Citizens Disconnect: Mommy, Can’t We Keep the Graffiti?

With the Citizens Connect app and website, Boston allows its residents to take a picture of a problem, send it to the city along with their precise location, and request help. The site is filled with complaints about sidewalk trash, graffiti, potholes, and dead trees. It also contains the occasional oddity. Welcome to “Citizens Disconnect,” the series wherein we round up our favorite few from the past week:

Attack of the Bushes!

Concerned Citizen: “This is our 5th time asking you to do something about the sidewalk behind Sozio. Are you waiting for someone / pedestrian to get KILLED on this corner?”

City Response: None yet.

While we recognize the frustration of having your pleas ignored, this complaint seems a bit overwrought?

Ever the Pessimist:

Concerned Citizen: “Another drunk and/or druggie passed out in the Ryan Playground. Will a new mayoral administration care about making sure our children can avoid playing around such sights? Doubtful.”

City Response: None.

This person’s meandering into a political soliloquy is either really pessimistic or mastery in the art of guilt-tripping the city into getting what you want. It’s the Citizens Connect equivalent of the playground taunt, “Do it, you won’t!”

But It’s Really Cute Graffiti! 

Concerned Citizen: Graffiti report.

City Response: None.

I know it’s graffiti, but do we haaaave to take it back, Mom?

Good Point Award

Concerned Citizen: “Could this lamppost have been installed in a less convenient place? Doubtful.”

City Response: “Closed. Case Noted. The boston transportation department is working with the berkeley school of music contractor to relocate this traffic signal which was not approved in the field by btd.”

Unfortunately, the hordes of Berklee kids who loiter there and smoke during rush hour aren’t so easily removed.

Ew

Concerned Citizen: “Regular consistent pigeon feeding has left a greasy black slime on sidewalk that is becoming slippery.”

City Response: “Closed. Case Resolved. All cleaned..”

Wait, horrible! Do pigeons actually do this?