As noted earlier, the Smoke Testing began on Monday. At a little after nine, had from about 7- 9 VUB people piled up in intersection of 13th Ave and 9th St. having a great old time. Apparently Ms. Bond was Acting Supervisor in Charge as she was there laughing and talking? It was noted they were blocking the street going South on 13th instead of being out of the way. Does not take much sense to stand in middle of Street; a lot more to stand on the side out of the way? Guess she must have wanted to insure we saw our VUB hard at work? Guess I missed the Burgess and Nipple Team teaching how to use Smoke Machine(s)?
Maybe doing it via a "Cell Phone class". After all, $39K for two weeks instruction/ doing the testing is not a lot of money by Vienna Terms.
Than about 10:30 when some of us returning home from a Coffee Klatch noted the Fire Chief directing traffic on 13th Ave by 10th St. VUB had managed to pretty much block with their pickup trucks.
Tuesday, testing on 12th St., and no one directing Traffic, but blocking one lane coming up hill which is a bit tight and blind right there.
Now a $100,000./Year City Employee directing traffic on a side street is bad enough, when we have far less expensive people available, but why didn't the genius's park on 10th so as to keep a major side road used to avoid all or most of the lights on Grand Central clear? The City just happens to have an 80' Right of Way on 10th and the trucks could have pulled off to park.
Have been told a couple of times that the City did the Smoke Test in that part of the Ghetto years back and were supposed to have found all the culprits using sewer to get rid of ground/ storm water. But it was now supposed to be a gold mine of Law Breakers who were robbing the VUB of funds for shiny toys, by dumping into the Sewer System instead of Storm Water?
We really have to love the Management of this City where ever as they carefully and systematically plan chaos when order would do? Was at least by my Mother, told to stay out of the Street; cross at crosswalks or with the light and look both ways before crossing. Guess here, "Mom's Rapp/ Metz" of the VUB failed to get the message across? But who knows, maybe in this very Progressive Liberal Governed Community practicing the blocking of Avenues/ Streets is an expected part of one's day? :)
Also for the first time in living here for right on 11 years, I was ashamed of the City. Had an Appliance guy doing some work in the house. He went out to get something and when he came back in, he asked "what kind of car burned up out there"? I asked him what he was talking about and he pointed to the big torn up black tarry spot at the intersection of 10th St., and 14th Ave. I realized why he would think that, as it did look like there had been a fire there.
Now this is the "Façade" that Mr. Rapp wants presented to "Visitors" as they drive around in Vienna. I was not happy with how we looked Monday and in thinking about it now as I post this, am even less so. Streets torn up since at least March/ Early April from Winter; maybe desperately in need of paving/ repair for years in any case. Sewer/ Water infrastructure failing and unmaintained. Does not even really include the far too many empty Store Fronts from the old Kmart and North on Grand Central (you know, our "Miracle Mile")?
Keep drinking the sweet, sugary Kool-Aid folks, but don't bet on the City paying for your Dental Work or Diabetes Treatment unless you work for City/ VUB? Just keeping you on that Sugar High all day so you can say " Don't Worry, Be Happy", as the song goes.
See where a Request for Bids for paving work has finally gone out? Not sure who's Streets/ Avenues will get paved this year? Would again not be to surprised to see some more alleys paved, and dead end streets with minor cracks in paving while most of us bounce along on our obstacle course ones? Alley that is 9 1/2 St. (in Truth), is so much better, I have to chuckle as people fly down it to try and avoid the Stop Sign on 13th Ave and 9th St. Hell, should just run that sign like most others do?
(Saw my neighbor in his motorized wheel chair from where ever in the median area by Bob Evans the other day. Still can not understand how he does not get clipped? One lucky old fool for sure. Still toolin' right on through the Red Lights).
City of Vienna extravagance versus its needed maintenance is becoming more and more obvious as we continue to build or buy twinkly stuff to look at in awe and hope that we don't fall into a pothole or collapsed street as we go along.
Agenda for the City Council Meeting on the 26th has "No New Business" on it. But will try to repair screw up on Recycling Contract under "Unfinished Business". Priorities folks, priorities.
Still have paperwork to pick up at City Building, but even though Mr. Bays (City Defense Atty.), tried to walk back his comment on me doing a "Vendetta" against the three County Judges and some City Administration members, it did not fly. Does not change what I learned growing up and when one sees the blown up car or the body on the Church steps as people are murdered while leaving Services by or at the direction of people who sat in Pews just a short distance away, one learns just what "Vendetta" means. 'nuff said'.