Aunt Agatha on Politics: City Hall soap opera draws a crowd of Turner supporters Auntie
The city's longest-running political soap opera continues.
Auntie is told that there is some serious consternation and much angst among our beloved City Council members about Mayor Pro Tem Todd "TT" Turner's ethics case and TT's crystal-clear strategy to persuade his fellow city solons to disregard the Ethics Commission report about the seeming conflict of interest between his County Council employment and his City Council duties.
Troubling things, ethics; they sometimes get in the way of what pols might want to do, issues show up at the most inconvenient times and seem to get in the way of people doing whatever they want, whenever they want. Auntie was told that some city political folks were quite put off by what appeared to be a well-choreographed public display by TT supporters last week (including, of all people, former Councilman Michael Lyles, whose failed mayoral campaign effort in the fall raised eyebrows from Somerset to Pointer Ridge and beyond). Auntie surmises from some of the comments that few speakers bothered to actually read the Ethics Commission report before declaring it a "witch hunt" and demanding the City Council stop the "persecution" of poor, maligned Mayor Pro Tem TT. Well, Auntie has read the report, and no member of the commission was trying to burn TT at the political stake. The report was fair and right on the mark. Auntie applauds the commission's effort.
Auntie is sure that it will be fascinating to watch this show go on to see how many council members respond to these silly theatrics and how many focus on the substance of this very important issue.
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Auntie understands that while letters from the City Council to the Pee Gee superintendent of schools, John "Books" Deasy, and to Bowie's somewhat limited voice on the County Council, Ingrid "The Commander" Turner, about the county's intentions to move plans for a new high school for Bowie into the "out years" are set in diplomatic tone, sources say the mayor and the council are absolutely livid about the county's failure to live up to commitments to build a new high school by 2012.
Well, Auntie believes this gives new currency to her conviction that the county has returned to its long-standing relationship with Bowie, i.e., take the taxes generated in the city but don't do much in return.
Auntie keeps wondering just when, if ever, those charged with representing Bowie in Upper Marlboro are going to get something positive done for this city. We assume that current Bowie High students will be collecting what is left of Social Security by the time the county builds another high school here. Sad, isn't it?
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Do you feel there should be more Bowie Police Department cruisers in your neighborhood? Would you feel safer with a cop car on your front lawn? Well, dear readers, rejoice because Auntie has discovered the answer to your wish - buy a city police car.
Seriously, Chief Katherine "The General" Perez and her staff are offering cruisers to the public. Well, they're actually model cars but they have doors and a hood that opens. Proceeds will go to supporting the department's Explorer post.
Auntie thinks she's going to buy one (a steal at $30). Anyway, if you want your very own Bowie police cruiser, call The General at her City Hall trailer at 301-575-2480.
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Speaking of police, veteran officers of the Pee Gee Pee Dee are irate that two more officers have been assigned to County Exec Jolly Jack Johnson's protection detail (protecting him from just what? Auntie wonders) while the Criminal Investigation Unit has been denied additional investigators.
Ah, Gorgeous Prince George's.
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Auntie can reveal that the telephone lines from Bowie to Irvine, Calif., continue to burn as Bowie's first lady, Jackie Robinson, checks in daily with daughter Amy and the newest grandchild in the Robinson clan. Auntie hears the granddaughter, Adair, is charming and beautiful, meaning the lovely young lady takes more after grandmother than grandfather. Thank heavens.
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Auntie tips her bonnet to City Hall's Denise "The Assistant" Mahoney for her effort last week to bring us nontechie oldies up to date on the impending demise of our nondigital TV sets. Miz D held a meeting at which those of us who don't know an on-off switch from a channel selector were briefed on what we'll have to do to bring our ancient sets into the digital age. She still has brochures and the like from the meeting and these can be had by phoning the dear lady at 301-262-6200. Maybe it's time for Auntie to upgrade her black and white Zenith.
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Auntie was overjoyed to see that The Cakery at Hilltop Plaza was named Bowie's business of the year at the first Bowie Business Appreciation Luncheon at ye olde Belair Mansion last week. Greg and Gail Sinkovic, the owners, richly deserve the honor. Do you suppose that little plug might get Auntie a free pastry? Or a small cake? Just kidding, chef.
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Auntie hears from some city officials that getting a phone call returned or scheduling a meeting with County Councilman Sam "Not Available" Dean, who allegedly represents a portion of southern Bowie, is a challenge. Nothing new, alas, for our current crop of county and state elected bigwigs. Auntie guarantees that they'll be far more visible come election time. After that, they'll go back into hiding.
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Change is good, Auntie has always maintained. And in that spirit, the exuberant gaggle of gals and guys who gather for pizza and politics (and a beer, Auntie is sure) at City Councilman Jimmy "Pizza Man" Marcos' eatery in the Bowie Plaza Shopping Center (still missing a grocery store, by the way) packed themselves into their gas guzzlers and descended on the Irish Channel Restaurant in nearby Gambrills last week.
No, they weren't abandoning Pizza Man's menu for some Irish stew, they went there to hear Bowie's most famous restaurant owner perform with his band, the Crayfish (catchy, that, eh?). Even given the decibel level of the band's performance, Auntie hears that all in attendance enjoyed the evening, and most believe their hearing will return within the next week or so. Auntie is told that even Terry "Make My Drink Iced Tea" Devaney did not want to go home after the band took a break. A real party animal, that Devaney, Auntie suggests.
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Ah, it rained Thursday night, and quite heavily. Needless to say, Auntie lost power. Thankfully, it happened during Auntie's sleeping hours so she will refrain from cursing BGE too forcefully, though resetting all the clocks was annoying.
