Harrison could have better served Trenton on council
Seeing Duncan Harrison causes an immediate mental reaction similar to Pavlov’s dog.
No salivation, only consistent consternation regarding his relinquished Trenton City council seat tradeoff for a surprising mayoral run.
Chances were worse than iffy at best for Harrison, a first-term councilman at-large with a diverse popularity base, to develop a base to secure a City Hall seat. So, his political miscalculation tethered to tutelage from government guru Bill Watson, removed Harrison from Trenton’s inner sanctum and executive session discussions.
Harrison offered all the right answers regarding how a loss would allow him family-man time although stepping away from government generally produces an unimagined amount of mental recess that attracts bouts of stir crazy.
Harrison, a large man known for his pragmatic disposition, seems perfect for membership of a city council that unravels after three months in office. Harrison has been around for several discussions regarding the vote to not renew the contract of Deputy Clerk Cordelia Staton, a brouhaha that exposed a laundry list of niggling nuances tethered to city council representatives.
Four members, Jerell Blakeley, Joe Harrison, Robin Vaughn and Santiago Rodriguez serve first terms while Marge Caldwell-Wilson, and George Muschal return as veterans to accompany President Kathy McBride, back after a four-year hiatus.
The experienced representatives carry and display personality baggage, occasionally obstinate when criticized as if longevity should safeguard them from scrutiny.
When not stutter-stepping through monologue rebuttals to Vaughn and Blakeley, McBride mimes incessant eye rolls and gazes toward the skies as if requesting help from heaven.
Muschal, a retired city police officer, has mastered bite-backs, spitting off-cuffed remarks toward anyone brave enough to penetrate his rough exterior.
Caldwell-Wilson, who craves respect, appears hurt by any criticism, crushed by anyone suggesting she has not met her responsibilities in various sections of the North Ward. Every seated council member could be charged with neglect, falling short of delivering good government practices to residents.
A recent return to City Council Chambers, a former professional beat, for hearing discussions about the Staton matter, discovered a different city council mentality, especially by those members with extended time served.
Public comment, a three-minute opportunity for attendees to discuss topics of concern without responses from City Council members, has morphed into opportunities for arguments as representatives demand the last word.
One half expects Muschal, Caldwell-Wilson or McBride to shout “Who dares to challenge these great Wizards of Ostentatious behavior.”
These attempts of one-upsmanship cause arguments and perceived notions that city council members suffer as victims of disrespect when someone engages in permissible discourse.
Meanwhile, residents watch city council members show no respect for each other and the supposedly honorable office they hold as the public views personal sideshows that amount to incestuous wars saturated with incivility.
No small wonder that City Council voted 4-3 against livestreaming meetings, understanding that their pervasively petty performance would broadcast to thousands of homes.
Meanwhile, residents watch city council members show no respect for each other and the supposedly honorable office they hold as the public views personal sideshows that amount to incestuous wars saturated with incivility.
A great disconnect occurs, almost as if city council members fail to understand issues faced by residents in all four corners of this challenged capital city.
City Council members fight each other instead of taking on unscrupulous landlords who overrun Trenton with deplorable rental properties.
Council members say nothing about city-owned dilapidated properties overgrown by weeds and home to vagrants, vermin and stashes of weapons for violence.
The City of Trenton needs voices and minds of reason, not all this drama. Too bad Duncan Harrison ran for mayor instead of city council.