June 2009 Archives

Your Gilbert is officially annoyed at Councilmember Reuben Snipper. We would include Mayor Bruce Williams and Chief Ronald Ricucci, but they are healthy and strong, whereas Snipper is still in recovery from a nasty bike/auto mishap. We prefer to pick fights with people who are already knocked down, injured, and unable to chase us.

Besides, it is Snipper who repeatedly brings up the The Incident. Every time he sees Chief Ricucci, or every time the subject of bicycles comes up, he mentions The Incident. The Incident was this: shortly after he was elected to the council the chief pulled Snipper over for running a stop sign on his bicycle. The chief let him go with a warning, but not without a lecture. Bicycles, he said, have to follow the same rules of the road as automobiles.

Rules of the road? Bicycles must stop at stop signs the same as automobiles? Even when they can see there's no danger? Brake a perfectly good coast for nothing?

With engines set at Warp 10, the city council zoomed through their most recent three meetings. Good thing there are no speed cameras in the council chambers!

They were able to jog along faster than a light beam because most of the agenda items were no-brainers, requiring only a quick vote. Items dealing with staff pay scales had been previously discussed. Appointments to the Recreation Committee, the Board of Elections, and the Commission of Landlord-Tenant Affairs needed no comment. The appointment of new mayor pro tempore Reuben Snipper to replace outgoing (now outgone) Doug Barry took a millisecond.

The vote for a resolution in support of the elementary school's Young Activist Club was held up for a few moments for a few charming and persuasive comments by the young activists themselves. They are petitioning the schools to replace disposable styrofoam cafeteria trays with reusable ones.

Tasty Tidbits