As Iyam scribing this week’s missive to you, honey bunch, I look out the window to see more rain showering down on the berg. Yeah, I know, “We need it,” is the thing I’m hearing from a lotta people. And, don’t get Cobina wrong, I ain’t complaining about the heat and humidity. These ole bones know that sooner rather than later things are gonna change and we’re gonna complain about it being too cold. It jest seems that we’re having one of the hottest summers we’ve had in a while. That usually means a colder, snowier winter to me, jest based on my experience. We shall see, of course.
Weather notwithstanding, the summer break is quickly comin’ to a close for the kiddies in the berg. Heck it jest seems like it was the beginning of June and here we are one day past the Ides of August. That means it’ll be 12 days and schools will be open for the term. We still have more than a month to go before summer is officially over, but yew and I both know that the rhythm o’ life around here, whether yore a student or not, is the academic year.
The bus schedules are in this week’s edition, which means it’ll be one o’ the hottest copies of the year. All the moms wanna know when their offspring will be getting outta the house – and outta their hair – for the new school year. I still like the idea of going back after Labor Day, but the educators have the idea that this is better somehow.
Speaking of educators, I wonder how our pal Merlie Mae is getting on. I told yew a couple weeks ago that she called our esteemed editor when he was not at home, and though he’s tried to get back with her, he’s been unsuccessful. Maybe somebody’ll tell her to get on the horn and let people know how she’s doin’.
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Before we git too far into the political weeds, I wanna extend my congrats and best wishes – as Iyam sure yew do – to Pat Herbert as she reaches her centenary birthday. Yup, she’s 100 years young, and is still sharp as a tack and feisty as ever. Pat ain’t up to our years – we’ve both been around longer than Methuselah – but she’s still one o’ the tops as far as people go in this berg. The West Haven Community House is havin’ a party for her, and we hope she gets a big piece of cake with a butter-crème rose and enjoys it.
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Sammy Bluejay was her t’other afternoon and sez that the factions in the Demmie organization are, once again, getting ready to offer a candidate for next fall. As yew know, we elect our mayors and City Council in odd years. I know, there’s a metaphor there.
Tennyrate, Iyam hearing that one faction might be puttin’ Ed O’Brien up for next year to go against Nancy Rossi in a party primary. That is the scuttlebutt going around. Of course, we don’t know effen that is just in the primary talking stages or what. Sammy sez cash and organizational stuff is being done to begin the process, but who knows where that will lead. It seems we’ve been here before.
I ain’t surprised. O’Brien thought he was gonna win in 2017, and was very surprised when it didn’t happen. Then again, he beat Picard in 2012, and JP didn’t think that was gonna happen. And, JP beat Rich Borer in 2005, and Borer didn’t that that was gonna happen…and the beat goes on.
Let’s be honest, with the financial news that coming out, and the city now under the “guidance” of the Municipal Accountability Review Board (MARB) effen O’Brien decides to make the attempt, he’s got a very tough road to hoe. Yeah, there’ll be his supporters in the party, but that ain’t who he’s gonna hafta convince.
John and Jane Q. are gonna be able to see past this current tax increase to what led to it. O’Brien didn’t have one balanced budget, and we jest got the red ink delivered on his last one. That doesn’t exactly make him an attractive alternative. But, stranger things have happened. We shall see.
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I see that the Council on the Arts and Theater West are putting together an end-of-summer production on the Green as they did last year. I don’t wanna complain but “12 Angry HuMens”? Really? Is this cuz to say “men” would be sexist? Has it really come to this? What a bunch of nonsense!!! It started with the folderol about hurricanes back in the 70s and it hasn’t ended. Now anything that shows “men” has to be excised or changed to be gender neutral. I repeat: Sex is for humans (there are only two sexes) and gender is for nouns. That’s one of the reasons this papyrus has not used the terms “chairperson” or “chair” when talking about “chairmen.” Very few things git Cobina riled up, but this petty sexism rubbish is jest that. So, no, Cobina will not be going.
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Nelly Nuthatch tells me the Charter Revision Commish has been working overtime and has been getting a lotta things done. I jest can’t wait to see what it comes up with. Nelly sez that one of the things they are looking at is streamlining the city government, and maybe redesigning some o’ the offices and terms. That would be a good thing. Effen the terms were lengthened fer city offices we would only have primaries every four years, perhaps, than every two. It’ll save the city many kopecks.
Still, it’ll be interesting to see how the politicos in town react to these suggestions. Over the decades the politicos have eschewed any ideas that would change the status quo. They like the idea of the political booty they can pass around. Any attempt to curtail said treasure is not looked at kindly.
There are some details that we’ve heard, but Cobina ain’t gonna put those out jest yet. The less the political class in this berg knows the better for all of us. Jest keep yore eyes and ears open. It could be a very interesting few months leading up to next year’s summer deadline when the commish is supposed to file its report.
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The wag jest sent me this. “So a little birdie just told me this year the City of West Haven will be providing free breakfast and lunch for ALL STUDENTS at every school every day as part of the National School Lunch Program. Nothing is free. We are all paying for this.”
All I can say is “yup.” Nothin’ is free, and I know there are topics that people think we can’t talk about, but why are we giving everyone breakfast and lunch? Yeah, I’ve seen the propaganda about “hungry kids,” but there are not that many in the real world. And, judging from the way the food is wasted, they can’t be all that hungry. There are gonna be those that need the program, but why offer it to everyone? Money! And, of course, yore not supposed to say anything because this is one o’ those topics where effen yew question it, you must be a monster.
This has more to do with dollars flowing into the system than anything else, jest like most things that hafta do with education. Don’t get me started on grants for various programs. Those things have been bastardized for decades.
With that bit o’ chatter, I’ll close this time till next, mitt luff und kizzez,