Should the city take a fresh look at existing (2023-instituted) Right-of-Way Stewardship?

That policy reads: “Maintenance... is a partnership between the city and the adjoining property owner.”

Well, as anyone can now see, in 2023 we’re left with much linear roadside that is not presently maintained by either city or property owners. Of the latter, we can guess that they may be absentee and unaware of the condition of their roadside frontage, aged, physically limited, and/or unable to manage the frontage — or unaware of the policy that changed for 2023.

The top five effects of the existing situation (though there are more than five):

(1) With grasses and weeds now all grown out and quickly drying, there is much potential for brush fires. Never in past years was there so much potential kindling waiting to be sparked.

(2) Grasses during June are shedding lots of pollen. About one in five people are allergic to grass pollens and are suffering unnecessarily at present.

(3) Weed seeds are multiplying, including species we’ve worked hard to contain in past years, such as poison hemlock right at the pavement edge. City mowing had previously prevented most of that.

(4) Tall grass and weed cover begins to attract birds and small mammals, so once mowing actually (hopefully) takes place, those species may be in peril.

(5) Some owners are turning to toxic herbicides to comply with the city requirement. Along street edges and sidewalks, that exposes walkers and pets to unknowingly be around substances best kept “out of the reach of children and pets.” A freshly applied substance can be carried right into the house on shoe soles or pet feet.

Yes, there is expense to the city to catch up with the backlog — but the benefit of mowing now will outweigh the cost.

Forest Shomer

PORT TOWNSEND