It’s been a while since I attended a Council meeting in person, and I came without a laptop, because sometimes it’s interesting to just watch the subtle interactions between councilors.
For instance, I love that Konnie Lukes is perpetually talking in Rick Rushton’s ear, and I always wonder what she’s saying. I believe last night, it was something like this:
“Listen, Rick, I’ve got to be the lone dissenter, because that’s why people come out in droves to vote for me. Can you obliquely insult me in such a way that it will simultaneously appeal to those who continue to support me and identify the one characteristic everyone who dislikes me latches onto?”
Mission accomplished.
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We all learned an important lesson from Joff Smith. In his continuing quest for valet parking (10:04 mark), he noted that a loooong time ago (i.e., before Clancy was on the Council) there was a sign designating an area of Commercial Street as a passenger zone. He requested that it come back up. Note that this request took four minutes.
Councilor Clancy, sensing that I wanted to go home, moved to hold this under privilege. Joff said that since it had already been there, he was just asking for signs to be re-installed.
The decision was that Clancy could hold it under privilege, because Joff had brought it before the Council. Had Joff called DPW directly, it likely would have been taken care of, and not been held for nearly a month.
Sometimes that’s the price you have to pay for grandstanding.
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In other news, MikeGermain muttered something like, “Well, this is going to be controversial,” before requesting that Green Hill Parkway be made two-way. The person next to me said, “That’s why we love you, Mike!” to make me feel better about my fondness for Germain. (I will leave that person nameless in case that comment was really just to make me feel a little less alone.)
While we all find the self-deprecating charm that Germain brings to the Council Chambers refreshing (especially after listening to four minutes of Joff Smith), but there’s no need to be apologetic about bringing forward a constituent request. Though we can certainly understand a touch of trepidation after sitting next to someone who just got a Clancy smackdown.
***
Finally, a note in my extremely limited official capacity.
It was mentioned that Robert Goddard is still in Worcester — at Hope Cemetery, in fact.
The Friends of Hope Cemetery put together a wonderful self-guided tour of the cemetery; Goddard, along with many other significant people buried in Hope Cemetery, is listed.
Nicole, Worcester 