Teresa

At just 22 years old, Canadian John McCue became frustrated with the potholes in his community and decided to do something about them himself. Instead of waiting for road crews, he gathered basic tools, a wheelbarrow, and material for filling the damaged sections of road. He then began repairing potholes on his own time, drawing plenty of attention from passing motorists. Beside him was a sign explaining exactly what he was doing: “I filled the potholes. Pay me instead of your taxes.” McCue was not working for the city and was not charging drivers a fixed amount. People simply stopped and gave him whatever they wanted as a way of thanking him for improving the road. Some handed him cash, while others brought coffee or small gifts. The unusual sight of a young man personally repairing a public street quickly attracted interest, especially because many residents shared his frustration over potholes and the time it could take for damaged roads to receive attention. His roadside project was partly practical and partly a statement about how public money was being spent. Rather than simply complaining about the condition of the streets, McCue literally picked up a shovel and started filling the holes himself. The stunt turned an everyday frustration into something visible, with passing drivers effectively choosing to support the person doing the work directly in front of them. #drthehistories