January 2009 Archives

Are you scared? Are you in danger? Are crooks hiding behind every tree and shrub in the city, ready to jump you? Are they outside your house right now plotting to steal your car, break into your home, take all your stuff, and KILL YOU???

Nope, they aren't! Relax!

The Takoma Park Police are ON THE JOB, Dear Reader!
Crime does not pay! Not in Takoma Park! Not according to police chief Ronald A. Ricucci

The chief presented the police department's 2008 annual report to the city council Jan. 26, and the good news is that crime is down!

The news would have been a little more sparkly if the chief hadn't been preceded by a resident complaining about vandals burning down his fence in the dead of night. Oh, and there was the recent incident of someone strolling through city neighborhoods, randomly slashing car tires.

The leaf-blower bout continues! See rounds I, II, and III here.

Resident activists who requested the ban last October were at the January 21 Takoma Park city council meeting to discuss their proposed ban of gasoline-powered leaf blowers.

Despite the fact that the architecture's drawings for the city council chamber revisions bear a curious resemblance to the Titanic's deck plan, on Jan. 12 the council signaled "full steam ahead" with the construction work.

Have you ever had one of those nightmares where there is a serious conversation going on - half obscure bureaucratic jargon, half childishly simple statements - and everyone else in the room thinks it is gravely important, but you can't figure out why?

Oh, wait, that's not a nightmare, that was the city council discussing its "Strategic Plan and Council Priorities." last Monday night, Jan. 5, 2009.