School Daze

After reading reports about the state of Trenton Central High and watching a report on WZBN, I suspect it is time to let the building go. What makes me angry is that this need not have happened. What killed this dignified building was lack of maintenance. If Trenton is to save Junior 3 and Junior 4, the city had better get on the stick. Both are handsome buildings. What's truly sad is that there are buildings far, far older still being used, still in good shape. One that comes to mind is Notre Dame de Paris - Notre Dame Cathdral in Paris, France. The building was essentially finished in 1345; it is still being used today. Back in the 90s, the French government started a new round renovations to keep the building up to snuff. If we want to keep our historic building, we have to maintain them! The time to save TCHS was thirty years ago when there was still time and hope. Was anyone screaming then?

Update

The advertising sign is no longer on the telephone pole at Beatty & South Clinton!

The Clean Dream

Many in Trenton do not agree with L.A. Parker; for the most part, I do. I certainly agree with his column today. Yesterday, I was outside picking up trash left by the local pigs. This is something several neighbors and I do frequently! Asking Mayor Nutter to visit Trenton and talk about the Unlitter Us Program - no, no, no. How difficult is to grasp these concepts - (1) If you do not toss trash, cigarette butts, etc., into the street, you will not have clean it up and (2) If you must do so, why can't you clean up after yourself a few times a week? My piggy neighbors spent a great of time, especially in nice wheather, standing around smoking, munching on Doritos and potato chips and just dropping this crap where they stand. They also toss their damn soda cans all over the place. That problem sort of solves itself as there a colorful local type who picks them up. Councilwoman Holly-Ward means well; she does advocate for a clean city, but what she should be doing is telling the residents, "Get off your fat backsides and push a broom for a few minutes." Or words to that effect.

Catching Up

Good morning, Trentonians. There are several topics I want to cover but will do so in separate entries. The first one - city council on Thursday evening. The Three Graces were not using their microphones, but the meeting itself was short and sweet and to the point. One speaker stands out. Donald Brokate (a member of the Zoning Board of Adjustment) spoke about the bed bug problem here in Trenton and called it a public health issue. I agree. The department of health and human services should be on top of this issue; I don't have the feeling this is the case. I'm told a very thin coating of borac acid helps greatly. On Sunday, my son and I decided to have lunch at Las Frontes Cantina again. Great food, folks. Try this place. It's on the corner of Beatty Street and South Clinton Avenue. As we pulled in on the Beatty Street side, I noticed a poster on a telephone pole. This is a no-no. It is bad enough when we have the lost animal posters. These poles are private property. What poster was on this pole? It was urging people to phone HNPS. One of the principals of this firm is a member of city council!

"The news from France is very bad...."

The above is quote from a speech Winston Churchill made to the House of Commons early in the war - WWII The Biggie. I listened to Mayor Mack's State of the City speech last evening on the Trentonian web site and came away with one thought. He's offering us bread and circuses. Dan Dodson summed it up perfectly on his blog. The mayor failed to discuss Trenton's problems and so he failed to discuss solutions. Bringing a college to Trenton will do nothing especially since the land used by the college will be tax free (unless, of course, the college rents space from a private party). To broaden our tax base, we MUST attract residents with high incomes. This is an idea that goes way back to the Holland administration but nothing has been done. Dan and I do not always agree on the residency issue; in fact, I've often wondered if the police and firefighters realize that they would be one hellva of a voting block if they lived in Trenton? I am also tired of hearing about what the State owes us as the Host City. If state government were not here, Trenton would be dead seven days a week rather than just weekends. We get more from the state than the state gets from us. What we should be doing is looking for ways to make Trenton attractive to state employees so they will move here. And we ain't doing it. As for Mr. Sigmund, I appreciate his devotion to his family, but how often will he fly back to the Coast? And who pays for the tickets? And why isn't his family moving here to Trenton? Due to a schedule conflict, I will not be at city council this evening; Mr. Chilson will report. But, please, Trentonians, start to attend public meetings. Start to ask questions. Start to demand answers. Realize that we are in a financial mess.

Spring Sprung

Yes, it is offically spring, but it feels like November. Last Thursday spoiled me. On Saturday, my son and I had breakfast together and talked about the current world situation. Two things we agreed on. The situation in Japan is very bad. The fact the emperor was on TV urging the Japanese people to stay strong means the government is nervous. Unlike the Queen of England, the Emperor of Japan does not flit about doing sweet things; he is rarely seen and seldom heard. We also agreed the Americans should stay out of the difficulties in the Middle East. It is time to let the people living there solve their own problems. We decided to have lunch at a great Mexican restaurant here in Trenton - Las Fronteras Cantina on the corner of South Clinton Avenue and Beatty Street. The food is great and the prices reasonable. During the warm weather, you can eat outside. We got home to find out that the American, British, and French were bombing the hell out of Libya. Suddenly Trenton's problems looked very small. We still do not have a budget. The administration continues to tread water. Taxes will go up. Municipal services will go down. I wonder if we, Trentonians, really want to solve our problems. Enjoy the State of the City message.

Leave it to George

Once again, George Muschal came through. I questioned a bounced check for some $27,000 made out to the Trenton Water Works. George was the only one who seemed interested and tracked it down. It was a stop payment; the organization writing check overpaid by some $27,000. So they stopped payment which makes sense. Too bad I couldn't get that answer on Tuesday. I was not at council last evening; a neighbor invited me to a St. Patrick's dinner, and I decided to go. It was a nice break in the routine and the meal was very good. Typical Trenton; neighbors getting together on short notice for a pleasant time. Thank you, Jason. With a new business administrator, perhaps we can get a budget - the current fiscal year will end in 104 days. And perhaps the new business administrator will sit down with Dan Dodson and his group to hammer out the budget for fiscal 2012. Anybody willing to make book on whether that happens?