Well honeybunch, here we are in December. The tree lighting took place, people are decorating their homes, plans are being made for the Jolly Ole Elf when he comes visiting, and the nip in the air is getting a bite to it. It must be nearing Christmas time, and the end of the year. Of course, it’s been Christmastime in stores since Nov. 1, when the Halloween stuff came down and the decorations went up. And, the boob tube is jest chock full of ads for this or that gadget that one hopes to have in his Christmas stocking. Those started early, but yew didn’t notice them cuz of all the campaign commercials that were every six seconds.
Tennyrate, things went well with the tree lighting on the Green, a lotta people showed up, and it was jest another example of things really getting back to normal. It was nice to see.
Speaking of elections, it seems the “irregularities” of the 2021 election are still to be hashed out. One would have thought when the State Supreme Court made its ruling in the fall, things would be put to rest, but that ain’t the way things happen. The appellate process was almost set up to come out the way it did cuz o’ the way the trial judge ruled. We said that at the time.
Sammy Bluejay remembered a conversation we had in Cobina’s kitchen wherein I said the judge was finding jest enuff stuff to be a problem, but not enuff to overturn the election. Courts don’t do that. Problems were found, laws were violated, but there was never, ever gonna be an overturn. Yew could’ve been the mortgage on that one.
Sammy was in t’other day and mentioned the conversation. He mentioned it cuz of the missive writ by Lee Tiernan based on a commint Cobina made in a recent letter to you, in which he took exception. OK. Fair enough. But that meant somebody was gonna reply. And…that’s what happened.
I’ll jest end this topic with this observation. Back in 2000 because of “hanging chads” and Demmies protesting election results and calling them “rigged” we had to go to new systems, computerized systems. I ain’t no expert, but it seems there are jest as many if not more problems with the machines know as when we had levers. And, thee fack that these things can be linked to the Internet – and they can – jest gives one pause that games can be played. So, have we really progressed? Find a system, and someone will find a way to pervert it. It’s human nature.
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With the coming of the New Year, the attention in the burg will be about the coming mayoral election next fall. Well, candidates are already lining up Cobina has been told. The Wag was in t’other day and sez that people are beginning to set up the possibility of a run, and announcements, usually made halfway through the year, might be made early to git a jump on things.
Whether herronner is gonna seek another term is still a big question mark. The scuttlebutt around the Actors Colony is all over the place. Some are saying she will and some are saying she is gonna retire. Until we know for sure, the politicos and those who folly politics are trying to read the tea leaves and see what chaos will result. Yew know for sure effen herronner decides not to seek a fourth term, all Hell will break loose in the political sphere for those who want the job – though, for the life o’ me I can’t understand why?
Some are seeing the moves by certain members of the state delegation as a sign that announcements will be made, and names have been floated around in both parties. Meanwhile, on the GOP side, one has to wonder how Barry Cohen can’t be the nominee since he came soooo close the last time. But, as fragmented as we have seen the Demmies over the decades, the GOP is in the same boat. They jest can’t seem to get behind anybody as a unit. Demmies will fight and then back the nominee. Republicans, who think they are principled, though it’s not that high-minded, usually just pick up their ball and go home. It’ll be an interesting few months, that’s for sure.
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Iva Lootey was in t’other day and sez that he’s been follying the trial of John Trasacco in the Elm City, and former golden boy Mike DiMassa is casting beads all over the place whilst on the stand. No one knows what happened when he pled guilty to his charges and turned state’s evidence, but he is squawking like a magpie and leaving few names unmentioned.
Iva said that the testimony so far has had everything: intrigue, sex, betrayal, double-dealing. Iva said, “Someone should get the movie rights to this.” Cobina mentioned that effen that was the case and it was made into a movie, the rumored movie studio that wants to purchase the former Haven property on lower Elm Street might be the place to film it.
Tennyrate, DiMassa is using this opportunity to tell all about the workings – or supposed workings – of the city in its various capacities. It’s quite something, and is jest another baring of our dirty laundry to the craven public.
His testimony was preceded by Frank Cieplinski, the former CFO of the city, who said the toxic political situation in town was something that he had to contend with while at his job. No surprise there. The Actors Colony has been a whited sepulcher since it opened. And before that the former Town Hall was a pretty building where a lotta funny stuff happened.
Dirty politics ain’t a new sport in this town. It’s been writ about and to many it’s been celebrated. Will this trial expose everything? Probably not. Even if all the dirt comes out, it’ll be amazing effen the public really takes notice. While Iva is devouring the details, we’re pretty sure, John and Jane Q are too busy trying to figger out how to fill the gas tank and feed the kids to be worried about deals made in City Hall.
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Nelly Nuthatch told Cobina that she’s seen the renderings of the new projeck that supposed to replace the former Chick’s Restaurant on Beach Street. She sez it’s perty upscale and should be an interesting addition to that neighborhood. The condos that are planned with a restaurant on the site are gonna be going for some large kopecks.
That means the projeck is gonna really put Beach Street in the high-rent districk. With the three constructions that have been completed in the last 20 years or so, the prices have been more than the average West Haven worker can afford. That means the developers are tryin’ to bring in a more gentrified clientele!
Of course, the big hurdle right now is the raising of the roadbed on Beach Street, that is planned for the spring. We’re hearing April, but who knows. Remember, the roadbed is gonna have the same treatment as what is near the Water Pollution Control site. That was done two years ago.
Until that is finalized all the renderings in the world are just that. This town ain’t exactly known for being efficient or timely when it comes to projecks and developers. “User-friendly” ain’t words that are usually used to describe our various functions and functionaries. Maybe it will change this time, but we ain’t ones to hold our collective breath.
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I know we mentioned it in the last missive, but it bears repeatin’. The Enterprise Zone that was established two years ago this month is no more near seeing a tenant now than it was two years ago. All the hoopla and ballyhoo was jest another example of how we have press conferences and big celebrations only to see the confetti swept away and the project forgot about.
It’s amazing how this happens constantly, and we all fall for it. Effen things don’t happen for another two years, no one should be surprised.
With that bit o’ chatter, I’ll close this time till next mitt luff und kizzez,