School is in, Labor Day is over, the politicos are getting ready for the latest round of blood-letting, and things seem to be settling in to “normal.” That’s what happens this time o’ years, around these parts. With the hoopla of summer, comes the stark realization that, with September, things are getting back into their regular routine, and, the fall sales are starting in the dry goods stores. Yew can see it: Out with bathing suits, summer slacks and moo-moos, in with fur-lined collars, heavier material and scarves. It’s all kind o’ depressing, when yew think about it.
Tennyrate, the Labor Day holiday means the fall election cycle will get into full swing, and that means in the Asylum by the Sea we have a primary. Sammy Bluejay was flutterin’ about the burg, and sez that in the matter of the sign war, there is no clear-cut victor in the number o’ signs. Sammy, is a bit more selective about signs. Y’see, effen yew take out the signs that are either on public land, abandoned sites, or the area not on someone’s lawn, but the curb, yew get a more realistic picture o’ things.
The signs are by and large perty evenly distributed, though one candidate seems a bit more ubiquitous only cuz those signs are on some of the aforementioned areas. It might fool some o’ the people some o’ the time, and that’s what’s really up here. Effen yew git one or two people to decide on a candidate cuz it looks like the signs are in his or her favor, all the better.
By next Tuesdee it’ll be over, but what remains is a mystery. No one has said it, but some are expectin’ that one or two of the candidates might have either made sure the paperwork is in to do a third-party run, or we might get the newest parlor game that has caught on in the last few elections – write-in campaigns.
Now, write-in campaigns are about as successful as finding teeth in hen’s beaks. Once in a while, yew might find something that passes, but the chances are slim. Effen that happens, then yew can bet yore bottom greenback the reason for it is not whatcha might think. Write-in candidates in this instance will be not so much to win as to prevent a win.
The Demmies , for example, have had this occurrence in the last few go-rounds, and it was really more about stopping the hated winner from winning, rather than changing things. Effen that happens after this vote next week, Cobina would bet it’s to exact some sort of revenge.
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Meanwhile, the bile that seems to be spewing amongst the Republican faithful may very well be on full display. Steve Mullins and Michelle Gregorio, she being the endorsed candidate, he being the challenger, will faceoff in a debate tonight. It should be interesting, and we hope informative. What is interesting though, from our perspective is the vitriol that this thing has created amongst a perty docile group – at least it was docile over the last few decades.
Nelly Nuthatch sez that the side-taking that’s happening in the GOP is nothing like it’s seen since George I, and she means George H.W. Bush. I’ve been relating to yew the ins and outs of the campaign. It seems that whilst Steve Mullins was the foist candidate to announce, the party leaders had something different in mind. We will say this, given Gregorio’s strong experience in business finance, she might be able to go toe-to-toe with Mayor Nancy in the dollars and cents department. That might be a pernt in her favor.
Mullins, meanwhile, is campaigning and using the “it’s time for a change” mantra. And, nobody really disputes that. This burg would be well suited if it went back to a two-party system, and not jest one party using a revolving door every four or six years to change game pieces – most of which we’ve seen before.
Sooooo, it’ll be veddy interesting to see how the primary in the GOP turns out. The organization has only 3,400 on the rolls, methinks, so effen they get 1,000 out that would be a perty good test sampling. Primaries don’t usually bring out big numbers, but they do bring out people hungry for one candidate or t’other. We shall see.
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While all that is going on, schools opened without any hitch. The buses ran, the kids got to class, and so far things are not so bad. Of course, the real winners in this were the moms, who had biiiiiig smiles on their faces last Tuesday when the doors opened. No so much the kids. They seemed to have some perty sad faces as the reality o’ the new year came into focus. Oh well, wait till they git our ages, honeybunch and they yearn for those days.
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Speaking of realities, Iva Lootey came by and seemed to indicate that the reality of getting charter revision on the ballot in November is fading fast. This ain’t good, and didn’t hafta happen, except the City Council doesn’t seem to be adept at multi-tasking.
The good news is the recommendations they’ve sent to the Charter Revision Commish for consideration are in the woids of someone who’s seen ‘em “cosmetic” in nature. The big stuff like the hiring of a City Manager and redefining the districks and allowing more minority representation are gonna be left to the voters.
The monkey wrench at this pernt seems to be who’ll be in charge come December, when the new mayor is sworn in? That weighs rather heavily right now. Effen this council sets a date for a vote – even if it is next spring – any new administration or new City Council would be bound by it cuz this is a state action, not just a city one. If the council doesn’t come up with a date for a vote, then all Hades is gonna break loose cuz that would probably put the nail in the coffin. For all its dawdling, the council is up for the people to decide.
There are some in the majority party who do not want to see this thing go through, and could very easily ditch it effen a new council is left to decide. There are politicos in town who like things the way they are and don’t wanna hafta play a new game. They like the old one.
We shall see. This will be a test for this council and even this administration, win or lose, come next week.
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Here we are in September and, by my count, about three months since the DOT approved the traffic plan for the Haven, and about two months since the developers put together a plan of action for the City Council….so what’s going on? Nothing has happened.
We’ve heard September is the start time – maybe. The homes and businesses that were once there are now falling down on their own, and won’t need much of a push from a bulldozer to get flattened. Still there is no word from the developers on what in blazes is going and what is going to happen. That’s not being a good neighbor.
We are being told the project is gonna go off as planned, yet since this thing was announced, the big shopping center in Norwalk off Exit 15 has been almost completed, and is set to open, probably for the holidays. We’re told that Christmas 2020 is gonna be our year. Not at this pace.
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With that bit o’ chatter, I’ll close this time till next, mitt luff und kizzez,