Lee

This is the # of the light pole where the wires are on the ground. The pole is next to an entrance to the Elm/Hampshire Plaza park.

I called 911 about the wires on the ground months ago. A fire truck came and wrapped yellow caution tape around the wires. The men said the wires were not live and would be removed later. Nothing has been done. Now the caution tape is broken and the wires are all over again.

The roses in the front of the Elm/Hampshire park are mostly dead, due to the drought in 2022. They need pruning and some may need to be replaced. Other shrubs in the park need the same. Many plants have been dead longer, like the hostas that use to rim the seating area, and day lilies. When will the park plantings be updated?

This is a photo of the second tree that need attention- firm up the base, replant the stakes.

Last Friday 10/6/23 I reported in person to the DPW office that 2 new trees in the Elm/Hampshire Plaza park had been pulled over. They are on the east side of the park by the fence. Today 10/11 they still have not been fixed except by residents. One tree is still partly out of the ground, and the stakes are pulled over. The tree to its right was also pulled over, but is now upright, and its stakes are also out of the ground. I am disappointed that my first report did not result in fixing both trees.

The tree planted in front of 260 Norfolk St. appears to be dead. It needs to be replaced. It never got adequate water during the drought last year. This is the second time in a row that a tree has died there.

The shrubs in Sennott Park at the corner of Norfolk and Broadway are about to die due to lack of rain. Some of the shrubs are already half dead. Can you please send a water truck with water ASAP? It is much less expensive to water shrubs than to plant new ones.

I reported this weeks ago and got no response.

In Sennott Park at the corner of Norfolk and Broadway, there are shrubs including hydrangeas that are about to die due to lack of water. The leaves are shriveled up and dry. I know it is supposed to rain today, but I am reporting this with the hope that someone can look at the shrubs and try to save them.

My yard waste was not picked up last week. The other side of the street also had a yard waste barrel that was not picked up.

The half of Sennott Park that is open needs to be maintained at least as well as any other city park throughout the coming summer, as the park continues to be heavily used. I request that the grass be mowed regularly, that it be fertilized and new grass seed added so that bare patches grow. Today I saw someone step in a hole and fall down; while he was not injured, I request that the holes be filled. I request that weeds be removed periodically. I request that trash be removed more frequently.

It would be helpful to have an update on the progress of the part that is being renovated. The progress seems to be quite slow. I am concerned that the grassy area does not seem to be seeded yet, and weeds are growing. If the grass were planted soon, that half of the field would be ready for use when the part that is open now is closed.

Glass from at least two broken bottles on the grass at Senate Park. There are children that play here. This needs to be cleaned up ASAP!

Two men were doing park maintenance at the corner of Elm and Hampshire. One was spraying something that smelled bad, so I asked the other man what it was and he said Fertilizer. I entered the park with my dog and we stayed a while. As I left, I passed their work truck and saw that the container said Weed Killer. I asked the second man what it was, and he also said Fertilizer. I noticed his accent and asked if he spoke Portuguese, and he said yes. I asked in Portuguese, and he agreed it was to kill weeds. I said he and the other man should not tell people it was fertilizer.

My requests: a) city staff talk to the contracting company to make sure its employees are not told to misrepresent products to the public, b) make sure the employees are wearing protection while spraying (there was none.)

I also want to know what fertilizer was being used, and whether smelling it is dangerous to me or my dog. I also want to ask if the city has ensured that any weed killer used by any contractor poses no lingering danger to people, especially the very small children who play in this park.

The roof at 253 Norfolk is dripping, so the sidewalk is very icy.

The light at the southeast corner of Sennott Park has been out for several weeks. This is the corner where the asphalt path runs off Norfolk St.

Several trees were recently planted in the Elm and Hampshire St. park. They all have water bags. However, the bags on the trees at the eastern side of the park are up in the air, which means they have not been used. I know we have had a lot of rain lately, but we have also had 2 heat waves already. I want to be sure that those trees can be watered and will be watered when needed.

Abandoned old blue Raleigh racing bike in back right corner of park at corner of Elm and Hampshire.

A pile of food waste garbage is in the street at Broadway near Tremont, next to Sennott Park. The pile is at least 2 feet wide and almost a foot tall. Will attract rats.

Eversource truck, with 3 workers close to each other not wearing masks. Truck was in middle of Norfolk street. Cambridge asks people to wear masks if closer than 6'.
Also, Eversource truck on Broadway at Norfolk was idling for over 45 min. as I came and went. Cambridge does not allow idling longer than 5 min.
I hope the city will communicate with Eversource crews about these matters. Thanks.