Read the following passage from a satirical short story:
"For years, the citizens of Bumbleshire had boasted about their unrivaled commitment to environmental sustainability. Every Sunday, the townsfolk gathered to celebrate their eco-friendly lifestyle with a festival dedicated to recycling and composting. Ironically, the same day, the mayor announced plans to bulldoze the town’s only park to make room for a new parking lot designed to accommodate a future shopping mall, which the townspeople regarded as a ‘green initiative’ to boost local commerce."
In this excerpt, which of the following statements best illustrates the irony and satire presented in the passage?