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Allston Christmas, observed
Sep. 2nd, 2026 05:02 pmA few hours ago, Cattitude and I went out for a leisurely stroll in the general direction of the bakery. Before we made it out of the building, we met a new neighbor who was feeling somewhat overwhelmed by the work of moving into a 3rd floor walkup. We had barely crossed the street when we encountered somebody waving a screwdriver around over his head while balancing on a crate on top of a picnic cooler on top of a big computer monitor. At least the monitor was lying flat. This is a corner where Allston Christmas is celebrated with particular enthusiasm (see the second picture here: https://www.universalhub.com/2026/allston-christmas-version-kiss-me-sign-under-mistletoe), so we are kind of accustomed to stuff piling up...but the mattresses were all gone this morning, so the guy looked likely to fall on concrete.
I offered him a stepladder without asking any questions like "What on earth do you think you're doing?" When he accepted, we went home to get it. (Fortunately, it's not very heavy and we live on the first floor.) As he had no sense of self-preservation at all, he tried climbing it with 3 of the ladder feet on the sidewalk and the 4th in the street, until Cattitude gave him a hint. We hung around chatting until he was done with the ladder and we could take it home.
That was when I realized he was installing a surveillence camera. I don't like surveillence cameras, and don't want one across the street from my home. Even so, it didn't feel right to take the stepladder out from under the installer. While it feels safer to walk in a neighborhood with eyes on the street, that means HUMAN eyes. People sitting on their stoops, or lights in windows facing the street. If I had known what he was doing, when I first saw him, I might not have offered the ladder. (Then again, I might. I disapprove of his actions, but still don't want him to break his neck.) He said the purpose of the camera was to watch that corner for illegal dumping. And I acknowledge that the abandoned furniture is becoming a problem...but I don't trust the city not to abuse the surveillence power.
Cattitude says not to worry. We can always just take the camera down, because we have a stepladder.
I offered him a stepladder without asking any questions like "What on earth do you think you're doing?" When he accepted, we went home to get it. (Fortunately, it's not very heavy and we live on the first floor.) As he had no sense of self-preservation at all, he tried climbing it with 3 of the ladder feet on the sidewalk and the 4th in the street, until Cattitude gave him a hint. We hung around chatting until he was done with the ladder and we could take it home.
That was when I realized he was installing a surveillence camera. I don't like surveillence cameras, and don't want one across the street from my home. Even so, it didn't feel right to take the stepladder out from under the installer. While it feels safer to walk in a neighborhood with eyes on the street, that means HUMAN eyes. People sitting on their stoops, or lights in windows facing the street. If I had known what he was doing, when I first saw him, I might not have offered the ladder. (Then again, I might. I disapprove of his actions, but still don't want him to break his neck.) He said the purpose of the camera was to watch that corner for illegal dumping. And I acknowledge that the abandoned furniture is becoming a problem...but I don't trust the city not to abuse the surveillence power.
Cattitude says not to worry. We can always just take the camera down, because we have a stepladder.
