Mile High Grass Covers Our City Lots

If you travel around the city of Buffalo you will see street after street with high grass. I call it “Mile High Grass.” I was driving down Herman Street last week, and I stopped for a school bus, where a student about 9 or 10 years old got off the bus near Sycamore. I noticed that both sides of the sidewalk had really high grass. The grass was so high that as she walked the only thing you could see was her head. It really caused me to stop and think about all of these lots on the Eastside with grass so high that it is not only a health hazard, but in the case of our children having to walk by it or through it—it is dangerous. Anything could be hiding in these lots with overgrown grass including rats or small animals. Our community is overrun with gophers, raccoons, and skunks. The city owned lots with this overgrown grass are a disgrace.

We should not have to live like this in our community. I would like to encourage everyone to call 311 and make a complaint about this high grass. I once did this on my Eye On History radio show. I was moved to do this after seeing what the young student had to go through. As a result, the grass was cut a few days later. I appreciated the response from the community because it made a difference. I thanked everyone who made a phone call to 311. We need to use this service and make complaints when necessary. I would encourage people to continue making phone calls to protest the other high grass lots. Perhaps the city would like to consider my next suggestion. The answer is the use of goats or sheep in places where high grass grows. Don’t laugh, Maryland has been using goats and sheep since 2009 to clear grass on its highways.

The cost to Maryland was a little over $6,000 a year. Pittsburgh used goats and sheep its city parks a few years ago, as an alternative to herbicides. As far back as 1918, President Woodrow Wilson brought in sheep to trim the White House lawn. A few years ago, county officials revealed a plan to trim grass at Como Park. This solution would not only benefit the community, but it would also serve as a science lesson for our youth who have not seen too many goats or sheep in action. Goats are strong and will even eat poison ivy. In my view, part of being an elected official is being creative and visionary.

It is my hope that we will see our lots cleared during the summer months, so that our children are safe and can walk and play without worry. Everyone, including adults need to walk safely and without fear of anyone hiding in high grass areas. I encourage you to call 311 and make a complaint to the city. This is a danger to all of us!!