Baltimore residents frustrated with weeds covering sidewalks, fire hydrant
"We've had cars that have gotten bugs, trails of bugs from out of the brush into their cars," said resident Michelle Martin. "There are thorns, so if you step out, you might get scratched."
Residents on Baltimore's Pascal Avenue are frustrated that trees, brush, and shrubs are taking over part of their neighborhood.
CBS News Baltimore
This has become the reality for residents of Pascal Avenue in Baltimore City.
"If there was an actual fire, we didn't know where the fire hydrant was because it's completely covered with brush," Martin said.
No response from the city
Martin says when she moved to the neighborhood eight years ago, she used to walk the sidewalks all the time, but over the last three years, the sidewalk has become overgrown with shrubs.
She says several calls to the city to maintain it have gone largely unanswered.
"Last year, I made three calls, and only one of them got a service request," Martin said. "When I called to check on them, they told me they only saw one in the system and that it probably wouldn't be handled this year."
Rodent infestation fuels frustration
Now, following a rodent infestation, she and her neighbors have had enough and took their frustrations to City Councilwoman Phylicia Porter.
In a statement to WJZ, Porter says she is aware of these concerns, writing in part, "My staff informed her that there is no sidewalk on the street abutting West Bay Park. Additionally, staff informed her in the June 12, 2025, 4:48 PM email that Forestry, under City Recreation and Parks, had been notified and that our office is tracking the issue for resolution."
Hoping for a solution
Martin says she is hopeful Councilwoman Porter will bring them a long-awaited solution, but she is frustrated that it had to come to this.
"I don't think this is a big issue, I think it's something that could easily be taken care of. I don't think we have to, as a taxpayer, that I have to call a councilman and a state senator to get someone to respond and get an answer to get this taken care of, but that's what I've had to do," said Martin.
Martin told WJZ that an inspector came out Wednesday, and he, too, denied that a sidewalk was ever present there, which Martin says is not true.
She said the inspector told neighbors they are working to have this addressed by the end of the summer.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
CBS News
30 minutes ago
- CBS News
Bear wandering around northern Wisconsin with jar stuck on its head
Wildlife lovers in northern Wisconsin are on the lookout for a bear in need of a helping hand. The Chequamegon Humane Association in Ashland, Wisconsin, says a bear has been wandering around with a jar on its head for eight days. It's been seen several times, and the association is warning people not to approach it. Cam and Matt Johnson, who were traveling to Barnes, spotted the bear shortly before noon on Thursday on Route 27 south of Lake Road. They said it was moving sluggishly. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources says they're keeping an eye out for the bear.
Wall Street Journal
an hour ago
- Wall Street Journal
Beyond Pinot Noir: The Oregon Wines You Need to Know About
Some years ago I was invited to a dinner party for Oregon natives in suburban New York. The Oregon-born host had erroneously assumed I was Oregonian, because, months earlier, I'd brought a bottle of Oregon Chardonnay to a dinner we'd both attended. It wasn't a totally outlandish conclusion; Oregon Chardonnay was still fairly obscure outside the Beaver State back then. Happily, such wines are much easier to find today along with Oregon whites like Pinot Gris, Riesling and Grüner Veltliner. Pinot Noir has long been the state's signature grape. Accounting for 58% of Oregon's total grape production in 2024, it's still far and away the most planted grape, too, with 28,264 planted acres devoted to it. Far behind in second place, Pinot Gris accounts for just 6,483 acres under vine—though that number is nearly double what it was in 2014. Third-place grape Chardonnay is also gaining, at 3,482 acres as of 2024, more than twice what it was a decade prior. From Chenin Blanc to Grüner Veltliner, Pinot Blanc, Albariño and Riesling, other white grapes, too, are redefining winemaking in Oregon.
Associated Press
an hour ago
- Associated Press
Coast Guard says rotten wood and poor inspections led to deadly schooner mast collapse
PORTLAND, Maine (AP) — Rotten wood and poor inspections appear to have played roles in the collapse of the mast of a historic Maine schooner in an accident that killed one person and injured several others, the U.S. Coast Guard said in a report made public on Thursday. The Coast Guard launched a formal investigation after the main mast of the Grace Bailey splintered and fell onto the deck in October 2023 as the 1882-built schooner was returning from a four-day cruise. The report stated that 'deterioration went unnoticed and unaddressed' due to a lack of thorough inspections. It also said oversight and reporting about mast inspections and inspection processes were not adequately documented. 'Inspections were not adequately documented, and there were no formal expectations set for reporting inspection findings. This lack of oversight likely contributed to delayed or inadequate responses to emerging issues, allowing hazards to persist and escalate unchecked,' the report states. The collapse killed Rockland physician Dr. Emily Mecklenburg, 40, who was on board. The report states that 'it is not recommended that criminal prosecution be taken against any person or entity.' But the report faults not just the operators of the vessel but also the Coast Guard itself. It states that Coast Guard mast inspection procedures were 'insufficient for detecting rotted conditions in Grace Bailey's masts.' The owners of the vessel, the Grace Bailey Navigation Company of Rockland, said in a statement that the Grace Bailey crew 'continues to hold Emily closely in our hearts and minds.' The owners said they fully cooperated with the investigation and are they appreciate the focus on increasing safety for wooden sailing vessels. 'After a thorough overhaul of the Grace Bailey and passing a regular safety inspection by the Coast Guard, the Grace Bailey is back sailing, allowing our passengers to enjoy the beauty of Maine's coastline,' the statement said. The report includes nine recommendations for the Coast Guard to implement to try to prevent mast collapses in the future. The top recommendation states there should be broad collaboration with sailing industry organizations and others to identify wooden mast material characteristics and conditions that can contribute to decay. The Grace Bailey is one of a group of vessels commonly called the windjammer fleet, which provide excursions along the Maine coast. The vessel is 118 feet (36 meters) and can carry 29 passengers.
