We hafta tell ya, sweets, when we started this week’s missive we thought we were gonna hafta find things to tell yew; but in typical fashion here in the Asylum by the Sea, things have percolated to the pernt that now I hafta be selective so’s not to be too long.
April, of course, is in full swing and the daffodils have proven it. In fack, last year the trees took a long time to bud, this year they are early, and, finally, things seem to be warming up, if jest a bit. That means the usual things that come along with spring will be starting. And, surer than shootin’ the city came through with its spring bulk trash announcement. That means the curbs all along the burg are gonna be cluttered with things that people wanna discard. But is it a rite of spring, sort of, and means the year is progressing apace.
One of the biggest things happening since last we corresponded is Herronner is going full bore on blight. In a big announcement in the Harriet Nawth Meeting Room, the former West Courtroom in past days, she announced a multi-faceted approach, which hasta be considered rawther innovative. As yew and I can attest, this issue has been dogging the city for more than three decades and spanned over the four previous administrations.
This new approach is taking a different tack. Sammy Bluejay was perched outside, and it was interesting to see all the reps from various departments flanking the mayor as she announced an effort to “Fight the Blight.” A new effort will be made to cite homeowners and property managers to make sure things are kep’ up to snuff, and tickets will be issued if necessary.
One of the things that Sammy liked was the registration of absentee ownerships. One rep from an absentee ownership or LLC will hafta register with the city, and the price will be a fee of $250. Failure to comply will result in a fine of 500 kopecks. That’s a good thing. Absentee ownership, and investment property management has been the bane of this city for a long time. Some are better than others, but effen yew don’t live there, you don’t pay as much attention as long as the monthly checks are rolling in.
That, coupled with the new restrictions on smoke shops and the like will do a lot to clean up some of the problems we have around here. I don’t hafta tell you about the “night culture” that seems to be in various parts of the city, and some of it is directly attributable to certain businesses, no doubt about it.
Jest as I was penning this note, I hear-tell that a big citywide raid was orchestrated on tobacco selling and several businesses got cited for illegal sales. Whilst you can discuss the ins and outs of setch legislation, the fact is effen businesses aren’t follying the law, it doesn’t help the community at-large.
So, effen we were to summarize what the foist months of the new administration looks like, it’s making a concerted effort to emphasize quality-of-life issues. That ain’t a bad thing, and this one seems to have more oomph to it, than attempts in the past. We will see.
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Nelly Nuthatch revealed that Beach Street is still not open. ‘Tis the victim of the continuous Nor’easters that seem to be finding there way across the plains and up the coast. The last three storms haven’t been mentioned in tenths of inches of rain, but in inches. I don’t know for a fack, but I would say we are well ahead of the rain totals fer this time o’ year. It’s been raining on and off since last July, it seems, with no change in the weather pattern on the horizon.
This is hampering the effort to git the roadway completed as things are jest a bit too wet to do paving as it needs to be done, and other finishing tetches that are expected. So, April 5, which was the last date we hoid, came and went. Nelly fluttered by there and sez that things are perty much at a standstill.
Maybe by the time yew git this note, things will be a bit clearer as to when the next opening is scheduled. Remember, this is gonna be an “EVENT,” with all the bells and whistles, which probably has something to do with the schedule, effen yew git my drift.
Speakin’ of the rain, though, Cobina is aware that in the last couple o’ storms, the railroad viaducts have been flooded, making traveling the in burg a bit difficult. That storm we had a couple o’ Saturdays ago was a case in pernt. People had trouble getting into arteries where those viaducts are located cuz of the high water.
What has been a once-in-a-while thing has been more often over the last few storms.
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The Wag was in and sez though it ain’t as big as white smoke appearing and a big announcement from the balcony of City Hall to the masses, Herronner has appernted a new finance director, and he starts in a few days. That will do a lot to make the structural changes they wanna make in the Actors Colony, and it fills a big position that jest a few weeks ago seemed a tall order.
The burg ain’t had a finance director for quite a while, going back almost a year. And bringing one into a city that is “under duress” as they say, means that more than the usual skill sets are gonna be needed. The new guy, Michael Gormany, seems to have all the qualifications, and has had a long tenure in the finance offices of the El-em City.
Welcome aboard! It’ll be interesting how he interacts with the current culture o’ the Actors Colony, and how he interacts with the egos that make up the Municipal Accountability Review Board (MARB).
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The University of New Haven is having what is usually referred to in the press as a “labor dispute” with the new union that represents its service woikers. As with most problems these days, the topic of job security is a big one, and is the crux of what is happening over there. Of course, the local politicos got their oars involved recently. And the Wag was in here and sez jest how tiring the whole thing is.
The union thinks getting some hot-shot politicos like the lootenant governor and a few left-wing state reps involved is a good thing and makes good pictures. But, one really questions the whole photo-op nonsense. In other words, the Wag, and Cobina for that matter, think politicos getting involved in this sorta stuff is grandstanding at its worst. And for m’self, I’m kind o’ disappointed some o’ the people involved got involved.
The apt-named Martin Looney is a left-wing loon from way back, and nobody doesn’t expeck him to show his face when he can show his pink bona fides. The rest, it’s just a presser and photo op, pure and simple. So, do I think some o’ the politicos are Johnny Come Lately? Yup.
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One thing we gotta tetch upon is the news that Notre Dame High School is gonna go co-ed in 2025 with the incoming frosh class. That news was burning up the social media and was the topic of long series of text messages that our esteemed editor saw. Now, he ain’t an alum, but knows many alumni, and to say they weren’t happy is quite an understatement, particularly after contributions were made to make renovations to the building.
Realistically, the demographics in the state have changed, and the costs are getting high. Couple that to the fack that Connecticut is considered the second most “unchurched” state in the union after Oregon, and you have a horrible stew for religious institutions.
The school is gonna hafta spend more millions accommodating young women with facilities not heretofore worried about, and then they are gonna be fishing outta the same student pond with two other religious institutions in Milford and Hamden.
The only reason we bring it up here is the school has been in these parts for more than 75 years, and plays a big role in the city. Times they are achangin’!
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We are at the almost halfway point of the City Council’s review of th budget, and I hafta say it has been on the quiet side. Don’t know effen that means things are going swimmingly or things are at a standstill, but we’ll know in two weeks’ time.
The budget ordinance has to be approved by the foist Thursday of May, or two weeks exactly. Of course, the whole kit and kaboodle has to be given the okay by MARB, which can make its own adjustments without approval of anyone. Then it becomes law, and goes into effect with the new fiscal year, July 1.
As we git closer, I wouldn’t be surprised to see some changes made, but I wouldn’t be surprised effen it stands perty much as is. What we haven’t seen is rancor, which in some years was on full display throughout the process. So far, people have been rawther civil. That’s a good thing.
With that bit o’ chatter, I’ll close this time till next, mitt luff und kizzez,