Howdy do, sweets! It’s been an interestin’ time here in the Asylum by the Sea, whot with things getting off the summer schedule and moving into what we’re more used to in these parts. Yep, summer toined to fall last week, and though it’s still on the warm side, some o’ the usual arborial specimens that seem to shed their leaves early are doing so. It’s hard to believe but in jest a few weeks’ time we know that these balmy temps are gonna crash, and the windows will but shut and the heat turned on for the next little while.
With that going on, the campaign for mayor seems to be in full swing. The Cohen town hall, witch was wet for the Sept. 22, drew almost double the Demmies debate – that was the exercise the group had before the primary. There are some that might wanna make hay outta that statistic; but, let’s face it, there are a slew more Demmies than GOP. Still they got a headcount of 90 for Cohen, and under 60 for debate. Whilst some thought it might be an omen for Nov. 2, Cobina’s take on it is that Cohen is not a known quantity and people wanna know what he’s about. They already got a perty good understandin’ of where Herroner is coming from.
Sammy Bluejay was at the proceedings and sez Cohen fielded lotsa questions with no notes, and was perty fluent on how he saw things. Questions were drawn from texts and emails, as well as from the town hall floor. Barry, who can be an enigma to some was engaging, accordin’ to Sammy, and when a query was posed about the arts, he broke out in a little song.
As one might suspeck, the usual folks from the Rossi camp who showed up to see what’s what and determined to leave halfway through the event. Sammy sez some in the Cohen camp were sayin’ the visitors didn’t like the applause. Maybe. One never knows. Maybe they thought they had enough of a flavor of what was being said. Effen Barry is smart, he’ll keep his powder dry and not show all o’ what is in his bag o’ tricks.
One thing that cam outta the proceedings was Cohen’s desire to “kick it up a notch” and have a “real debate” about leadership, transparency, quality of life, and economic development. He’s said he wasn’t thrilled with the usual format these debates seem to take. Sammy sez he offered up some requests and recommendations – or so he told the galthering. Candidates sitting at separate tables, unable to stand or converse with one another, doesn’t sit well with Cohen or others who felt that Lewis got the short end of the stick at the Dem debate. Maybe. But I wouldn’t expeck that things are gonna git much more notched up. It jest ain’t the way things work hereabouts.
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Meanwhile, the three-way race that we were all expectin, and even hopin’ fer ain’t gonna happen it seems. Nelly Nuthatch informed us that O’Brien caught the disease that seems to be infectin’ a bunch o’ people this year: Not-filling-itis.
The way we got the story from Nelly some state paper or form had to be filed and it wasn’t in time, that means that O’Brien wouldn’t be on the ballot, but I guess can run as a write-in. Well, we know from past experience jest how effective those can be.
So, the three-way showdown Cobina was hopin’ for – a trio on a dais debatin’ the isshews would have really been a tonic for the staid politics these things turn into – will not be happenin’ this go-round. It’ll be the usual fare. But, with Cohen in the race, we’re expectin’ there will be some fireworks somewhere along the line. As we’ve said before neither Herroner nor Cohen are averse to throwing the verbal bomb effen they think it’ll get notice.
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Meanwhile, the local papyrus had a story about flooding around here. Developers and those lookin’ to develop are aware that the last couple o’ years have been perty wet, and that a city perched along the shore and its estuary and setch might get a bit waterlogged on occasion. Even the Feds found that out jest a week or so ago.
I told yew that the gymnasium at the new high school got a bit o’ water damage as did the cafeteria. Now, there were many reasons for it, including the fack that the retention pond planned wasn’t done yet, and the construction around those areas is still ongoing. But it did have a few eyes rolling – including Cobina’s.
‘Twas the Feds, dontcha know that insisted the reconstruction have a new gym. The original plans had the old gym refurbished and useable. Nope, said some yokel in Washington. It’s too near the flood area, and will flood in a 100-year storm – not understanding that in the 56 years the place was extant it didn’t flood once cuz o’ rain.
Soooooo, a new gym was built fully a city block away from where the old one stood, with the old one falling to the wrecker’s ball more than a year ago. And the foist big storm we had – albeit a 500 year storm by all accounts – there was flooding there. However, the area where the former gym was might’ve been soaked – but not flooded.
Getting back to developers, we understand they might have some angst about building on wetlands, but do they hafta put houses everywhere? We know it’s a quick way to turn a buck, but we still live in one o’ the densest areas in the state on – I never forgit this lit’le stat from decades ago – 10.6 square miles. Effen the rain doesn’t git you, the density will.
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As we venture into October in the next few days, we hafta remember that Beach Street reconstruction is supposed to happen in the next lit’le while. Cobina makes her domicile in that area and is jest wonderin’ what new Hell is gonna happen when that construction begins.
Beach Street is one o’ the major arteries getting into that part o’ town, and effen it has to be closed off like it was when they did the part in front o’ the wastewater treatment plant – I didn’t wanna say “sewage” – it could be a BIG problem over there.
As I mentioned to yew recently, since Water Street was closed, the traffic on First Avenue, particularly outgoing during rush hour, is brutal. That ain’t to say incoming ain’t brutal it is, but trying to navigate that area getting to the highway is a particularly frustrating affair.
Iva Lootey is of the opinion that as bad as the other Beach Street reconstruction was, this one’s gonna be even worse. Campbell Avenue will become more choked with traffic, and areas setch as Sawmill Road and even Jones Hill and Woodmont Road – which are not great shakes, either, could see an uptick in congestion.
Let’s hope the city comes up with a traffic plan before this area is rebuilt. Better to have something in place planned, than reacting to a situation that festers. It being an election year might work the favor of the average commuter.
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The Wag was in t’other afternoon and got Cobina wondering. A headline in the local papyrus stated the esteemed governor of our little Peoples’ Republic is looking to extend his emergency powers after next Tuesday. Ya see, his powers lapse and his executive orders do as well. Now, probably the General Assembly will give him new powers, unfortunately.
As the Wag pernted out, we are perty much on the other side of the “pandemic” and it jest doesn’t seem like politicos wanna give up the perks they got. Yeah, perks. They like rulin’ by fiat, don’t think otherwise. It’ll be interestin’ what happens. Probably by the time yew read this the General Assembly has forked over its authority once more and rule by decree will continue. Do I sound cynical? After decades of watchin’ politicians in action, I don’t think they do anything for the general welfare, only their own power.
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With that bit o’ chatter, I’ll close this time till next, mitt luff und kizzez,