only means I'm aware of that a sidewalk tree can be installed. About a week ago, DPW dug the two tree holes, though not where the white boxes were located, mind you, but adjacent to them. Yesterday, late in the year (too late?) and about a week into regular overnight frosts, the two trees arrived in their new homes (at whose hands I do not know) across the street from the Hudson Area Library.
The critical question for Rob Perry, Rich Volo and, possibly, the outgoing mayor isn't how long they are expecting the two sidewalk trees installed yesterday in the 4th ward to live, thrive and survive. No, the only questions on everyone's minds walking past the two new trees, but only noticing the paint, are: FOR HOW MANY MONTHS OR YEARS WILL THE TWO HUGE CHECKED BOXES OF WHITE SPRAY PAINT ON THE SIDEWALK SURVIVE? FOR HOW MUCH LONGER WILL WE BE FORCED TO LOOK AT THAT PAINT AND WONDER WHY IT IS STILL THERE AND WHAT ITS PURPOSE WAS OR IS? |
| Evidence of a slob. |
Perhaps our DPW Superintendent doesn't care how long his conspicuous and distracting permanent white spray paint on the sidewalk sticks around for (there is such a thing as temporary spray paint), allowing every passerby to more readily notice the white checked boxes than the trees (if they survive). But you would think and hope that 4th ward council member and Conservation Advisory Council chairman, Rich Volo -- the guy who is all about sidewalk trees and, presumably, wants a respectable, attractive and tidy 4th ward and city -- if he ever notices the mess DPW left behind, might have a few questions for Mr. Perry about the new paint on the sidewalk in his neighborhood that doesn't look like it's going to disappear anytime soon. (And what about the homeowner who requested the trees?)
Questions such as: Why the hell are there two large, spray-painted white boxes with X's in them on a sidewalk between two new trees in my ward? Do the X's in the boxes refer to a mistake, a change of plans? If those painted boxes are a result of a mistake, please explain what caused the mistake and who is ultimately responsible for it so that this never happens again anywhere in the city, including in the 4th ward. How long, Mr. Perry, do you suppose it will take for that large amount of white spray paint on the sidewalk to completely fade away? Will it be months, years, or decades? Do you even care how long it will take for your spray paint to disappear completely? Or are you planning on removing the paint as soon as possible? And if you are going to somehow completely remove the paint, how much will it cost the taxpayers of Hudson for you to do so? You do want all of that white paint gone as soon as possible and not two years from now, don't you, Mr. Perry? You wouldn't be at all happy if the sidewalk in front of your house had two large white checked boxes on it that you, your family members and your neighbors can't avoid looking at several times every day and night for years, would you, Mr. Perry? Or would you just shrug your shoulders and say, "Whatever. I don't give a crap!"?
Alas, neither Rich Volo nor his compatriot in the 4th ward, Jen Belton, will try to extract such important answers out of Mr. Perry or get him to admit his department made a mistake that needs to be corrected. You know, so that hopefully this never happens again. I don't doubt that they are both afraid of the DPW Superintendent who makes over $125,000 a year and who has shown up in person to just one monthly informal common council meeting in the past 5 years. And, of course, it's way too late for the so-called mayor to care about any of this. For 6 years, Kamal Johnosn has been unwilling to get involved in DPW affairs, including those that make no sense, waste taxpayer money and create quality of life issues for us all. And I'm pretty sure he is a slob as well.
Here's my prediction: The white spray paint will outlive both trees! By years!!! You watch! Ha! You'll have no choice but to watch and wonder every time you walk by the northeast corner of 5th & State! For years! Wanna bet?
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