I just don't know where I stand with the landfill. I've been fairly critical of the mayor for many past actions, but I'm not sure if there's any other way out of this mess.
(As an aside I should give credit where it's due. Gillian Swart has been all over this issue, both at The Current and her blog.)
Bottom line, this is now the mayor's legacy. All his talk of prudent fiscal management and responsible stewardship will wash away quickly as time passes. I think this is the one of those enduring issues that will plague a politician for the rest of his days.
This might be the inversion of the old saying, "Success has many fathers but failure is an orphan." If Mayor Moak's gambit works, he's likely to get any credit down the line. If this ends poorly, it'll be his problem alone, even though he didn't create the mess in the first place.
I recognize that's little comfort to the neighbors who truly have to live with the outcome.
But perhaps their burden should be shared a bit. We should require every truck headed to the landfill to take exit 57, drive down Storey Ave. and High Street, take a left on Green Street and make a stop at City Hall. Not only can the mayor inspect the loads himself from his office window, but we can all get a taste of what's being dumped in our city.
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Such a sticky wicket, and I think like the stimulus packages, we won't know if it's the right move for years.
I really feel sorry for the residents that live in the shadow of the landfill. The fumes from toxic waste could potentially be causing serious health problems, but legal mumbo jumbo is preventing their government from protecting them.
Meanwhile, a bunch of jackasses that work for AIG are getting million dollar bonuses with Fed money, people that bought homes they could not afford in the first place are being protected, and ponzi schemes are being run right under the SEC's noses. What a country.
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