Editorial

Living up to caricatures

Sometimes we in West Haven live up to the caricatures sometimes foisted upon us by outsiders. They will say we are argumentative, overly political, and hard-headed, with a single-minded drive that precludes rational discussion. In other words, we’re stubborn.

West Haven is much more nuanced than the lazy caricatures imposed upon us, but there are times we seem to play right into them.

Take for example the kerfuffle concerning the city’s centennial celebration for 2021. For those who do not know, West Haven became an independent municipality one hundred years ago, severing from the Town of Orange. Once a borough of that town, it had quasi-municipal status in much it did before finally making a break.

The corporate documents had the new “Town of West Haven” imitate its former partner in Orange with a selectman form of government, along with representative town meetings. It wasn’t until the 1960s the selectmen gave way to the mayor-council form of government we have today.

West Haven was considered the “blue collar” section of Orange, and continued that trait as it morphed into its own municipality. The fact the Savin Rock amusement park was along the shore only enhanced the “blue collar” designation.

Today, the centennial celebration should be a way of bringing together the various sections and neighborhoods, not to mention the three major districts in the city: Center, Allingtown and West Shore. But such is not the case.

When the announcement of the celebration was made, an independent panel was formed by resident Daryl Cummings. He called his group the “West Haven Centennial Committee.” Within weeks the city announced its own “official” group, and called itself – you guessed it – “The West Haven Centennial Committee.”

Let us understand, firstly, nothing in this city is a coincidence or happenstance when it has the patina of politics attached. With the announcement of the city’s committee a “Cease and Desist” letter was sent by Cummings, claiming the poaching of his organization’s name. He threatened a lawsuit. To date, no lawsuit is pending that we are aware.

But it points to our original statement. Sometimes we just have controversy where none – NONE – should exist. But as with many things, this has a whiff of politics attached to it.

Mr. Cummings is a Democrat, but has not enamored himself with the current administration. He is an “outsider” in the parochial attitudes that govern city politics among the majority party.

Cummings, it seems, came up with the idea. Formed a committee, and used the name before City Hall made its own announcement. One could make a good case the politicos co-opted the name in defiance of citizens committee. Further, the city politicians, seeing a group was interested in getting involved, should have brought them into the process.

Instead of “Us v. Them,” a “We” dynamic could have been attempted and a coalition of people and ideas could have been established. But that’s not the way things work. Politicians hate to share the spotlight, and this is a prime example.

It didn’t have to be a controversy, but little in this city comes without controversy. We hope things can resolved amicably, but we aren’t – as the saying goes – holding our breath.

Finally, whatever group or groups decide. No city funds should be used for the celebrations. It should be a community celebration, paid for by community funds. In that way, we know we celebrate our history and heritage together, and politicians and committees take a back seat.