Tuesday, May 13, 2008

Priorities People!

Every once in a while something comes to my attention that makes me realize how messed up the cities priorities are and how time and time again they fail to see the big picture. This memo was left in my door the other day. Check this ridiculousness out.

Attention: Residents of 50, 76, and 82 Franklin Street

Dear Resident,

I am sad to report that the City of Worcester's Director of Parks and Recreation called this morning to inform me that because some of our residents who own dogs do not clean up after their pets, dogs are no longer allowed in the Worcester Commons park, behind City Hall.

Unfortunately, it s necessary to remind our residents that responsible pet ownership includes consideration for others, and cleaning up your pet's waste matter.

Now that dogs are no longer permitted in Worcester Commons, if you are found walking your dog there, you will be fined $200, and your pet confisacted. Any questions concerning this matter may be directed to management at the leasing office located on the 1st floor of 50 Franklin St.

Now I fully understand that folks need to pick up and dispose of their dogs doggy doo doo. And I also agree that if you don't you are kind of an asshole, but this seems a bit extreme doesn't it? There are quite a few dog owners in the building who are probably here because they have found a building where they can live right in the middle of the city and still have a dog and have a nice place to walk the dog. Has the city thought about putting up bags to dispose of the waste? Maybe they need to conduct a million dollar research study on this that will take 3 years to complete that they will just ignore anyways. Of course we all know that the biggest problem with the lack of attractiveness of the Common is dog shit. What we really really don't need is responsible dog owners who already live here moving the hell out of downtown when their lease is up over something so harmless as compared to the bigger picture of the things that ail our downtown.

I have a memo to send too. It goes something like this.

Attention: Residents of Worcester Massachusetts and surrounding municipalities

Dear Resident,

I am sad to report that the people of Worcester called this morning to inform me that because some of our residents who own human bodies do not clean up after themselves, drunks and junkies are no longer allowed in the Worcester Commons park, behind City Hall.

Unfortunately, it is necessary to remind our residents that being a responsible member of society includes consideration for others and cleaning up after yourself and not being intrusive and intimidating to other people who are trying to use the park.

Now that drunks and junkies are no longer permitted in Worcester Commons, if you are found walking there, and you are a vagrant, you will be fined $200, and your freedom confiscated for 24 hours. Any questions concerning the matter may be directed to the Worcester Police Department, Lincoln Square.

Thank you for your consideration, and cooperation in this matter.

Sincerely,

The Citizens of Worcester, Massachusetts

7 comments:

FreeArtWorcester said...

Nice one, they truly don't get it indeed!

Tracy Novick said...

I'm pretty sure it's standard city policy for all parks. Rarely enforced, sure, but it's on the books.

Anonymous said...

I used to walk my dog in Worcester Common (responsibly) until several days ago when the City erased one of the few benefits I see from living in Worcester.

Dogs are banned from all City parks. All active leisure activities are banned from the Common too - including frisbee, ball sports. Ice skating is only allowed in Elm Park - we'll see how their stupid skating rink works out.

Kieran

Jeff Barnard said...

I recall a big stink (pun intended) up on Plantation Street a year or two ago over the problem of kids' baseball, soccer, and football teams finding themselves covered in dog feces after every game in the park at the top of the hill. And I also recall seeing, many times, people coming to that park in their cars to walk their dogs.

They eventually banned pets from that park, and it didn't seem like a bad move (additional pun intended) to me at the time.

What's truly frustrating about things of this ilk, however, is that it reminds me of the whole class being forced to stay after, just because nobody will 'fess up about who threw the spitball...

FreeArtWorcester said...

why don't they just fence off a small area for dogs to run around in as they do in other cities, oops I guess we are in Worcester that solution makes too much sense... :(

FreeArtWorcester said...

Why don't they just fence off an area of the park(s) for dogs to run around in like they do in other cities, oops I guess we're not in other cities :(

Tina Z said...

They provide bags in Boston's public areas, so people will scoop the poop and they do. Worcester is far behind in so many basics concepts.

And I always scoop :)