No, I’m not talking about this kind of “grass” along Central Expressway.
NEWS ANALYSIS: When I’m driving along Central Expressway or one of its access roads, I’m not admiring whatever landscape grows or doesn’t grow in the right of way. It’s enough of a job to keep from crashing, and I couldn’t tell you on a bet what’s going on with plants while I’m whizzing by.
That’s why I applaud councilmen Philip Kingston and Mark Clayton for questioning the city’s need to pay around $1 million annually, or lots more depending on the flora and fauna there, simply to make Central prettier.
When informed of various options for “beautifying” Central, Clayton had this to say during a council Quality of Life committee meeting, according to the DMN: “Tear it out and go to something we can maintain.”
Like rocks. Seriously, rocks. That’s what we can afford in our right-of-way.
You’re probably thinking, “Hey, what do these guys have against a little greenery and color in our daily life?”
Honestly, if money is no object and I don’t personally have to take care of it, I’m as big a lover of greenery as the next guy.
But as I’ve written before, and as Kingston and Clayton have said before, if the city doesn’t have enough money to repair our streets, we need to change our priorities.
Let’s face it: We just don’t have enough money to keep grass or plants alive in Central’s right-of-way. It’s about time some of the people in charge of our tax dollars stood up and said so.
