Here we are, sweetie pie, and by the time yew git this missive, it’ll be jest days before the voters go out to pick who will be the mayor and council for the next two years. Whilst some may think it’s a shoe-in for the incumbent, there is some angst in the ranks over the recent turn of events in the Actors Colony. More about that later, but suffice it to say that things got a bit bumpy along the road to re-election over the last few days.
As of this writing, the boys and girls in the campaigns are doing their final pitches to the voters. We got the candidates heading the tickets to answer a few queries as we did in the primaries, and it should be an interesting read for those lookin’ fer information. Whilst there have been few fireworks in this campaign, I guess the “debate” the two had a couple weeks back proved what everyone thought: the two can trash talk with the best o’ them.
Both candidates, Herronner and the challenger, or as they are known on the streets, Nancy Rossi and Barry Lee Cohen, could pitch a barb as well as anyone and took opportunities to do so. As I told yew before hand, the negotiations for this debate took on that of an international peace conference, with both candidates lookin’ to get the advantage.
In the end it looked like both got something o’ what they wished for, and the games began. How many heads were turned or minds changed in this go-round remains to be seen. In a city as heavily Demmie as this one, Cohen had to show that he will be an effective leader and a breath of fresh air. Rossi is the one with the record, and she defended it, like it or not. The gal is single-minded and knows what she wants done.
It will be an interesting vote, and we shall see if a) the voters are OK with what they’ve got; or b) decide that after 30-plus years of one-party rule, it’s time for a change. We shall see.
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Sammy Bluejay was at the debate, and, of course, the investigation into the misuse of fed’ral funds came up in the discussions. This was before the arrest of people and the naming of names. But it was a few days after the famous video where herroner made the announcement.
Sammy sez that Cohen did make a few pernts by saying the oversight of setch funding stopped at the third floor office in the southwest corner of the Actors Colony. But, he did say that Rossi seemed to fend off the criticism – at least to the satisfaction of her supporters in the audience.
Tennyrate, the elephant in the room was the FBI probe. Now, some may dispute whether the feds “raided” City Hall. That was the topic Iyam told of a few people in social media. Let’s jest agree they didn’t come for a cup of tea and cookie. And, the “visit” was not exactly expected.
But days later the city was rocked by the arrest of State Rep and young wunderkind Michael DiMassa. I know that Cobina was saddened by the news. Ya never wanna see a young person with much on the ball be implicated in something like this. Over the last few years, we have seen this too often. And, as the Wag pernted out when the news reports were broadcast, there seems to be a common thread in all this: wagering.
Mike Siwek, late Housing Authority head, Steve DeCrescenzo, late City Council-at-large, and now DiMassa all seem to have the curse of the wager in their past. It was the downfall of the previous two, and seems, effen it’s tue, it’ll be the downfall of another.
The fack that DiMassa is now enrolled in a “rehab program” for gamblers was probably arranged by his mouthpiece prior to his plea in federal district court. That’s usually the route these things take. There is still a part o’ Cobina that hopes it’s all OK, and things are gonna come out in the wash. She thought the same for Siwek and DeCrescenzo. Setch a waste.
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Just two or three more observations concerning this turn of events. The foist is Cobina ain’t sure things are gonna stick to Rossi on this one, thought there seems to be an attempt by at least one former State Demmie official to make it so.
A statement came out this week from Ed Marcus, former Democratic State Central Committee Chairman, who seems to be no great friend of the current incumbent. In fact, Nelly Nuthatch tells me it was Marcus and some group he’s fronting that came up with the initial complaints about use of the federal funds. Let’s jest say that Marcus and Herroner aren’t going to be exchanging Christmas cards this year.
The second is that the statement by herroner concerning DiMassa’s arrest was forceful, it seemed to lack a little empathy. When Cobina read it she was impressed by the directness, but the lack of a certain humanity was also apparent. Cold I guess is the word Iyam lookin’ fer. Maybe Cobina is getting soft in her old age.
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Our use of a note from Ed Granfield on the fact the city didn’t do any charter revision and people were complaining to him elicited the usual responses, it seems. Whilst I don’t peruse the social media sites – I’ll be damned before I give Zuckerberg any mind – one wishes the responses weren’t the same Democratic talking pernts that were used a year ago to ditch the package.
And we know that’s what was done cuz the “objections” were word for word was the talking point sheets out last year said. But, I forget, in politics is all about narrative, and the yokels who use social media are the ones who seem to push the narratives.
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Iva Lootey came by t’other day and sez that the work at the Haven site seems to be slowing down rather than picking up. Cobina decided to go by there in her gassamobuggy, and it seems Iva might be right. Whilst there was a lotta activity there for a while, and there is certainly a large dune of debris over there, not much else seems to be happening.
About a year or so ago, there was a big announcement that Christmas 2022 was gonna be the holiday event for the Haven. One wonders.
Whilst she was traversing the area, Cobina came to the startling realization that it’s gonna be 25 years since the project was foist announced by Rich Borer come September of 2022. That’s 25 years, four or five iterations of the project, and one big hole in the ground later. Who knows, maybe by 2030 the danged thing will be completed. But who knows effen we’ll still be here to talk about it.
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Using the summer-like weather, it seems the paving frenzy that’s been going on in the city for the last five months is continuing. More streets have been milled, and more asphalt trucks seen coming back and forth. We thought things were over for the year until we had to go out, and sure enough we had to navigate “raised structures” setch as manhole covers and other things. One wonders effen the whole thing will cease once the ballots are counted next week – but Cobina is a cynic.
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The one thing Cobina is thankful for is that she’s put kopecks away to pay this year’s heating bills. Some weather mavens are calling for a cold winter and the price of heating is supposed to go up anywhere from 30-50 percent, depending on what is used. This is, of course, thanks to the doddering old fool at 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, and the socialist screwballs who’re pulling the strings – like number 44. It’s only gonna git worse. And there is a part o’ Cobina that hopes so. Then maybe even the people who pull the D lever by rote will see that the oldest party in the world is being run by ideologues. They call the GOP a cult. They don’t have mirrors in their bathrooms.
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With that bit o’ chatter, I’ll close this time till next, mitt luff und kizzez,