Sniff....Sniff

I smell a poll coming.

Since the election itself will be rather dull. I'll give readers (all two of them) the opportunity to approve or disapprove of our city council and mayor in a series of polls over the next few weeks.

I'll probably put up the candidates for at-large as well.

Question: Should I go with standard grades (A, B,C.) or just approve or disapprove? Any other suggestions?

Should I roll out my blinding wit?

"Armed Melee"

Well this certainly grabbed my attention this morning.

It was easier to dismiss the recent stabbing as a one off event, but something is clearly brewing here. Something a tad troubling.

By this thorough account in the Daily News, the police handled things quite capably. But the article warns of potential troubling coming this week and - I'm guessing - perhaps the rest of the summer.

I guess I was most troubled by the last line uttered by Mayor Holaday, who sounds a bit more like the mayor of Amity than the mayor of Newburyport.

Holaday stressed that people shouldn't think twice about visiting the downtown area, but added that parents should practice common sense after the end of scheduled events, typically around 10 p.m.
"When the concerts are over, it's time to bring the kids home and not linger in the downtown area," Holaday said.

Sound advice, to be sure, but not something you want to hear.

First Campaign Question of the Year

Here's an interesting piece by the Masked Preservationist. I'd love to hear what councilors have to say about this? Why not correct the ordinance?