Americans as a nation are a people of action. They move forward without being weighed down by the burden of centuries-old traditions, customs and regimes. Astonishingly, Americans do not like to philosophize. It elicits a deferential yawn from them, or a polite expression of attention. Words are the yeast of Russian culture.
Residents think that the city council ought to fill it in.
The city council thinks it's a matter for local authorities. The local authorities have no money. As a matter of principle, none of the residents fills it in. Someone says something on this account. Then someone else writes what he thinks about what was said, followed by someone else speaking out about what was written.