Garbage Day, not!
By Hans Wilder | The Watertown Post
The front door to Watertown City Hall is locked up tighter than a drum — and that pretty much says it all, doesn’t it?
Because in this city, nothing’s open. Not the doors. Not the lines of communication. And definitely not the ears of anyone in power. It’s all locked up, shut down, sealed off like grandma’s plastic-covered couch.
I went down to City Hall today to follow up on 420 Prospect Street — you know, The House That Sanity Forgot. The one with the garbage that sat outside so long, raccoons started paying rent. The one where the grass hasn’t been mowed since before the snow fell — which was sometime in the Paleozoic Era, apparently. When I asked the property owner yesterday when he might, oh I don’t know, mow the lawn, he looked at me like I was explaining quantum physics in Hungarian. Not a single word registered.
Back to City Hall — the building that literally won’t let you in the front door without playing “Guess the Secret Side Entrance.” The main entrance is locked like we’re all in some Cold War spy thriller. And when you do finally find your way into the right hallway (after three detours and a game of bureaucratic Marco Polo), you’ll meet the Code Office — and its wonderful slamming door. Every time someone exits that office, the door slams so hard you’d think a fistfight just broke out. BAM. Everyone in the building jumps. It’s less “Welcome to your city government” and more “You want a piece of me?!”
How about we fix that?
And while we’re fixing doors, how about we also fix city leadership’s idea of accountability? See, while Prospect Street residents are living next to a post-apocalyptic dump, our city manager is driving off to his cushy home outside of Watertown every evening. Must be nice. But hey — next time you’re cruising out to the countryside, sir, maybe detour through the disaster zone on Prospect and take a whiff. Maybe wave to the kids who live next to the 3-foot-tall grass and heaps of trash. Maybe think, just for a second, about what leadership actually looks like.
Because here’s the deal: Locked front doors aren’t just an inconvenience — they’re a symbol. A symbol of a city government that has sealed itself off from the people it claims to serve. The lawn at 420 Prospect is a jungle. The trash is a science experiment. The city’s response? Crickets. And when you do try to engage? You get a slamming door hitting your ass on the way out!
It’s time to unlock City Hall — literally and figuratively.
Open the doors. Mow the lawns. Speak English (or find someone who can translate). And slam the door on excuses instead of the public.
– Hans Wilder, The Watertown Post
Because someone’s gotta say it.
About the Author
Your a biggot
You should be sued for defamation!
Cliffs buddies shitty news magazine.
Stupid article, some people just do not have the resources leave them alone!
That house is a total eyesore.
Watertown SMOST is a left-wing no guts fake news publication.
You are the guy who complimented Cliff’s stupid facebook cartoons that were not funny. That led to the meme page, which has cartoons which ARE actually funny.
Now you are complimenting a local libtard AI generated blogpaper and calling it the Watertown Post.
No thanks.
I’d rather read the WDT! And that’s pretty sad!
Finally someone is saying what we’re all thinking! I’ve lived here 30 years and never seen City Hall so closed off; literally and figuratively. Thank you, Watertown Post, for calling it out.
Neighborly disputes aren’t news. You don’t like the lawn next door? Call a landscaper, not a newspaper. This just feels personal.
Honestly, this article seems like a rant more than real journalism. I get being frustrated, but there’s a way to raise concerns without roasting the whole city government.
The “bureaucratic Marco Polo” line had me howling. But the bigger point is dead serious, we need access, we need action, and we need leaders who live here and care.
If the city manager doesn’t live in the city, how can he possibly understand what we’re dealing with? Prospect Street is just one example. There are dozens more. Keep reporting!
I heard he might run for Mayor, if Hans does he has my vote and every cat lady in the city!!!!!
As the proud servant of three spoiled housecats, I can say with confidence: if my home looked like that, they’d call the ASPCA on me. So why is the city okay with letting residents live next to what looks like a feral cat colony feeding station?
This article is savage and spot on. It’s not just about a locked door, it’s about the whole attitude at City Hall. We deserve better. Keep speaking up!
I’ve tried getting through to the Code Office before; it’s like yelling into a well. The door slam description is no joke either. Thanks for putting this out there with humor and honesty.
Don’t hit your ass on the way out!!!!!!!!! Ouch
This is what local journalism is supposed to do — shine a light on the nonsense and demand better. The whole “symbolism of the locked door” hit hard. Well done.
Seems like you’re just trying to stir people up. There’s a better way to talk about city issues than turning it into a stand-up routine.
I’ve worked in government buildings before. Doors get locked for safety reasons, not conspiracy. This article makes it sound like something sinister is going on.
My cats trust Hans. That’s all I need to know. 🐱✅ Hans for Mayor!
Hans speaks human and cat, finally, someone who gets it. Mayor material right there!
You Lady; are an idiot.
Dumb dee dumb dumb
Oh great, another guy with a keyboard and a raccoon story thinks he’s ready to run a city. What’s next, city council meetings live from his porch?
Sure, let’s elect the guy who’s beefing with a locked door. Sounds stable.
At least he’s got a keyboard and a backbone, more than we can say for some in office.
If you think fighting for open government is unstable, wait till you meet the guy who locked it.
I just drove up Prospect and it looks like the city is cleaning the place UP.
Hans sounds like he should be leading a yodeling club, not a news site.
So pass the cost to the good neighbor, always one with stupid remarks
Mr. Wilder is basically Watertown’s folk hero at this point. Capes are optional.
So pass the cost to the good neighbor, always one with stupid remarks
You to aRE GAY IS eVERYONE On THIS WEBSITE GAY OR WHAT!!
True dat
So pass the cost to the good neighbor, always one with stupid remarks
That’s because it is personal I would know I live across from where this picture was taken and I have more information about this situation than the person who posted to contradict this complaint and this coward move just after The EMT who lived there moved out. That EMT worker was a single father who contributed to this community the best he could before he left I bet none of this would have been said to his face!
I live on Orchard and I can say because I drive by it everyday and saw the RATS in the pile of trash, that house is a SHITHOLE. looks like they finally mowed there lawn, thats a start.
Watertown does NOT want your German bullshit or stupid news site here, LEAVE NOW!!!
LOL
That street and many others are a dump.
Why would anyone even read this left-wing rag?
WTF are you talking about, this a a MAGOT/tRUMP loving bull shit page, it’s the furthest from Progressive you can get.
I am a EMT and worked with said person; and they moved out because the roof leaked and the LANDLORD was absent and would not do anything about the roof or anything else, I read the article different then you did! You must just HATE Hans for some reason and you yourself make it personal because now the street is clean for you to enjoy.
Watertown is a fucking shit hole, that’s why I live in North Carolina.
Local Libtard..LOL
Anonymous Buddy… you clearly don’t read The Watertown Post — or if you do, you’re doing it with your eyes closed and your head wedged somewhere CNN would be proud of.
This ain’t some “libtard blogpaper.” The Post hits harder than your grandpappy’s belt and smells like diesel, black coffee, and First Amendment. You think the guy running this thing is sipping chai and drawing rainbows with Cliff? He runs TRUMP.one, for crying out loud. The man probably bleeds gun oil and eagle feathers.
Also, nobody “complimented” Cliff’s cartoons. That’s like complimenting a gas leak — we all noticed, some of us laughed nervously, and then we moved on. The Watertown Post ain’t out here handing out blue ribbons for mediocrity.
It’s called humor, sharp takes, and actual coverage of what’s going on in this town while the rest of y’all are busy yelling at clouds and reposting memes from 2017.
So maybe read before you rant. Or don’t. Either way, The Post rolls on.
🇺🇸🗞️
— Proud Reader
“Subscribed since the raccoons took over Prospect Street.”
I am too
Your reading this rant ya?
She’s a Karen, must be she likes looking at and smelling garbage.
Bronson Street next please.
?
I don’t understand why people hate the Watertown Post so much?
relax leftie
Because It’s a leftwing RAG MAG!
Yawn
Dam, lots of coffee consumed on this thread.