Residents put Christmas tree into pothole to call out gov’t to fix it
Residents from McComb, Mississippi, United States put up a Christmas tree in a pothole to get the local government’s attention to attend to it. INQUIRER.net stock photo
A neighborhood saw the holidays as an opportunity to get the local government’s attention regarding a gaping pothole which could endanger motorists — they set up a Christmas tree in the road hazard in McComb, Mississippi, United States.
A resident, John Drummond, said the traffic cone placed on the pothole after city workers dug up the street kept on getting knocked over. A metal rod was placed inside the traffic cone to keep it from moving, as per Fox News on Dec. 10. Drummond narrated how he was inspired to put a Christmas tree in the traffic cone.
“I saw a Christmas tree on TV and said, ‘imma put one of those out there in that cone and everybody can like it and not hit the pothole,’” Drummond was quoted as saying.
The neighbors decided to add more ornaments to the makeshift tree, as the tree took a life of its own. Some placed red, silver and gold pine cone ornaments, while others wrapped it with silver and gold garlands.
Cyrena Austin, another resident, also added Christmas lights to the improvised tree. Austin said that the tree was also the neighborhood’s way of ensuring motorists’ safety, since the pothole could cause damage to passing vehicles.
“The worst thing was, if two cars came by, somebody was going to hit the pothole,” Austin said in the report. “We just hated seeing that people were going to damage their cars, possibly.”
Last month, residents from Atlanta, Georga had a similar problem. They also filled a pothole with a Christmas tree to call the city official’s attention. Their efforts turned out to be a success after the pothole was reportedly attended to by the authorities, after the protest.
The news site tried to reach McComb mayor’s office to inquire about their own pothole situation. The city’s streets department, where the matter was referred to by the mayor’s office, is yet to respond.
Meanwhile, Drummond said he and his neighbors might do something different about the tree this New Year, if authorities still do not solve the problem: “We’ll come up with something.” Cha Lino/JB
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