Well sweetie, here we are in September and already some o’ the leaves are starting to turn in the neighborhood. Yup, and in these parts the nights have been colder. That’s a sure sign o’ things to come as if we need any. Around the Asylum by the Sea we’re doing something that is another sure sign of the coming of colder weather – having a primary.
Next Tuesday the Demmies do what they’ve done for more than 20 years. Incumbent hizzoner Ed O’Brien is facing Nancy Rossi for the Demmie nomination. As yew remember like all Galls and all of West Haven, the Demmies are divided into three parts: the Borer, Morrissey and Picard factions. Borer has been outta power, but his ex-wife and State Rep. Dorinda holds onto some of the supporters that ole H. Richard Jr. had for many years and is still a force in the party. James Morrissey is the leader of another faction and it is his group that currently holds sway and is backing hizzoner. These two factions have banded together against the thoid faction, the Picard faction, named after the erstwhile mayor who has left the city for brighter climes in the East Shore.
The wag was here t’other afternoon and gave his take on the lay of the land come Primary Day. He seems to think that Morrissey-Borer are gonna git their usual 2,000-plus votes to come out next week. That solid base is usually all they need to carry the day. Effen Nancy and her band of newcomers and old-timers can come up with about 2,500 votes, there may be a change in the wind. If not, things will probably be status quo.
What a lotta people are expecting though, sez the wag, is that there might be some splitting of ducats during the balloting and what’ll come up is a mixed bag of candidates. Effen that happens, the whole shootin’ match can be up for grabs come November as Rossi has hedged her bets by forming the A Better Choice Party.
It all remains to be seen whot is gonna happen, but come late Tuesday night, things should be a bit clearer.
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Sammy Bluejay came in to weigh his views about the primary, and has a few very interstin’ pernts. He is sayin’ a lotta people are starting to see some parallels to the 1981 debacle that saw a primary betwixt George Dunleavy and Donald Wrinn get thrown out for absentee voter problems, and a second primary held on Election Day. That threw the entire city into chaos politically and when the dust cleared a couple weeks later, the GOP came out victorious.
The big variables are how much strength Rossi has and how disgruntled John and Jane Q. are come next week. Grumbling in this burg is a spectator sport, but sometimes it gets even more than usual and can affect how elections come out.
There’s one person who’s hoping that people are really disgruntled, and that’s Dave Riccio, the Republican candidate. Whilst the two Demmies are sniping back and forth, Davy’s been walking the streets and neighborhoods letting a lotta people know who he is. He’s ruined a couple pairs o’ shoes, according to Sammy, and effen this does go into a three-way race, it’s really a toss-up as to whot happens.
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Of course, the big elephant in the room is not even from these parts. It’s from Hartford. While Iyam writing this missive, the boys and girls in the state capital are still bickering over the budget. And, as if yew didn’t know, that promise for a “revenue neutral” spending plan is out the window. All we’re hearing from the Demmies is more taxes. The only good thing is the GOP can stop things cuz the State Senate is split 50-50.
Whot everybody is lookin’ at is the aid to municipalities. The administration is convinced it’s gonna get all the money it budgeted fer from the state when the dust settles. Some towns and cities in our area might not get as much or nothing at all, and that could pose a problem for legislatures with divided constituencies.
Effen the city don’t get as much as is hoped, the entire primary might go another way with people voting pocketbook issues. Effen it gets whot was expected or more, O’Brien might find himself in the cat bird seat. It’s a big part o’ what’s going on, and the outcome could have an effect going into next year.
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Iva Lootey came in and sez that the Bored of Education is expected to play its part in an un-American injustice and will have voted to terminate Vic Hogfeldt as a teacher in the local school system, ending a two-year saga. The next chapter goes to New Haven Superior Court, where the case against the B of E is now in discovery.
Cobina has seen some perty shady stuff coming outta the school system over the last several years, but the ignoring of Vic’s fundamental right to a hearing before the board as covered in state law in lieu of an arbitration hearing is the worst case of abuse she’s seen in quite some time. Even some people in the school system who aren’t his biggest supporters believe this is a railroad job and beneath the dignity of the city and the system.
A meeting was scheduled for this past Tuesday – changed from a meeting later in the month as politicos do when they try to suppress attendance – and since it’s after deadline we won’t be able to cover it in the papyrus. But the fix is already in. The Kangaroo Court that the school system set up did its dirty deed and it is fully expected the B of E will vote to terminate.
Like I told yew last week, this has some members of the barrister community lookin’ on in horror, and they fully expeck when it goes to trial, the case could be a slam-dunk for Vic just based on protocol. If and when that happens, some leadership in the school system – very high leadership – should be fired toot sweet. This may cost the public a lotta kopecks all because the union and the school system have a cozy relationship.
The only word to describe the whole thing is: corrupt.
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Full circle time: Cobina was in an emporium t’other afternoon and couldn’t believe her peepers. There was Halloween stuff already on the shelves. This is even before the leaves have fully changed color. Yikes.
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With that bit o’ chatter, I’ll close this time till next, mitt luff und kizzez,