Monday Morning Pot of Gumbo: Hot Off The Stove

The first serving of the Monday Pot of Gumbo is here.

Yes the Bullpen is gone and back by the stove where it gets hot sometimes.

Enjoy it folks.

I attended Justin Jones’ first community meeting last week.

It was about what I expected, some butterflies, but he did fine otherwise.

Slow down Justin. You’ll be fine.

For the record John Kennedy also had butterflies at his first community meeting. Like I said, it’s what I expected.

Afterwards I was hanging out with a few locals at a watering spot and the City Council’s replacement process came up.

The result was an interesting question.

The question came down like this. Oh and by the way, if we’re having a meal and chopping it up, you don’t have to ask me if we’re off the record.

Enjoy the meal and the conversation. I was drinking and clearly not working.

When I’m having cranberry juice and ginger ale, we’re off the record.

So this was the question, when will the City Council fill the second vacancy left by John Kennedy?

I thought it would be on Dec. 12, but it turns out I’m wrong on this one.

The vacancy occurs on Dec. 12, the day Kennedy was scheduled to be sworn in with Jason Lyon and Jess Rivas.

Under the City Charter, the Council will have 75 days from Dec. 12 to fill the appointment.

They will announce the date as we approach the date of course.

My hope is people don’t make moves this time as if its the presidency, and act like they have some sense.

Then again the sides are already lining up, centrists vs. progressives.

Talk of attempts to flip Council votes is spreading like wildfire.
Sad, indeed.

It’s a shame that people believe there is no chance for the work to be accomplished unless their side is in power.

A good example, after I said throw term limits into the charter reform discussion in a previous column, I heard from scores of progressives who favor term limits.

Of course they favor it.

They don’t hold the majority on the City Council. As soon as they win a majority guess what they will oppose.

Term limits.

Nature of the beast I guess.

Tired of hearing the my side vs. your side arguments at home and around the country.

People need to come together and work to improve the City.
That’s the bottom line.

By the way, I don’t care what side you are on, enough with the line of succession mess.

Doesn’t work that way and it’s ridiculous to pretend it does.

The Council is mandated to appoint replacements — case closed.
Pretty much outgoing Councilmembers have said this is who I want.

Chris Holden wanted Joel Bryant, the Council complied.

Terry Tornek wanted Andy Wilson, and the Council complied after voting on Peggy York and Ciran Hadjian in that order, before Wilson got the W.

Unfortunately, John Kennedy was not around to say who he thought would be the best person to replace him.

Hence, the chaos.

No City Council this week. Breathe people.