Here we are in the last week o’ November, and all thoughts are starting to turn toward the big holidays, with Thanksgiving being the beginnin’ in some ways. Here at the papyrus, we’ve noticed that the usual hullaballoo around the political scene has begun to do what it always does around this time – go into a lull.
Especially cuz we have the inaugural coming up wherein the new administration is sworn in – that being this Sunday, oddly enuff, there’s been a bit of an hiatus in matters politic around the berg. Those who were not re-elected for whatever reason are emptying out their desks, getting together whatever mementos they’ve collected and are going off to greener pastures.
One o’ those is Deb Collins. Collins has been a big part o’ the political scene in the berg for the better part o’ two decades. Ensconced in her office as City Clerk, she was able to pull a lotta weight when it came to politics, sometimes for one side, sometimes for t’other. She was always linked with a faction in the tripartite organization that is the Democratic Party here in town; so, gettin’ into fracases concerning the interplay betwixt those factions sometimes got dicey.
It was surprising to many when she determined to thrust herself into the mayoral race, going against a one-term mayor. She had the support of at least one o’ the factions, and possibly the bulk of one other, but she didn’t pull off the tight race we all thought the September primary would be. Instead, she was handily defeated, and she couldn’t even claim that former Mayor Ed O’Brien’s entry into the primary was the source of the plurality that defeated her. Nope. The margin was so big, even that was no excuse.
Still, she has served the city for more than 20 years, and there is always a bit of nostalgia when someone that long serving leaves office. We wish her well, and somehow figger than she will be courting political issues sooner rather than later.
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The Mystick Maidens of the Marsh are ready to celebrate the holiday and have had a general meeting scheduled for the Cove River marshes on Thanksgiving Morning. Tina Peckingham will preside, and the gals are all waiting to see her. The MMMs, one of the longest running organizations in town – and also one of the most disrespected – plan to have a great time before we all trundle back to our homes for dinner.
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As is usual for Thanksgiving, Cobina is ready to give her annual turkeys to the many politicos around town who for one reason or t’other have made life interesting in the place we call the Asylum by the Sea:
Mayor Nancy Rossi – Herronner has certainly deserved this year’s turkey if for no other reason than surviving the slings and arrows that is politics in our little corner of the universe. Still, it’s interesting how the use of phrases can be interpreted. She did have a surplus in the last budget cycle, but, truth to tell, it was enhanced by the Municipal Accountability Review Board’s gift of state dollars. So, her turkey gets a thesaurus attached to a wing. There are many ways to say the same thing, and she’s seemed to master it.
The MARB – The members of the state review panel get their birds plain and without any garnish. The members don’t seem to have any “garnish” when it comes to dealing with the city’s financial problems. They just plow ahead, not thinking about how some of their decisions might affect real people. The “just the facts” attitude means they get their dinners bland, and without anything to make them tasty.
City Council Chairman Ron Quagliani – Foist off, let’s just say that there is no way we’re gonna call him a “chair.” He’s a chairman. Tennyrate, Quags is gonna get his turkey with a set of knives. Try as he might he still can’t figger out how to slice and dice the new charter revisions into several questions. Maybe the cutlery will help.
The outgoing members of the City Council – These guys and gals have only days left in their terms and the new council will come in on Sunday. There turkeys will be dressed according to their willingness to serve the public. Some will get bitter kale to go along with their turkey, whilst others will get apple stuffing to sweeten it.
The Democratic Town Committee – The members of this august body will get their birds with earplugs attached. It seems that whether one is a member of the “right” faction or the “wrong” faction is a big decider of whether one gets heard –same thing when it comes to party. Tennyrate, seein’ as they don’t listen to each other for the betterment of the city, the earplugs might come in handy.
The Republican Town Committee – The recent estrangement on the 60-member committee will mean that their birds are gonna be sent with boxing gloves. It’s amazing how a party that hasn’t seen the mayor’s office since George HW Bush can get itself entangled is setch a squabble. Fight it out and then get to work. The city needs a vibrant second party.
Congresswoman Rosa DeLauro Greenburg – Our little lady of the halls of Congress seems a bit silent lately – not something we’re used to around here. We are especially interested since the Demmies are working their impeachment nonsense. Rosa has been almost silent. Soooo, her bird gets a gag. Let’s hope she continues to use it after the holiday.
Congressman Jim Himes – This guy is getting like Dick Blumenthal, our senior senator, he can’t stay off the TV. He needs a bird with running shoes, so he can dash to the TV cameras quicker, not that he has anything interesting to say.
Rose Majestic and Bill Ewry – These people aren’t political, but they do more good than most politicos. Rose is the director of WHEAT, and Bill runs the annual Community Thanksgiving Dinner. Their birds will come with a little adult something or other to enjoy later in the day.
Reporter Josh LaBella – Of course in Italian “la bella” is “the pretty one.” Nope. We’re not making a judgment as to his comeliness. His bird gits a visor to look like an old-time reporter. He’s been around most of the year, and has really become part o’ the scene.
Mike Walsh – The city’s PR maven gets a turkey with a bypass over the city’s quirky email system. If that doesn’t work, there’s a bottle of aspirin with the package.
The Voice owners, staff, columnists – The best for a Happy Thanksgiving.