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Dear Felicia

May 22, 2025 By whvoice Leave a Comment

Howdy do, sweets! Hard to believe, but here we are at the downside of May, looking into the Memorial Day weekend already. Of course, like most things that happened in the 70s – most not good – the holiday ain’t what it was. Our great aunt Judy still called it Decoration Day decades after the name changed, and it’s too bad it was moved. Having a day off on May 30 was nice, even if it was in the middle of the week, but, as I said, the 1970s saw many holidays get “streamlined” for what was thought a convenience.

Tennyrate, May 30 or the fourth Monday in May, Memorial Day itiz and in these parts that’s a big deal. The Mystick Maidens of the Marsh are planning their next shindig to celebrate, and have determined the spot off Painter Park might be the best this go-round. But, we’re still lookin’ for a new Grand High Mystick Maiden. It’s been a while. Covid did things to all of us, and we’ve left the position open since. Effen yew have any ideas as to who might fill the spot, let Cobina know.Meanwhile, invites have gone out to the usual suspecks and it should be a grand ole time.

Well, it’s happened, and there were smiles, tears and nods all around the Actors Colony last week when it was determined the Municipal Accountability Review Board was going to – against the thoughts of Dylan Thomas – go gentle into that good night. That’s a nice way of saying, they’re outta here!

After more than seven-and-a-half years of oversight, fighting, and the like, we are now back to being the masters of our own fate. Let’s just hope the politicos who run the berg have learned their lessons. It was the politicos who didn’t have the backbone to do what had to be done over the last 30-plus years, and saw the city go into near-default twice. The MARB gave us tough love, but the problem was that tough love was on the taxpayers, not the politicians.

One politico was heard to say having the MARB come in was a good thing for the city and was something to be proud of. Huh? This just begs the question why tough decisions couldn’t be made by the elected people in charge, and the residents had to put up with outsiders dictating what had to be done. If that’s a good thing, somebody has to explain it to Cobina.

It just proves those in charge at the time weren’t able – or willing – to do what had to be done, and were willing to abdicate their authority for the political cover. Remember, it happened when a new administration was coming into office on the Monday after the swearing-in. And, no one knew about it. So, what is there to be proud of, I ask?

~~~

As far other news is concerned, the City Council passed the budget and got its imprimatur from MARB, just before the big announcement. The boys and girls on the council did some interesting shimmying of the numbers, including a big cut in the education budget. Yet, Anne Heffernan, who was able to git the amendment through, assured any and all that she has “good sources” to tell her the money that was allocated will be filled in by state sources. Of course, she might have first-hand knowledge of that as her hubby is the delegate from the 115th assembly districk, ole Bill. There’s a bit of a gamble in this gambit as recent history has seen many a flip during the state budget process, but there is less of one when it comes to educational output. The state assembly don’t like to pick at school funds.

Meanwhile, the council, whilst making these alterations, did something that makes one wonder why it wasn’t thought of before. Sammy Bluejay alerted me of this concept, and it is genius in its simplicity.

The council determined that despite the fack that the mill rate was cut about 10 mills, the recent revaluation of property is a rise in the levy that each homeowner is gonna pay. It’s been true since revaluation was made a thing. The more the value of the property, the higher the tax, even if adjustments are made.

Soooo, the council determined that it will allow taxpayers to quarter out their yearly taxes, rather than paying in July and January. Now, it was interesting in the public pronouncements about this it was stated another $2500 is a tough thing to cobble together for July, one can glean two things: the average tax went up about $2500, and that means the mill rate is a tad higher than “flat,” meaning there would be no increase at all. No one should be surprised by this. As we said above, it’s been going on for decades.

Nice of the council to give the quarterly option, though.

~~~

Whilst Sammy was talking about that, Cobina brought up a second concern. Y’see, the city really pays the bulk of its bills right after taxes are collected, so the question arises: Will this new quarterly thing give the city a steadier flow of incoming funds, or will it create a shortfall. The argument can be made either way, but one seems to think it might be leaning toward a steadier income, rather than a shortfall.

Sammy brought up the observation that he don’t think the council would have woiked unilaterally on this without the nod from the third floor. 1) The council looks to the mayor’s office fer guidance in these matters as a rule (the mayor did give a few suggestions as to where cuts or alterations might be made); and 2) One could presume the financial mavens also on the thoid floor would have put their two cents in (literally) on this matter before it came to a vote. And, we haven’t hoid a hue and cry about it since the option was passed. Ergo, one could make the argument the administration is at least somewhat supportive.

~~~

Nelly Nuthatch happened by, and made an observation that pleased the cockles of Cobina’s heart. In the last isshew of the papyrus, we noted the first anniversary of the mayor’s institution of a blight consortium, made up of various departments. We said in the editorial that much needed to be done, and even mentioned a couple of places that still needed work.

Well, guess what? One of the places, Stevens Avenue was cleaned up the very day that the editorial came out. It was a pure coincidence. Cobina ain’t one to take credit for things before they are published, but a nice coincidence.

Stevens Avenue in that stretch betwixt West Spring Street and the overpass of I-95 has become a dumping ground for many a nocturnal depositor of junk. In the days of Eleanore Turkington, this spot came up probably the most as a spot where people just chucked their old furniture and refuse. Well, the city was taking care of it the very day the mention was made. Good to see!!

~~~

Speaking of 1-95, people are still waiting for the construction to begin on the two bridges, and the traffic problems that will then commence. The Wag was in t’other afternoon and sez that whilst the city and state had a press conference a few weeks back, the state works very deliberately (some would say slowly) in these matters, making sure every jot and tittle is in the right spot.

He did mention that a lotta people still don’t know about it, and some were surprised to hear it. Cobina was up on the highway last week and noted the two bridges as she traveled, and then noticed that a landmark ain’t in place anymore. In fack, it probably hasn’t been there for a while, but it was the foist time she really noted it. The Atlas that used to be the logo of the moving company is no longer looking toward the highway.

That’s too bad in a way. It was something that was there for more decades than we can count…at least since the late 1950s, and it isn’t there anymore. Funny, how you don’t see things and then when yew realize they are gone, you miss them.

~~~

A month or so ago, a kerfuffle was in the making with a body wanting to have the city keep up Quigley Stadium, and now we have a reason why. Iva Lootey was by and mentioned that high school baseball games are no longer played at the Front Avenue site cuz drug paraphernalia was found in one corner of the outfield, and it was considered a hazard.

This is not a good thing and makes one wonder about the Night Culture that seems to skulk about in the berg. We’ve always known about the nocturnal goings on that are at the shore, especially in the summertime. We even know about the “night life” that seems to arise in the center of town. Now we know that in every dark corner of the city there is some type of stuff going on, and it’s creating hazards for the rest of us.

That stadium is used by high schools and leagues. Nobody wants to see a venerable place like that get turned into a place where nefarious deeds are carried out. Maybe a few extra lights and motion detectors are what is needed. Whilst the outfield of the stadium is somewhat hidden by underbrush and trees, some carefully placed illumination might help. It will certainly keep some of the baddies out.

~~~

Jest so we’re keeping up with tradition, it has been another few weeks since last we noted the Bayview area where the Haven was supposed to be located is still laying fallow. In fack, during our chores and errands t’tother day, we saw crews cutting the grass and keeping the area somewhat nice.

Still, one wonders when and if the Haven Group is ever gonna announce something about the property. Here we are heading into the 28th year since the original plan was announced as the Water Street Project and 11 years since the “Haven” was announced and we are no more near some type of resolution than we were then.

Jest like Beach Street was a decade ago, we hafta keep on top of this thing, otherwise, it’s gonna be another blank space that just becomes part of the lore of the city. This has happened before, and it gives the berg a bad name as a place where nothing seems to happen.

Don’t believe me? Think Sawmill Road in the 90s. Remember the false starts and false flags that were announced and flown for that project. Things are there now, but it took quite a while. Then there’s the “Enterprise Zone” along Spring Street and Front Avenue. That’s only five years since announcement. Except for a few peripheral things, it ain’t the “bio-tech” bonanza it was cracked up to be.

With that bit o’ chatter, I’ll close this time till next, mitt luff und kizzez,

Filed Under: 052225, Column, Dear Felicia

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