Late Nights with George Pratt

The time was 11:12 p.m. and our printer had given us a firm deadline of 1 a.m. Dumping my laptop, stream of papers and camera into my purse, I left the City Council meeting at City Hall and walked quickly back to The Rye Record to write the last story.

After over three hours of discussion at the Council meeting I, like the other reporters and residents, had hoped to hear about the timeline for rebuilding the Central Avenue Bridge, the proposal to extend the downtown parking meter hours to 9 p.m., and the latest news from the Recession Task Force.

Unfortunately, none of those important agenda items was discussed until after I, the Journal News reporter and most residents had left.

The next morning my cell and office phone were ringing early and often with the following message: “Did you hear George Pratt chastising the printed press last night?”

No, I hadn’t, but, rest assured Councilman Pratt, I now have listened to the entire March 25 City Council meeting. At 11:28 p.m. you stated, “I’d like to make a personal observation. I find it amusing that we’re now to the section of the meeting that’s important to the public and the printed press was migrating out of here during the hydrology report (on 980 Forest Avenue).” You added, “The press doesn’t want to write about the Central Avenue Bridge, the parking meters, the obstructions in the right-of-way. I find it troubling…”

Councilman Pratt went on to say the only way people were going to hear about the important issues on the Council’s agenda was by watching the meeting live or on rerun at home — or from resident Henry King, who stayed till the end.
Later in the meeting, Councilman Pratt found time for another dig at the press. Referring to an agenda item scheduled for a future Council meeting, he quipped: “Hopefully, the printed press will show up at that meeting.” His last comment of the evening was: “Maybe the printed press would mention that we’re planning to hold a public discussion on obstructions in the right-of-way.”
Here are some of my observations, Councilman Pratt.

The Rye Record wants to publish news of Rye and its people. We want to cover all the issues, and find it regrettable that it took two and a half years for the Council to decide to take a closer look at hydrology issues at Bob Schubert’s property. And the Council only acted after pushing, prodding, public outcry and, finally, the reported comments of the City’s former naturalist.

Rye residents want action — as much as careful deliberation — on a great variety of issues. The Central Avenue Bridge, which was damaged by the spring 2007 floods and unusable since, has a significant impact on the entire community.
The recession is hurting our town, our businesses.

Too many sidewalks are broken, too many crosswalks are not well marked. Jim Amico isn’t the only resident calling for making Rye’s streets safer and stepping up traffic enforcement.

The City owes a balloon payment of $5 million on the old CVS building at 1037 Boston Post Road. Where is the money going to come from? Should the City consider selling the property?

How are the discussions going with Harrison on Beaver Swamp Brook?
How is the search going for a new City Comptroller? Will Rye need to conduct a search for a new City Manager?

By the way, Councilman Pratt, we wrote our first story on the safety issues posed by rocks in the right-of-way eight years ago. Last fall, when the Council talked about a public education program on the matter, we wrote another story.

Posturing and repeatedly telling residents how many years you’ve served the City as a volunteer — on the School Board, on the Finance Committee, on the Planning Commission, on the Council — wastes precious minutes at Council meetings.
We need action, not bloviation. See you at the next Council meeting, April 15.

– Robin Jovanovich