Jest in case yew thought winter was over honeybunch, the Ole Man decided to give us a reminder that he’ll be with us for about another month at least. Over the weekend the berg had a very nice blanket of snow covering it, and it made everything look so pretty. Of course, it didn’t last long as things are starting to warm up around here. In fack, by the time yew git this missive, you might be basking in temps that git up to 60, even “along the shore” as the weather people like to say. The lesson is don’t think the cold and wet is over, Ole Man Winter is still around, and will give us some reminders before the first crocus is ready to blossom.
Here in the Asylum by the Sea, a few queries have been posed based on some comments herroner made last week. Sammy Bluejay sez that a story circulating about the berg is that the Municipal Accountability Review Board (MARB) that the city finds itself came about quite distinctly from the story that has been given by the Actors Colony.
Now before yew think that Cobina subscribes to the theory, let’s say I’m jest putting it out there cuz that’s what’s going around. I don’t wanna say what the story sez, let’s jest say the timeline might be different.
That doesn’t square with the facks as we know them cuz right now the only thing we have to go by is the letter from the state’s Office of Policy and Management that imposed the MARB. Conspiracy theorists, however, have their own take on the matter.
Like I said, Cobina ain’t subscribing to any of this, but the scenario is being put out there to see jest what might transpire. Remember, the old administration never mentioned this as a possibility when it was deciding to bond.
This is one o’ those “let’s throw it up against the wall and see what sticks” situations. With the Democratic Town Committee primary coming up next month, this can be one o’ those things that one side is using against t’other to gain votes.
Effen yew hear anything, sweets, lemme know.
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Speaking of the primary, things seem to be progressing as normal. Like I tolt yew a week or so ago, the petitions were out and every districk, save the the fifth, was included in the vote. Soooo, it looks as if the voters in the Demmies corral are gonna be asked to git out and pick their favorites.
As yew and I both know, these things are less about politics and more about personalities as far as the average voter is concerned. But there is a big fight for control of the party this go-round like we ain’t seen in the past four years. That was the last time the fight for power changed hands when the Picard group lost and the O’Brien people won.
The factions are lined up so that the former Picard people, who still don’t have a leader who lives in the city and backed Rossi, are trying to wrest control of the party apparatus – setch as it is – from the Morrissey people, who backed O’Brien. The wild card in this sparring match is probably gonna be the so-called Borer group that is still a smaller faction in the three-way split that is the city’s ruling party.
Dorinda Borer seems to have control over that faction and right now she seems to be playing nice-nice with the Picard people, though a few years ago that wasn’t the case. It’ll be interesting to figger out jest where that group fits in the current power structure and where it puts its voters. Given the fack that primaries of this type barely bring out a percentage of the party faithful in the double digits, how the odd-man-out faction is swayed could have the final say on who runs the party for the next two years. We shall see.
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The wag came in last week and had some questions in our story about the high school reconstruction. Many people, in fact, are wondering how in heck the project is under budget given the changes that have been made in the plans three and four times over. But that wasn’t the biggest question.
The final comment made by herroner concerning the use of Bond Anticipation Notes to pay for the reconstruction and then bonding when the project is over had raised a few eyebrows. Can that be right?
The wag questioned that. But that’s what we read, too. In all our years of watching bonding and projects, we ain’t ever hoid of using BANs for an entire projeck and then bonding after the fack.
Are we sure that’s what we read or that’s what was meant? Iyam sure that it will be clarified over the next little while. After all, that’s what follow ups for for, right?
Cobina asked around and got the follying commint: Bans always come before bonds. That is a standard operating procedure on every bond for every city. The bans allow flexibility in the amount that you need and then you go to long-term bonding when the project is done. That is absolutely standard operating procedure.
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Nelly Nuthatch was over t’other afternoon for tea and made mention of the fack that she watched part of Nancy Pelosi’s eight-hour marathon speech. She didn’t commint about the speech so much as the person who was sitting in the background. It was none other than our ole pal Rosa DeLauro Greenberg, our congresswoman. Rosa, who has been a big-wig in the party hierarchy for quite a while is a bit long in the tooth – like most of the Demmy leadership in both houses of Congress. Nelly noticed that she is looking more and more her age. She’s gotta be pushing 70 if not pulling it. She seems a metaphor for the entire party: old, established and outta touch. Goodness knows, she ain’t been a rep for the average person in these parts for a generation.
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Iva Lootey came in and sez the City Council, which has fewer powers these days cuz of the MARB did a couple o’ things at its last meeting. The school bored’s recommendation of extending the Winkle Bus Co. contract was approved. Ole Craig Winkle is gonna be the carrier for the kiddies for the next five years. A few people are wondering effen this cotrack shouldn’t have gone out to bid to get a better price. Still others are saying, the price was right so don’t rock the boat.
It’s all over now, and the decision was made for better or worse. The one thing yew can’t argue with is that Winkle has done a good job over the years. I guess that counts for something.
Meanwhile, the other thing is the Charter Revision Commish has been approved. Cobina is aware of a few applicants or potential applicants, and she hopes a couple o’ things happen. Foist, that the bulk of the people on the commish aren’t current politicos. In fack, she’d like to see that the number of politically connected people be kep’ to a minimum.
The reason is the last three attempts at charter revision going back to the 1990s was hampered by the various political powerbrokers who were not interested in seeing much done or changing things to the pernt that political influence was the motive.
That has spelt the doom of the most recent attempts and have hurt changing things, like how a line-item in the budget can be changed by the council as an example. Everybody thinks it should be done, but the politicos don’t wanna see it happen.
Let’s hope that charter revision is done right this time, but we ain’t holdin’ our breath. When we see the roster of members, we’ll know, surer than shootin’, how successful this thing will be.
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With that bit o’ chatter, I’ll close this time till next, mitt luff und kizzez,