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And the councilman knows exactly whom to blame for the
overgrowth on Rosewood Avenue.
“Unfortunately, we have a mayor who neglects certain
neighborhoods,” said Ashford last week as he held a news
conference at a vacant lot on Rosewood Street in front of,
and in the midst of, an unruly growth of grass and weeds
that, in spots, topped the councilman’s 6’ 4” frame.
“I have called Carty Finkbeiner and personally spoken to him
to get the grass cut,” said Ashford. “This has to stop. He
has his own priorities and keeping neighborhoods clean is
not one of them. You can go down any block in District 4 and
see a lot that looks like this.”
Ashford, when asked, made it clear that he felt that other
parts of Toledo, such as south Toledo, were given
preferential treatment when it comes to city services. “If
you can spend $1 million on your own neighborhood streets,
that’s unfair,” said the councilman.
He did, however, express optimism that the tall weeds would
not last forever.
“In a year and a half, this will be fixed because we will
have a new mayor and it won’t be Carty.”
"It is my understanding Mr. Ashford was standing on private
property,” said the mayor in a press release issued shortly
after the news conference. “It is not the City of Toledo's
responsibility to cut tall grass belonging to a private
property owner."
Ashford disagreed with the mayor.
“There is a program in place to deal with vacant lots,” said
Ashford.
There is indeed, The Truth was informed by the Department of
Neighborhoods. Inspectors are sent out to such reported
problem spots and write deficiency reports as necessary. If
the owner does not respond, an inspector is sent out again
for a follow up. After two such write ups, the city can then
take care of the maintenance problem and bill the owner for
the expense.
An inspector, The Truth was told on Monday, is on the way to
the Rosewood Avenue property.
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