Utility thugs on the loose

Mike Ball harrumphs over the endless procession of workers from NStar, Keyspan and the Boston Water and Sewer Commission who are forever ripping up his street:

... This week, after two and one-half days, one well into the night, the gang of utility thugs left. They managed to knock Italian-bread sized chunks from our maple. They threw Dunkin' cups and lids, sandwich remains, junk food wrappers, pipe straps, work gloves and more on the street and in our recycling bin, including oddly enough, a single lime wedge. We assume that was from some cloying donut shop drink, although it has been gin-and-tonic weather. ...

And then there's the natural-gas smell.