If Tom Menino really wants to do something about City Hall bureaucracy

He might forget about his answering-machine crusade for awhile and figure out why it's so frickin' difficult for residents to get a hydrant and guard rail taken out by a car repaired:

... We figured that the fire hydrant was the responsibility of the Public Works Department and that the guardrail would be cared for by the Boston Transportation Department. Makes sense, doesn't it? The real answer is neither one! First, the Fire Department is responsible for inspecting the hydrant. I guess that makes sense, but they aren't in the business of replacing damaged ones, are they? Anyway, Public Works said they would replace the guard post, but only after I called the Mayor's Office of Neighborhood Services and had my liaison call DPW to have the work done. O-kaaaay... I didn't bother questioning the process, I just placed another call. Unfortunately, my neighborhood rep wasn't available, so all I could do was leave a message. ...