When campaigning, one should be carefully constructing and reinforcing one’s image. The photograph above is a model of what not to do.

Right before the primary, Ramon Arroyo told third district voters that his wife, Minnie Gonzalez, was responsible for having a vacant lot on Putnam Heights cleared. This lot has been perpetually overgrown, with City employees being nagged into mowing it about once each year. When the City does not maintain it, neighborhood residents attempt to do so. Despite having a record of 311 complaints called in by area residents about this property, the politicians staked claims to the mowing and clearing that occurred on one day this past summer.

Months later, the lot is once again overgrown. Since the signs were erected, neither Gonzalez nor Arroyo have made a return appearance. Arroyo lost his bid for Registrar of Voters in the primary and has not removed his campaign sign.

UPDATE: 6 Nov 2012: The tree visible in this vacant, neglected lot has since fallen and is responsible for totaling three vehicles.