In my little patch of eastern Hollywood, we’re in Year Two of a project that has featured streets and alleys torn to shreds and barely paved over or just left raw, floods from backed-up sewers and broken pipes, traffic detours, ruined sidewalks and lawns, non-stop construction noise, and no end in sight. Allegedly this has something to do with replacing a crumbling water and sewer system, but I suspect it’s more about keeping workers on the payroll. Not that anyone’s seen them do much work.
It’s been a real pain in the package for too long now. What fries my buns is that nothing happens — they rip a street apart then disappear for literally months while they go do something else somewhere over the rainbow, leaving the residents to deal with detours, floods, and poorly patched streets.
So imagine my delight yesterday when I discover this note on my front step. Note that it doesn’t bother to inform residents when our water will be turned off, or for how long. I promptly call the city and get Squindecia on the phone. (I think I got her name right.)
She hears my concern, then pulls up some records to see what’s going on. “There’s nothing here about turning off water in your neighborhood,” she says.
So, what — this flyer is some kind of prank? It’s not really yours?
More audible pressed keys. “No, sir, that’s our flyer. What it says is the work on the water system is finished, and you might experience a difference in water pressure or coloration.”
I look once more at the flyer. In very large font, boldfaced and underlined beneath the word ATTENTION, it reads “Your water will be off on between and” then goes on to talk about pressure, discolor, etc. So pardon me for being a native speaker of the language, but either there’s missing information on that top line or somebody doesn’t know not to string disconnected prepositions and conjunctions together without referents.
“The reason there’s nothing on that line is because we’re not turning off the water,” she explains, a little less patiently than before.
Why would you distribute flyers about turning off the water when there was no plan to do so? Is this the only flyer you have available?
“No, sir, we have flyers that warn customers about potentially poisonous chemicals and fecal matter in the drinking water, too. If you prefer, I’ll send you one right after I shit in your pipes.”
Okay, so, the conversation didn’t quite end that exact way, but we weren’t far. Evidently I’m the only citizen in the neighborhood who found this flyer disturbingly vague (see reference above w/r/t “native speaker of the language”). Although when I show it to Guido when she gets home, she has the same reaction. “What? When? Why doesn’t it tell us when?” she fumes.
Tempers are short around here — two years of living in high Kabul style has frayed nerves. Nobody at the city level seems to care, and now that we have a new mayor and city commissioner, when we complain they’ll blame the outgoing parties. That’s called “smart politics.” Remember that when you observe what happens next on the national level. (Speaking of shitting in the pipes.)
Back in the day when people didn’t get rich working for city, my dad used to say “If they had anything on the ball they wouldn’t be working for the city.” Still holds true.
“In days of Olde when knights were bold
And toilets weren’t invented
Knights dropped their loads in the middle of roads
And walked away contented.”
Hollywood is simply trying to bring back an old tradition. Be nice.
Your “native speaker of the language” and “I promptly call the city and get Squindecia on the phone. (I think I got her name right.)” comments expose your latent racism and bigotry!
Time to put up your Trump lawn sign!
Maybe if they ever get around to repaving your street they’ll toss whatevers left of the PC crowd in.
Obalesque hears more “dog whistles” than the dogs!
I thought The Squathole was the South Floriduh HQ for the PC crowd!
YOURE the one calling racism, snowflake. And leave dog whistles outta this. I take it personally,
Well…, WOOF YOU!
I calls it as I sees it and I’m a blind mute!
On my street the city installed new fireplugs which they let leak for about 4 weeks, even put up signs saying not to go near the water and no need to report leaks, it was intentional. Flooded swales, driveways, one lawn — remember, this is water they warned us not to touch. Unfuckingbelievable.
So, we’ll see you actively participating in the next municipal election?!
Funny you mention that, Mr. Fields. I was so upset by the combination of sloppy execution and (what really honked me off) poor communication, that I called a candidate running for commission and another running for mayor and volunteered time for both. Both won. No, I’m not taking credit, just acknowledging your point.
GREAT WORK, HAL!
But, your job doesn’t stop there. Democracy can’t survive without continued participation and constant monitoring by the governed. And, there’s always another election… hopefully…
You have water? We only have the community well here in Dania.