A city worker in Changhua, Taiwan told residents the grass could not be cut during Ghost Month, and the mayor is now going out to do it personally — an embarrassment for the local government and a small win for residents who complained.

• Residents asked the city office to clear overgrown grass at a parking lot, worried about snakes.
• The staffer answering the call said cutting grass during Ghost Month is taboo and could invite trouble.
• Officials first claimed the worker only mentioned it as hearsay, but a recording of the call proved otherwise.
• Mayor Lin Shih-hsien, angry at the excuse, is leading a crew to mow the site himself to knock down the superstition.
• The story blew up locally, with people joking that if no work happens in Ghost Month, no salary should either.

Outlook: The grass gets cut this week, and the city will likely tighten how staff handle resident complaints.